News

Kazakhstan’s shadow economy was estimated at 16.71% of GDP in 2024, down nearly one percentage point from the previous year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. However, the Supreme Audit Chamber says the methodology for assessing the so-called non-observed economy is flawed and that government efforts to combat it remain insufficient.

Non-observed economy in 2024

In late July 2025, the Bureau of National Statistics (BNS) updated its estimate of Kazakhstan’s non-observed economy (NOE). The shadow sector declined from 17.58% to 16.71% of GDP in 2024, a drop of 0.87 percentage points (p.p.). In current prices, that amounts...

The Andorran company Pas Grau Internacional (PGI) Management, which will help build a ski resort at Kok-Zhailau, has registered a subsidiary with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The move was first reported by Arman Batayev, owner of the Finmentor Telegram channel.

PGI is a global leader in ski resort development, with more than 120 projects completed worldwide. Its portfolio includes renowned destinations such as Davos and St. Moritz in Switzerland, Courchevel in France, Ischgl and the Tyrol region in Austria, Vail and Aspen in the U.S., Whistler Blackcomb in Canada and several resorts in Andorra. In 2024, Andorra’s...

Eduard Bazrov, coach of prominent Kazakhstani UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, discussed whether the fighter will return to the Octagon before the end of the year. The Russian specialist described Rakhmonov’s situation as «very difficult.»

«About the situation with Shavkat, I can’t say anything for sure. The only thing is, Shavkat is training and working out. Of course, the situation is very difficult. And it’s also hard to get yourself mentally prepared for work,» Bazrov told Legalbet.kz.

After the tragic car accident in the Zhambyl region involving Rakhmonov’s family, the fighter has not appeared...

Hackers are often among the first to adopt artificial intelligence (AI), and they’re already putting it to work. The consensus in the industry is that generative AI acts as a force multiplier for cybercriminals, greatly expanding their capabilities.

To better understand how this technology is reshaping both cyberattacks and cyber defense, Kursiv Research examined insights from experts in the Russian and Kazakhstani markets. One of the most alarming events in Kazakhstan in recent months was the leak of personal data belonging to 16 million citizens.

Why AI is strengthening cybercriminals

Nearly every major 2024 cybersecurity report identifies AI...

Rosatom Technical Academy is set to train about 2,000 people to operate Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP), Russian media outlet TASS reported, citing the academy’s Rector Yuri Seleznev.

«We will train operations personnel. The number of future trainees will be determined by the contract — somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 people,» Seleznev said.

Construction of Kazakhstan’s first NPP is scheduled for completion between 2035 and 2036. Training of operations personnel is expected to begin five years before the plant’s launch, the rector noted. Rosatom Technical Academy will also develop and equip the training...

A meeting on artificial intelligence development, chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has been held. The president stated that the progress in carrying out his instructions on building the necessary infrastructure, developing legislation and implementing AI has been unsatisfactory.

In his speech, Tokayev noted that the world is experiencing significant technological changes driven by rapid AI development. For example, in July, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled America’s AI Action Plan, which recognizes AI as a key tool for maintaining U.S. technological, economic and defense leadership.

«Our specialists should carefully study this and other similar...

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed a competition to choose the best name for the country’s first nuclear power plant (NPP).

«The joint construction of the first nuclear power plant with Rosatom is of strategic importance. Construction of the plant officially began recently. The NPP is not just an energy facility, but a symbol of scientific and technological progress. The plant does not have a name yet. Since it is the first in our country, I believe we could launch a nationwide competition to choose the best name,» Tokayev said during a meeting with winners and runners-up...

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered that all state communications containing personal data be transferred from foreign messaging platforms to the domestic app Aitu. He made the announcement Aug. 11 during a meeting on artificial intelligence development.

Tokayev said much of the business and official correspondence, including the exchange of citizens’ personal information, is now conducted through international messaging services. This often involves sending personal identification numbers, health data and other sensitive details, he noted, which violates Kazakhstan’s data protection laws and risks information being leaked beyond the country’s jurisdiction.

«Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has...

The Asian U19 & U22 Boxing Championships wrapped up Aug. 11 in Bangkok, Thailand, with Kazakhstan taking home five gold medals and four silvers.

U22 men
In the men’s U22 finals, Kazakhstan’s team faced Uzbekistan in five gold-medal bouts, winning three.

Nurislam Kaldybayev (60 kg), Sanzhar-Ali Begaliyev (80 kg, pictured) and Temirlan Mukatayev (90 kg) claimed continental titles, defeating Shohruh Abdumalikov, Rakhmatullo Boymatov and Shakhzod Polvonov, respectively.

Silver medals went to Ilya Kalinin (65 kg) and Nurbek Mursal (70 kg).

In the unofficial medal table for the U22 men, Kazakhstan placed second with three gold and two silver medals...

A village in Kazakhstan showcasing its own «Wonders of the World» is rapidly gaining popularity on social media. Kursiv Lifestyle reveals where you can see the Statue of Liberty next to the Taj Mahal.

Blogger Pavel Zoteev shared photos from an unusual village on Threads. He was traveling with his wife and son across the Kostanay region and visited the village of Amangeldi, located 410 kilometers from the city of Kostanay — about a five-hour drive by car.

Replicas of world-famous landmarks are located in a multifunctional tourist complex on the outskirts of the village. The Eiffel Tower...

Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has held talks with CEO of Russia’s state-owned Rosatom Alexey Likhachev.

Likhachev reported that construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant began on Aug. 8 in the Almaty region. The sides discussed ensuring local content in goods and services, using domestic equipment and materials, hiring local specialists and exchanging experience.

«Issues of localizing nuclear fuel cycle processes were raised. Practical aspects of forming an international consortium that will unite leading Kazakhstani and foreign partners were also considered. The Russian side confirmed its readiness to cooperate with suppliers from Kazakhstan and other...

Analysts at the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan (AFK) have significantly raised their one-year forecast for the dollar to 573 tenge, up from 548.5 in the previous outlook — a deterioration of 24.5 tenge for the local currency, according to an AFK statement.

They have also slightly downgraded their forecast for the tenge exchange rate in a month, from 523.4 to 541.7 per dollar. On Aug. 8, the weighted average rate in trading was 539.81 tenge per dollar.

According to AFK, expectations for the tenge exchange rate have deteriorated amid strong volatility in the foreign exchange market not supported by...

Jennifer Lopez’s «Up All Night» world tour is nearing its end, with her penultimate concert held Aug. 10 at Central Stadium in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. On the eve of the show, one of her musicians took time to connect with locals.

Kazakh-style meat for J.Lo’s bass guitarist

Brandon Brown, Lopez’s bass guitarist — also known as Pastor Funk — met a local teenager on the basketball court at the hotel where the tour team was staying.

The encounter led to a surprise visit to the boy’s family home, something that delighted the hosts. According to the family...

Kazakhstan’s net international reserves, which include gold and foreign exchange assets, rose in July for the first time in two months, increasing 1.45% from the previous month to $50.3 billion, according to data from the National Bank. Reserves are up 15.54% since the start of the year.

Gross international reserves reached $52.4 billion, up 1.22% month-on-month. Of that total, assets in freely convertible currencies stood at $19.6 billion, a 0.36% increase, while monetary gold rose 1.75% to $32.8 billion.

Since January, foreign currency assets have fallen 10.7%, or $1.7 billion, while gold reserves have jumped 37.66%, or...

The Chinese company Hunan Junxin Environmental Protection has registered a subsidiary in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which is likely to carry out a $600 million project to construct three waste-to-energy plants.

Junxin Environmental Protection (Kazakhstan) was registered in the AIFC on Aug. 7. Its owners are Hunan Junxin Environmental Protection and a Hong Kong company with a similar name. The company is managed by Dai Daoguo, chair of the parent company.

In early July, Hunan Junxin Environmental Protection announced plans to build three waste-to-energy plants in Kazakhstan. In addition to waste processing, the project also involves...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a series of phone calls last week with the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, as media reports circulated about upcoming high-level talks on resolving the war in Ukraine and following the signing of a peace declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington.

Kazakhstan-Russia

On Aug. 7, Tokayev spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin said Putin initiated the call «in the spirit of the allied relationship and strategic partnership Russia and Kazakhstan maintain» to brief Tokayev on the progress of Russia’s dialogue with the U.S. over the Ukraine conflict. Putin also...

Over the first 10 months of the 2024-2025 marketing year — from September to June — Kazakhstan’s wheat exports in grain equivalent rose 44% year-on-year to 10 million tons, according to Eugeniy Karabanov, official representative of the Kazakh Grain Union.

Considering the high export pace and potential in the next two months, the union has raised its forecast for wheat, wheat flour and feed meal exports in grain equivalent from 11.45 million to 11.6 million tons. Reaching this figure would mark an all-time record.

According to Karabanov, the countries that increased their imports compared to the same period in...

The ceremony marking the start of construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP), led by Russia’s Rosatom, took place in the village of Ulken in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region.

Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants (KNPP) — a subsidiary of the state-owned Samruk-Kazyna holding — is the operator for all future nuclear power plants in the country, but has been placed under the trust management of the Agency for Atomic Energy (AAE).

Rosatom was selected as the leader of the international consortium for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant. As part of the...

Kazakhstani farmers have significantly increased barley exports. From September 2024 to August 2025, the country exported 1.82 million tons — twice as much as in the same period last season, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture.

Main reasons for the increase include a high yield, favorable prices and strong demand from Iran and China.

In total, 3.84 million tons of barley were harvested in 2024. Almost two thirds of exports went to Iran, with nearly 1.1 million tons delivered — nearly 30 times more than last year. China received 414,400 tons, and Uzbekistan 125,200 tons.

The export surge has...

Kazakhstan has opened public access to AlemLLM, the largest AI model built for the Kazakh language, Minister of Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev announced on Instagram.

A large-language model (LLM) is a type of AI program trained to understand human language, respond to requests and generate coherent text, similar to how ChatGPT operates using GPT-4o and other versions.

AlemLLM is now available to startups, universities, companies and international platforms. It can be used to develop new products and integrate Kazakh-language AI capabilities into existing services.

«Our goal is to give the entire market a powerful...

The U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan has announced an online auction to sell used property, including computers, office equipment, shipping containers, an SUV and a utility vehicle, according to the embassy’s official website.

A total of 17 lots are up for bid, all sold in «as is» condition. The highest-priced item is a 2011 Mitsubishi L200 SUV with a starting bid of 2 million tenge (about $3,700). Organizers say the vehicle is in working condition.

Also on the list is a three-seat Polaris Ranger 6×6 UTV, starting at $370.

Other items include desktop computers, monitors, scanners and printers, with sets...

Starting Sept. 1, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) will launch direct flights from Baku to two Iranian cities, Tehran and Tabriz, making travel to Iran more affordable and convenient for passengers from Kazakhstan.

AZAL will operate flights from Baku to Tehran four times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. One-way tickets will start at about $58, with a flight time of 1 hour and 25 minutes.

From Sept. 3, the carrier will begin twice-weekly flights from Baku to Tabriz, on Wednesdays and Sundays. One-way fares will start at $110, with a flight time of 1 hour and...

Construction is underway in Bishkek on what will be the largest sports facility in Central Asia — an international-class stadium built to FIFA standards. Designed to hold 51,000 spectators, the arena is expected to become the flagship of Kyrgyzstan’s sports infrastructure.

Bishkek Arena
Plans for the stadium were first announced in April 2024. The project is located in the village of Orok, on the outskirts of the capital. Its most distinctive element is a sweeping, circular design modeled after the traditional Kyrgyz yurt, a nomadic dwelling.

The eight-level structure will measure 280 meters in diameter and 70 meters in...

Almaty is set to host popular German musician Till Lindemann one more time — the frontman and lead singer of the cult band Rammstein, organizers announced.

The singer initially planned to give only one concert in Almaty on Jan. 7, 2026, but it sold out almost immediately. Due to high demand, organizers scheduled an additional performance the day before — on Jan. 6.

General sales will open on Aug. 8 at 12 p.m. Astana time on Ticketon.kz.

Till Lindemann is widely known as the charismatic frontman of Rammstein, one of the world’s most recognizable rock bands, renowned for...