OpenAI and Amazon sign $38 billion deal for AI computing power<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2021//12//06//online-marketplaces-have-it-too-easy-it-s-time-the-eu-acts-view/">Online marketplaces have it too easy. It\u2019s time the EU acts | View<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Although e-commerce operators will pay the VAT and fill in the declaration forms, both will most likely be reflected in the final price for the customer.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, Amrin said that filling in a declaration by the e-commerce operator (DHL, FedEx) will cost \u20ac6-8, but considering that Chinese marketplaces offer prices as low as \u20ac1, for EAEU citizens this will be a significant increase in price. <\/p>\n<p>It will also affect delivery times, as the goods will have to be placed in a storage facility until the declaration is filled. <\/p>\n<h2>Timeline<\/h2>\n<p>The regime, however, will not take effect right away. Besides the ratification of the code, all countries must bring their customs laws into alignment with the code, which will take time. The regime will start simultaneously, when all countries finish all procedures. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor the new customs regulation to come into force, the Commission must adopt certain regulations regarding e-commerce goods,\u201d stated the State Revenue Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Finance. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd EAEU member states must align their national customs legislation with the Protocol's provisions. Kazakhstan also needs to complete this procedure.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>It's therefore unclear when the changes will finally be implemented.<\/p>\n<h2>What does the Kazakh government say?<\/h2>\n<p>Kazakh officials say that the new system will allow them to generate reliable statistics on online purchases, but they claim that price changes will be minimal for most shipments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe majority of e-commerce orders do not exceed \u20ac200 and are therefore not subject to customs duties,\u201d said the Kazakh Ministry of National Economy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//07//30//customs-duties-what-will-be-the-possible-impact-on-consumers-in-europe/">Customs duties: What will be the possible impact on consumers in Europe? <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//16//kazakhstan-plans-to-boost-europechina-trade-route-heres-how/">Kazakhstan plans to boost Europe\u2013China trade route. Here\u2019s how<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cGiven that the duty-free import thresholds will remain the same, changes in the amount of payments, taxes and declaration procedures will have a minor impact on the final cost of goods.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The authorities also say that declaration is going to be fully digital and fairly simple. In fact, Kazakhstan has been piloting the project since 2023, after the EAEU member countries signed the protocol on introducing these changes. <\/p>\n<h2>Combatting Chinese influence<\/h2>\n<p>Some commentators also suggest that the shipment changes could be the way to slow an influx of cheap, Chinese goods coming into Kazakhstan, making it more difficult for other businesses to compete.<\/p>\n<p>By making the products more expensive through increased customs duties, the authorities hope to help local businesses. Still, the mechanism likely will benefit Russian firms the most, as they are already very well represented in all EAEU countries.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1763468844,"updatedAt":1765708762,"publishedAt":1765530911,"firstPublishedAt":1765530911,"lastPublishedAt":1765530911,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/89\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_77f654e5-fadf-5911-89c3-5183aaf14f06-9552889.jpg","altText":"Temu website","caption":"Temu website","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3546,"urlSafeValue":"galiya.khassenkhanova@euronews.com","title":"Galiya Khassenkhanova","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":30158,"slug":"temu","urlSafeValue":"temu","title":"Temu","titleRaw":"Temu"},{"id":11117,"slug":"amazon","urlSafeValue":"amazon","title":"Amazon","titleRaw":"Amazon"},{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"euronews","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":2}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business\/business"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"},{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2025\/12\/12\/russian-marketplaces-to-benefit-from-new-eaeu-customs-code","lastModified":1765530911},{"id":2851007,"cid":9567675,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"MO - S02E06 - KA-WILD HORSES - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3469581,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan brings back its endangered Przewalski\u2019s horses","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Wild horses return to Kazakhstan\u2019s steppe","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan brings back its endangered wild Przewalski\u2019s horses in a landmark effort to restore the steppe\u2019s heritage","leadin":"A vanished species is returning to Kazakhstan\u2019s vast grasslands, symbolising a broader effort to restore the country\u2019s natural and cultural heritage.","summary":"A vanished species is returning to Kazakhstan\u2019s vast grasslands, symbolising a broader effort to restore the country\u2019s natural and cultural heritage.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-brings-back-its-endangered-przewalskis-horses","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/10\/kazakhstan-brings-back-its-endangered-przewalskis-horses","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Horses have been central to Kazakh identity for centuries. The nomadic way of life revolved around them, with families following seasonal pastures and crossing vast steppes. Horses carried yurts and belongings, enabled long-distance travel and defence, and shaped daily life, traditions, and even the upbringing of children.\u00a0\n\nNorthern Kazakhstan was once home to the Botai culture, dating back over 5,000 years, where scientists believe the world\u2019s first horses were domesticated. Archaeological evidence of horse milking underlines their central role in early nomadic life. This heritage continues to influence Kazakh culture today, from national sports to festivals and rural traditions.\u00a0\n\nThe historic return of Przewalski\u2019s horses\n\nAmong Central Asia\u2019s most iconic species is the Przewalski\u2019s horse \u2014 the world\u2019s only genetically wild horse. The species disappeared from the wild in the 20th century, and decades of conservation work in Europe have now made possible its return to Kazakhstan\u2019s steppe for the first time in more than 200 years.\u00a0\n\nThe reintroduction is led by the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, which focuses on restoring species vital to Kazakhstan\u2019s natural heritage.\u00a0\n\nHorses were transported from European conservation programmes, including Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic and Hortob\u00e1gy National Park in Hungary, and brought to the Alibi Reintroduction Centre in the Kostanay region.\u00a0\n\n\u201cWe have goods conditions for returning Przewalski\u2019s horses to this area, and also a kind of obligation, because this is an essential and important animal for Kazakh identity \u2014 the place of the first domestication of horses 5,000 years ago,\u201d said Anne Dohrmann, Project Officer for Large Herbivore Reintroduction at the Frankfurt Zoological Society.\u00a0\n\nSo far, 14 Przewalski\u2019s horses have been relocated, and reintroduction efforts will continue until 2029.\u00a0\n\n\u201cKazakhstan is the historic range of the Przewalski's horse. We have large areas historically home to big ungulates such as kulans. The grasslands are ideal, the climate is suitable, and the protected-area network gives us confidence the animals will be safe. We hope they will breed successfully, ensuring a future for the species,\u201d said Albert Salemgareyev, Lead Specialist at the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan.\u00a0\n\nAfter years in captivity, the horses are being closely monitored as experts work to create the right conditions for breeding.\u00a0\n\n\u201cA population of 40\u201350 horses can become self-sustaining. We are confident that in the coming years, this population will stabilise. We have a responsibility to restore every species that once lived in our nature. The horse is a national symbol with deep historical significance,\u201d said Daniyar Turgambayev, Chairman of the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife at Kazakhstan\u2019s Ministry of Ecology.\u00a0\n\nHorse breeding today\n\nFor centuries, Kazakhs have been renowned as skilled horse breeders \u2014 a tradition that continues with breeds such as the Kostanay and the Adai.\u00a0\n\nIn 2023, the Adai horse was officially recognised as a distinct Kazakh breed. Native to western Kazakhstan near the Caspian Sea, it is prized for its stamina and hardiness, able to endure extreme temperatures and travel long distances.\u00a0\n\nIn traditional Kazakh sports, local breeds are especially valued for their strength and endurance. These qualities are essential for ancient nomadic games such as kokpar (a mounted competition involving a goat carcass), horseback archery, and baiga (long-distance racing). Events like the World Nomad Games and Uly Dala Zhorygy (the Great Steppe Ride) continue to celebrate these traditions.\u00a0\n\nFrom the Botai culture\u2019s first domesticated horses to the selective breeding of today, horses remain central to Kazakhstan\u2019s heritage and nomadic identity.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Horses have been central to Kazakh identity for centuries. The nomadic way of life revolved around them, with families following seasonal pastures and crossing vast steppes. Horses carried yurts and belongings, enabled long-distance travel and defence, and shaped daily life, traditions, and even the upbringing of children. <\/p>\n<p>Northern Kazakhstan was once home to the Botai culture, dating back over 5,000 years, where scientists believe the world\u2019s first horses were domesticated. Archaeological evidence of horse milking underlines their central role in early nomadic life. This heritage continues to influence Kazakh culture today, from national sports to festivals and rural traditions. <\/p>\n<h2>The historic return of Przewalski\u2019s horses<\/h2>\n<p>Among Central Asia\u2019s most iconic species is the Przewalski\u2019s horse \u2014 the world\u2019s only genetically wild horse. The species disappeared from the wild in the 20th century, and decades of conservation work in Europe have now made possible its return to Kazakhstan\u2019s steppe for the first time in more than 200 years. <\/p>\n<p>The reintroduction is led by the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, which focuses on restoring species vital to Kazakhstan\u2019s natural heritage. <\/p>\n<p>Horses were transported from European conservation programmes, including Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic and Hortob\u00e1gy National Park in Hungary, and brought to the Alibi Reintroduction Centre in the Kostanay region. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have goods conditions for returning Przewalski\u2019s horses to this area, and also a kind of obligation, because this is an essential and important animal for Kazakh identity \u2014 the place of the first domestication of horses 5,000 years ago,\u201d said Anne Dohrmann, Project Officer for Large Herbivore Reintroduction at the Frankfurt Zoological Society. <\/p>\n<p>So far, 14 Przewalski\u2019s horses have been relocated, and reintroduction efforts will continue until 2029. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cKazakhstan is the historic range of the Przewalski's horse. We have large areas historically home to big ungulates such as kulans. The grasslands are ideal, the climate is suitable, and the protected-area network gives us confidence the animals will be safe. We hope they will breed successfully, ensuring a future for the species,\u201d said Albert Salemgareyev, Lead Specialist at the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan. <\/p>\n<p>After years in captivity, the horses are being closely monitored as experts work to create the right conditions for breeding. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cA population of 40\u201350 horses can become self-sustaining. We are confident that in the coming years, this population will stabilise. We have a responsibility to restore every species that once lived in our nature. The horse is a national symbol with deep historical significance,\u201d said Daniyar Turgambayev, Chairman of the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife at Kazakhstan\u2019s Ministry of Ecology. <\/p>\n<h2>Horse breeding today<\/h2>\n<p>For centuries, Kazakhs have been renowned as skilled horse breeders \u2014 a tradition that continues with breeds such as the Kostanay and the Adai. <\/p>\n<p>In 2023, the Adai horse was officially recognised as a distinct Kazakh breed. Native to western Kazakhstan near the Caspian Sea, it is prized for its stamina and hardiness, able to endure extreme temperatures and travel long distances. <\/p>\n<p>In traditional Kazakh sports, local breeds are especially valued for their strength and endurance. These qualities are essential for ancient nomadic games such as kokpar (a mounted competition involving a goat carcass), horseback archery, and baiga (long-distance racing). Events like the World Nomad Games and Uly Dala Zhorygy (the Great Steppe Ride) continue to celebrate these traditions. <\/p>\n<p>From the Botai culture\u2019s first domesticated horses to the selective breeding of today, horses remain central to Kazakhstan\u2019s heritage and nomadic identity.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764595284,"updatedAt":1765377706,"publishedAt":1765375248,"firstPublishedAt":1765375248,"lastPublishedAt":1765377705,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/77\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_46bee1c1-d8e7-56a1-97b0-b86b975ed113-9567702.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":951}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":10233,"slug":"animals","urlSafeValue":"animals","title":"Animals","titleRaw":"Animals"},{"id":574,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture","titleRaw":"Culture"},{"id":8735,"slug":"tradition","urlSafeValue":"tradition","title":"Tradition","titleRaw":"Tradition"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"yEIhwqB31S0","dailymotionId":"x9uw8ha"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/30\/60\/50\/05\/ED_PYR_3060505_20251202171748.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":41863310,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/30\/60\/50\/05\/SHD_PYR_3060505_20251202171748.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":64448386,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/30\/60\/50\/05\/FHD_PYR_3060505_20251202171748.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":229214559,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Tomiris Bilyal","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"modern-nomads","urlSafeValue":"modern-nomads","title":"Modern Nomads","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/modern-nomads"},"season":"MODERN NOMADS_S02","episode":"S02E06 - KA-WILD HORSES","episodeId":"1205","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-series","urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture Series","url":"\/culture\/culture-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":55,"urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1730466509,"endDate":2114341713,"type":"sponsored","slug":"mdq-2024","title":"MDQ 2024","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"MDQ","sponsorName":"mdq-2024","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mdq.kz","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/866\/300x64_cmsv2_c74631ff-d361-585c-9238-73fc14ca3554-866.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/12\/10\/kazakhstan-brings-back-its-endangered-przewalskis-horses","lastModified":1765377705},{"id":2852208,"cid":9573065,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Costa in Kazakhstan","daletPyramidId":3515547,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"EU to simplify visa process for Kazakhstan, fostering closer cooperation","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"EU to simplify Kazakhstan visa process, fostering closer cooperation","titleListing2":"EU and Kazakhstan agree on simplified visas, fostering closer cooperation","leadin":"Brussels has launched steps to simplify visa requirements for Kazakh citizens as both sides deepen cooperation, with Kazakhstan supporting a \u20ac12 billion investment package for Central Asia.","summary":"Brussels has launched steps to simplify visa requirements for Kazakh citizens as both sides deepen cooperation, with Kazakhstan supporting a \u20ac12 billion investment package for Central Asia.","keySentence":"","url":"eu-to-simplify-visa-process-for-kazakhstan-fostering-closer-cooperation","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/05\/eu-to-simplify-visa-process-for-kazakhstan-fostering-closer-cooperation","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The European Union began simplifying visa procedures for Kazakh citizens following talks at the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council in Brussels, a pledge Council President Ant\u00f3nio Costa affirmed during his first official visit to Kazakhstan on Thursday.\n\n\u201cI know very well how these talks matter deeply to both Kazakh and European citizens,\u201d Costa said in Astana.\n\n\u201cWhen concluded, this agreement will make it easier for our people to meet, study, work and invest, a real sign of the friendship between our peoples.\u201d\n\nKazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also welcomed the agreement, noting that increased mobility will facilitate cooperation in education, science, cultural exchanges and business interaction.\n\nWhile EU citizens enjoy easy entry to Kazakhstan, Kazakh citizens must gather multiple documents and sometimes wait months for visa appointments.\n\nValeriy Sitenko, senior expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute under Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, said simplified visas will primarily help business travel, while tourist flows are unlikely to increase significantly.\n\nHe said Kazakh citizens prefer travelling to South and Southeast Asia because it is much cheaper.\n\nInvestment package worth \u20ac12 billion\n\nTokayev said Kazakhstan is ready to support the EU's \u20ac12 billion investment package for Central Asia. The funds would be allocated to transport, raw materials, green energy and digital technology projects.\n\n\"We are happy to see the work you are doing to improve the investment climate. You can count on us to promote among European companies the huge potential of our economic cooperation,\" Costa said.\n\nKazakhstan pledged stable energy supplies to Europe. This comes after the Caspian Pipeline Consortium was attacked earlier this year. About 80 per cent of Kazakhstan's oil flows through the CPC, including to Europe.\n\nCosta also praised Kazakhstan's commitment to the UN Charter and Tokayev's role in facilitating peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which will open new opportunities for the development of the Middle Corridor.\n\nThe visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan, signed in December 2015 and the first of its kind in the region.\n\nThe 22nd meeting of the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council was held in Brussels on 1 December, chaired by Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas.\n\nDuring the first EU-Central Asia Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in April, countries agreed to elevate the interregional partnership to a strategic level.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The European Union began simplifying visa procedures for Kazakh citizens following talks at the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council in Brussels, a pledge Council President Ant\u00f3nio Costa affirmed during his first official visit to Kazakhstan on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know very well how these talks matter deeply to both Kazakh and European citizens,\u201d Costa said in Astana.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen concluded, this agreement will make it easier for our people to meet, study, work and invest, a real sign of the friendship between our peoples.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also welcomed the agreement, noting that increased mobility will facilitate cooperation in education, science, cultural exchanges and business interaction.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.685\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//30//65//808x553_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg/" alt=\"Kazakh President awarded António Costa with the Dostyk Order of the first degree during his visit. \" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/384x263_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/640x438_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/750x514_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/828x567_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/1080x740_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/1200x822_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/1920x1315_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Kazakh President awarded António Costa with the Dostyk Order of the first degree during his visit. <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Copyright: Akorda presidential press service<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>While EU citizens enjoy easy entry to Kazakhstan, Kazakh citizens must gather multiple documents and sometimes wait months for visa appointments.<\/p>\n<p>Valeriy Sitenko, senior expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute under Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, said simplified visas will primarily help business travel, while tourist flows are unlikely to increase significantly. <\/p>\n<p>He said Kazakh citizens prefer travelling to South and Southeast Asia because it is much cheaper.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Investment package worth \u20ac12 billion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Tokayev said Kazakhstan is ready to support the EU's \u20ac12 billion investment package for Central Asia. The funds would be allocated to transport, raw materials, green energy and digital technology projects.<\/p>\n<p>\"We are happy to see the work you are doing to improve the investment climate. You can count on us to promote among European companies the huge potential of our economic cooperation,\" Costa said.<\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan pledged stable energy supplies to Europe. This comes after the Caspian Pipeline Consortium was attacked earlier this year. About 80 per cent of Kazakhstan's oil flows through the CPC, including to Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Costa also praised Kazakhstan's commitment to the UN Charter and Tokayev's role in facilitating peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which will open new opportunities for the development of the Middle Corridor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//12//04//kazakhstan-calls-on-eu-to-speed-up-10-billion-central-asia-investments/">Kazakhstan calls on EU to speed up \u20ac10 billion Central Asia investments<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan, signed in December 2015 and the first of its kind in the region.<\/p>\n<p>The 22nd meeting of the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council was held in Brussels on 1 December, chaired by Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas.<\/p>\n<p>During the first EU-Central Asia Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in April, countries agreed to elevate the interregional partnership to a strategic level.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764935810,"updatedAt":1764945276,"publishedAt":1764945271,"firstPublishedAt":1764945271,"lastPublishedAt":1764945271,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f1e24c0c-feab-55f1-9c32-a555628695a1-9573065.jpg","altText":"EU Council President Antonio Costa and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the latter's presidential residence.","caption":"EU Council President Antonio Costa and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the latter's presidential residence.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright: Akorda presidential press service","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/30\/65\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9e34d5ec-d248-5010-96b3-a6a45ac85be2-9573065.jpg","altText":"Kazakh President awarded Ant\u00f3nio Costa with the Dostyk Order of the first degree during his visit. ","caption":"Kazakh President awarded Ant\u00f3nio Costa with the Dostyk Order of the first degree during his visit. ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright: Akorda presidential press service","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1370}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3546,"urlSafeValue":"galiya.khassenkhanova@euronews.com","title":"Galiya Khassenkhanova","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"},{"id":11920,"slug":"antnio-costa","urlSafeValue":"antonio-costa","title":"Ant\u00f3nio Costa","titleRaw":"Ant\u00f3nio Costa"},{"id":28832,"slug":"schengen-visa","urlSafeValue":"schengen-visa","title":"Schengen visa","titleRaw":"Schengen visa"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/05\/eu-to-simplify-visa-process-for-kazakhstan-fostering-closer-cooperation","lastModified":1764945271},{"id":2850404,"cid":9565422,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"10th annoversary of EPCA","daletPyramidId":3449367,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan calls on EU to speed up \u20ac10 billion Central Asia investments","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan calls on EU to speed up Central Asia investments","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan calls on EU to speed up \u20ac10 billion Central Asia investments","leadin":"The EU and Kazakhstan are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Enhanced Cooperation Agreement, with connectivity and critical raw materials as key areas of cooperation.","summary":"The EU and Kazakhstan are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Enhanced Cooperation Agreement, with connectivity and critical raw materials as key areas of cooperation.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-calls-on-eu-to-speed-up-10-billion-central-asia-investments","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/04\/kazakhstan-calls-on-eu-to-speed-up-10-billion-central-asia-investments","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan has called on the European Union to accelerate infrastructure projects in Central Asia that were proposed two years ago, warning that delays could see opportunities slip away.\n\nRoman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan's ambassador to Belgium and head of the country's mission to the EU and NATO, said the bloc and its financial institutions must focus on implementing proposals from a 2023 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development report.\n\n\"We would like to call on the EU, its member states as well as financial institutions to move faster and focus on practical implementations of the 2023 EBRD report findings on both hard and soft infrastructures in Central Asia,\" Vassilenko told the Brussels Europe Press Club.\n\nThe EBRD study, submitted in June 2023, recommended seven soft connectivity measures and 33 hard infrastructure investments across the region. Based on the report, the EU and EU-supported financial institutions pledged \u20ac10 billion for Central Asian infrastructure development.\n\nSo far, the EBRD has signed loan agreements with Kazakhstan worth $800 million (\u20ac691 million), while the European Investment Bank signed a \u20ac200 million loan agreement with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan in March.\n\n\"We can't say that we haven't moved, but we have just started moving forward. The market demand is there, we need to build up these capacities now,\" Vassilenko said.\n\nHe warned the moment could be lost if red tape and feasibility studies take too long.\n\nDecade of enhanced partnership\n\nThis December marks the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Cooperation and Partnership Agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan, which covers 29 areas including trade, connectivity, critical raw materials, energy, climate change and regional security.\n\n\"It was signed 10 years ago, and it has been valid for five years. So, it's a very important milestone,\" said Ale\u0161ka Simki\u0107, EU ambassador to Kazakhstan.\n\nThe partnership dates to 1993, shortly after Kazakhstan gained independence. The first partnership agreement was signed in 1995 but had exhausted its potential by 2010-2015, according to Valeriy Sitenko, senior expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute under Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry.\n\nThe enhanced agreement signed in December 2015 was the first of its kind in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan signed a similar agreement last year and Uzbekistan signed one in October. Tajikistan is preparing to follow suit.\n\nThe first EU-Central Asia Summit was held in April in Uzbekistan's city of Samarkand.\n\nEU's largest trade partner\n\nKazakhstan is the EU's largest partner in Central Asia, accounting for 90% of trade with the region. For Kazakhstan, the EU is its largest trading and investment partner.\n\nTrade turnover between the two exceeded \u20ac40 billion in 2024. EU investments over nearly 35 years have reached \u20ac173 billion, representing half of all foreign direct investment into Kazakhstan.\n\nKazakhstan provides 13% of the EU's oil imports and 16% of its uranium imports.\n\n\"In this regard, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the continued, secure, and uninterrupted supply of Kazakh oil to the EU market,\" Vassilenko said.\n\nThe country can provide 21 of the 34 critical raw materials the EU has identified, which officials say will support Europe's industrial resilience while enabling Kazakhstan to modernise its economy.\n\nTransport corridor expansion\n\nSome 85% of land transit between Europe and Asia passes through Kazakhstan, including the Middle Corridor, which is expected to handle 5.2 million tonnes of cargo this year.\n\nThe route's capacity currently stands at 6 million tonnes per year and is planned to expand to 10 million by 2028.\n\n\"As we can see, the Middle Corridor is evolving beyond a mere transport route. It is becoming a strategic partnership platform that connects economies, technologies, and people,\" Vassilenko said.\n\nKazakhstan has invested \u20ac30 billion in transport sector modernisation and plans to invest another \u20ac13 billion, aiming to reach Pakistan's market through Afghanistan.\n\nThe two sides are also working on easing visa application processes to strengthen business and cultural ties.\n\n\"This decision represents a significant step toward bringing our peoples even closer, enabling greater mobility, more opportunities for students and professionals, and deeper mutual understanding,\" Vassilenko said.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan has called on the European Union to accelerate infrastructure projects in Central Asia that were proposed two years ago, warning that delays could see opportunities slip away.<\/p>\n<p>Roman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan's ambassador to Belgium and head of the country's mission to the EU and NATO, said the bloc and its financial institutions must focus on implementing proposals from a 2023 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development report.<\/p>\n<p>\"We would like to call on the EU, its member states as well as financial institutions to move faster and focus on practical implementations of the 2023 EBRD report findings on both hard and soft infrastructures in Central Asia,\" Vassilenko told the Brussels Europe Press Club.<\/p>\n<p>The EBRD study, submitted in June 2023, recommended seven soft connectivity measures and 33 hard infrastructure investments across the region. Based on the report, the EU and EU-supported financial institutions pledged \u20ac10 billion for Central Asian infrastructure development.<\/p>\n<p>So far, the EBRD has signed loan agreements with Kazakhstan worth $800 million (\u20ac691 million), while the European Investment Bank signed a \u20ac200 million loan agreement with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan in March.<\/p>\n<p>\"We can't say that we haven't moved, but we have just started moving forward. The market demand is there, we need to build up these capacities now,\" Vassilenko said.<\/p>\n<p>He warned the moment could be lost if red tape and feasibility studies take too long.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Decade of enhanced partnership<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This December marks the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Cooperation and Partnership Agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan, which covers 29 areas including trade, connectivity, critical raw materials, energy, climate change and regional security.<\/p>\n<p>\"It was signed 10 years ago, and it has been valid for five years. So, it's a very important milestone,\" said Ale\u0161ka Simki\u0107, EU ambassador to Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n<p>The partnership dates to 1993, shortly after Kazakhstan gained independence. The first partnership agreement was signed in 1995 but had exhausted its potential by 2010-2015, according to Valeriy Sitenko, senior expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute under Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>The enhanced agreement signed in December 2015 was the first of its kind in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan signed a similar agreement last year and Uzbekistan signed one in October. Tajikistan is preparing to follow suit.<\/p>\n<p>The first EU-Central Asia Summit was held in April in Uzbekistan's city of Samarkand.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>EU's largest trade partner<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Kazakhstan is the EU's largest partner in Central Asia, accounting for 90% of trade with the region. For Kazakhstan, the EU is its largest trading and investment partner.<\/p>\n<p>Trade turnover between the two exceeded \u20ac40 billion in 2024. EU investments over nearly 35 years have reached \u20ac173 billion, representing half of all foreign direct investment into Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan provides 13% of the EU's oil imports and 16% of its uranium imports.<\/p>\n<p>\"In this regard, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the continued, secure, and uninterrupted supply of Kazakh oil to the EU market,\" Vassilenko said.<\/p>\n<p>The country can provide 21 of the 34 critical raw materials the EU has identified, which officials say will support Europe's industrial resilience while enabling Kazakhstan to modernise its economy.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Transport corridor expansion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Some 85% of land transit between Europe and Asia passes through Kazakhstan, including the Middle Corridor, which is expected to handle 5.2 million tonnes of cargo this year.<\/p>\n<p>The route's capacity currently stands at 6 million tonnes per year and is planned to expand to 10 million by 2028.<\/p>\n<p>\"As we can see, the Middle Corridor is evolving beyond a mere transport route. It is becoming a strategic partnership platform that connects economies, technologies, and people,\" Vassilenko said.<\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan has invested \u20ac30 billion in transport sector modernisation and plans to invest another \u20ac13 billion, aiming to reach Pakistan's market through Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>The two sides are also working on easing visa application processes to strengthen business and cultural ties.<\/p>\n<p>\"This decision represents a significant step toward bringing our peoples even closer, enabling greater mobility, more opportunities for students and professionals, and deeper mutual understanding,\" Vassilenko said.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764339072,"updatedAt":1766397120,"publishedAt":1764842995,"firstPublishedAt":1764842995,"lastPublishedAt":1766397119,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright: Delegation of EU to Kazakhstan","altText":"Handshake between Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 2 April 2025","callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"caption":"Handshake between Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 2 April 2025","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/54\/22\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e5df57b7-c5e4-545d-b776-37d71b24dddf-9565422.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":900},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright: Delegation of EU to Kazakhstan","altText":"placeholder","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"placeholder","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/54\/22\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ac822dd2-022f-591d-a12d-872383f011ca-9565422.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1307},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright: Embassy of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Belgium","altText":"Kazakhstan\u2019s Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the country\u2019s Mission to the EU and NATO Roman Vassilenko speaking at the Brussels Europe Press Club on November 25.","callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"caption":"Kazakhstan\u2019s Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the country\u2019s Mission to the EU and NATO Roman Vassilenko speaking at the Brussels Europe Press Club on November 25.","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/54\/22\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7afb8c0f-a4f8-5a7d-a157-12eafa75b0d8-9565422.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":960}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"galiya.khassenkhanova@euronews.com","twitter":null,"id":3546,"title":"Galiya Khassenkhanova"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan","id":472,"title":"Kazakhstan","slug":"kazakhstan"},{"urlSafeValue":"european-union","titleRaw":"European Union","id":105,"title":"European Union","slug":"european-union"},{"urlSafeValue":"cooperation","titleRaw":"Cooperation","id":5338,"title":"Cooperation","slug":"cooperation"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2850070},{"id":2850071},{"id":2780276}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/04\/kazakhstan-calls-on-eu-to-speed-up-10-billion-central-asia-investments","lastModified":1766397119},{"id":2849513,"cid":9561198,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"EA - S02E03 - KA - NUCLEAR - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3412792,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan advances nuclear projects and research hubs to strengthen its energy future","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan advances nuclear projects and research hubs for energy","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan advances nuclear projects and research hubs to strengthen its energy future","leadin":"The Central Asian nation is leveraging its uranium wealth, cutting-edge research and strategic partnerships to develop nuclear power and medical innovations, charting a path toward carbon neutrality while emerging as a key player in global energy.","summary":"The Central Asian nation is leveraging its uranium wealth, cutting-edge research and strategic partnerships to develop nuclear power and medical innovations, charting a path toward carbon neutrality while emerging as a key player in global energy.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-advances-nuclear-projects-and-research-hubs-to-strengthen-its-energy-future","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/03\/kazakhstan-advances-nuclear-projects-and-research-hubs-to-strengthen-its-energy-future","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"With nuclear energy making a global comeback, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as one of the world\u2019s most influential players. The country is already the top producer of uranium, holding around one million tonnes in reserves \u2014 enough for several decades of production \u2014 yet it does not generate nuclear power for its own grid.\u00a0\n\nAs the uranium-rich country pushes towards carbon neutrality by 2060 while still relying on coal for 70% of its electricity, the move towards nuclear energy has become increasingly urgent. The Central Asian nation is now entering what officials call its second nuclear revival. Its Soviet-era BN-350 fast reactor near Aktau was shut down in 1999 and is currently being decommissioned.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nThe government plans to build several nuclear power plants over the coming decades \u2014 one with Russia\u2019s Rosatom and two more with Chinese partners. Details of the Chinese-backed projects are still under negotiation, but officials say they are intended to diversify Kazakhstan\u2019s long-term energy mix.\u00a0\n\nThe first station with Rosatom is expected to launch by 2035. Recently officially named the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, in line with global practice of naming stations by geography, it will include two Generation III+ pressurised water reactors with a combined capacity of 2.4 GW. Both countries are now focused on site-selection, which began in August 2025, to identify the safest location in the seismically active Almaty region near the village of Ulken.\u00a0\n\nAsset Makhambetov, Deputy Chairman of Kazakhstan\u2019s Agency for Atomic Energy, says the chosen technology includes \u201call the passive and active safety systems needed to ensure safe and reliable operation of the reactor, and all the lessons learned from Fukushima and Chernobyl, so that kind of accidents won't happen in the future.\u201d\u00a0\n\nOn radioactive waste management, the Agency says Kazakhstan is already working with its technology provider on ways to minimise waste volumes.\u00a0\n\nEmerging nuclear innovation hubs\n\nAs Kazakhstan accelerates its nuclear ambitions, it is also broadening the ecosystem around them. The country has mined uranium for more than 50 years, supporting a wide spectrum of nuclear research. Earlier this year, President Tokayev announced plans to create two science cities \u2014 in Almaty and Kurchatov \u2014 focused on nuclear energy and medicine. The Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty and the National Nuclear Centre in Kurchatov will anchor these efforts.\u00a0\n\nLast year, the Institute of Nuclear Physics began exporting technetium-99 radiopharmaceuticals to Kyrgyzstan with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency. These materials are widely used in medical imaging, including cancer and cardiac diagnostics \u2014 a sign of how Kazakhstan seeks to translate nuclear expertise into broader public benefit.\u00a0\n\n\u201cRight now, we are developing the long-term strategy for nuclear industry development of Kazakhstan up to 2050,\u201d said Makhambetov.\u00a0\n\nExpanding Kazakhstan\u2019s fuel cycle\n\nKazakhstan currently concentrates on uranium mining, fuel production and technology exports. The national operator, Kazatomprom, manages the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including exploration, mining and fabrication of fuel components. The company now plans to expand into additional stages of the cycle, potentially including conversion and enrichment \u2014 a move that would further strengthen Kazakhstan\u2019s position in global supply chains.\u00a0\n\nAlthough Kazatomprom is working to expand its resource base through new mining licences, it plans to reduce production by 10% next year. CEO Meirzhan Yussupov maintains a positive outlook.\u00a0\n\n\u201cWe are sticking to our value-over-volume strategy. And we see that there is increasing interest in nuclear energy, given the pledge by more than 20 countries to triple their nuclear capacity by 2050. Many new builds of nuclear power plants are being announced globally, there is increasing demand for energy by big tech and increasing AI. And also a lot of analysts are forecasting structural deficit of uranium in the next decade,\u201d says Yussupov.\u00a0\n\nKazatomprom\u2019s competitive advantage comes from Kazakhstan\u2019s extensive reserves suitable for in-situ recovery (ISR) mining, which is cheaper and less invasive than conventional extraction. Kazakhstan\u2019s uranium production is now almost entirely based on this method.\u00a0\n\nWith six decades of experience in civil nuclear materials and fuel-component production, the country also exports low-enriched nuclear fuel to reactors in China. The fuel pellets and assemblies are produced at Kazatomprom\u2019s Ulba Metallurgical Plant, which last year reached its full annual production capacity of 200 tonnes.\u00a0\n\nNuclear power for progress\n\nSince independence, Kazakhstan has actively advanced peaceful nuclear initiatives. It voluntarily relinquished the nuclear arsenal inherited from the Soviet Union, closed the Semipalatinsk test site after more than 400 nuclear explosions, and helped establish the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. In 2015 it also initiated a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.\u00a0\n\nToday Kazakhstan hosts the world\u2019s Low Enriched Uranium Bank at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. Run by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the bank serves as a physical reserve of reactor-grade uranium that member states can access in case of supply disruption. Operational since 2019, it stores 90 tonnes of uranium hexafluoride supplied by Kazakhstan and France, which remains unused so far.\u00a0\n\nAccording to Ulba Metallurgical Plant Sales Director Alexander Khodanov, \u201cradiation levels on the warehouse premises remain within permissible limits.\u201d The safe storage of low-enriched uranium, he says, is ensured \u201cthrough a set of organisational and technical measures that prevent any harmful impact on the environment.\u201d\u00a0\n\nThrough these combined efforts \u2014 from safe reactor design to international collaboration and research innovation \u2014 Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a central player in the global nuclear energy landscape.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>With nuclear energy making a global comeback, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as one of the world\u2019s most influential players. The country is already the top producer of uranium, holding around one million tonnes in reserves \u2014 enough for several decades of production \u2014 yet it does not generate nuclear power for its own grid. <\/p>\n<p>As the uranium-rich country pushes towards carbon neutrality by 2060 while still relying on coal for 70% of its electricity, the move towards nuclear energy has become increasingly urgent. The Central Asian nation is now entering what officials call its second nuclear revival. Its Soviet-era BN-350 fast reactor near Aktau was shut down in 1999 and is currently being decommissioned. <\/p>\n<p>The government plans to build several nuclear power plants over the coming decades \u2014 one with Russia\u2019s Rosatom and two more with Chinese partners. Details of the Chinese-backed projects are still under negotiation, but officials say they are intended to diversify Kazakhstan\u2019s long-term energy mix. <\/p>\n<p>The first station with Rosatom is expected to launch by 2035. Recently officially named the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, in line with global practice of naming stations by geography, it will include two Generation III+ pressurised water reactors with a combined capacity of 2.4 GW. Both countries are now focused on site-selection, which began in August 2025, to identify the safest location in the seismically active Almaty region near the village of Ulken. <\/p>\n<p>Asset Makhambetov, Deputy Chairman of Kazakhstan\u2019s Agency for Atomic Energy, says the chosen technology includes \u201call the passive and active safety systems needed to ensure safe and reliable operation of the reactor, and all the lessons learned from Fukushima and Chernobyl, so that kind of accidents won't happen in the future.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>On radioactive waste management, the Agency says Kazakhstan is already working with its technology provider on ways to minimise waste volumes. <\/p>\n<h2>Emerging nuclear innovation hubs<\/h2>\n<p>As Kazakhstan accelerates its nuclear ambitions, it is also broadening the ecosystem around them. The country has mined uranium for more than 50 years, supporting a wide spectrum of nuclear research. Earlier this year, President Tokayev announced plans to create two science cities \u2014 in Almaty and Kurchatov \u2014 focused on nuclear energy and medicine. The Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty and the National Nuclear Centre in Kurchatov will anchor these efforts. <\/p>\n<p>Last year, the Institute of Nuclear Physics began exporting technetium-99 radiopharmaceuticals to Kyrgyzstan with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency. These materials are widely used in medical imaging, including cancer and cardiac diagnostics \u2014 a sign of how Kazakhstan seeks to translate nuclear expertise into broader public benefit. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now, we are developing the long-term strategy for nuclear industry development of Kazakhstan up to 2050,\u201d said Makhambetov. <\/p>\n<h2>Expanding Kazakhstan\u2019s fuel cycle<\/h2>\n<p>Kazakhstan currently concentrates on uranium mining, fuel production and technology exports. The national operator, Kazatomprom, manages the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including exploration, mining and fabrication of fuel components. The company now plans to expand into additional stages of the cycle, potentially including conversion and enrichment \u2014 a move that would further strengthen Kazakhstan\u2019s position in global supply chains. <\/p>\n<p>Although Kazatomprom is working to expand its resource base through new mining licences, it plans to reduce production by 10% next year. CEO Meirzhan Yussupov maintains a positive outlook. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are sticking to our value-over-volume strategy. And we see that there is increasing interest in nuclear energy, given the pledge by more than 20 countries to triple their nuclear capacity by 2050. Many new builds of nuclear power plants are being announced globally, there is increasing demand for energy by big tech and increasing AI. And also a lot of analysts are forecasting structural deficit of uranium in the next decade,\u201d says Yussupov. <\/p>\n<p>Kazatomprom\u2019s competitive advantage comes from Kazakhstan\u2019s extensive reserves suitable for in-situ recovery (ISR) mining, which is cheaper and less invasive than conventional extraction. Kazakhstan\u2019s uranium production is now almost entirely based on this method. <\/p>\n<p>With six decades of experience in civil nuclear materials and fuel-component production, the country also exports low-enriched nuclear fuel to reactors in China. The fuel pellets and assemblies are produced at Kazatomprom\u2019s Ulba Metallurgical Plant, which last year reached its full annual production capacity of 200 tonnes. <\/p>\n<h2>Nuclear power for progress<\/h2>\n<p>Since independence, Kazakhstan has actively advanced peaceful nuclear initiatives. It voluntarily relinquished the nuclear arsenal inherited from the Soviet Union, closed the Semipalatinsk test site after more than 400 nuclear explosions, and helped establish the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. In 2015 it also initiated a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. <\/p>\n<p>Today Kazakhstan hosts the world\u2019s Low Enriched Uranium Bank at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. Run by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the bank serves as a physical reserve of reactor-grade uranium that member states can access in case of supply disruption. Operational since 2019, it stores 90 tonnes of uranium hexafluoride supplied by Kazakhstan and France, which remains unused so far. <\/p>\n<p>According to Ulba Metallurgical Plant Sales Director Alexander Khodanov, \u201cradiation levels on the warehouse premises remain within permissible limits.\u201d The safe storage of low-enriched uranium, he says, is ensured \u201cthrough a set of organisational and technical measures that prevent any harmful impact on the environment.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Through these combined efforts \u2014 from safe reactor design to international collaboration and research innovation \u2014 Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a central player in the global nuclear energy landscape. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764079747,"updatedAt":1764771294,"publishedAt":1764770432,"firstPublishedAt":1764770432,"lastPublishedAt":1764771293,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/12\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_553046b3-c0c7-5418-9ae7-e38827ba2afa-9561216.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":216,"slug":"nuclear-energy","urlSafeValue":"nuclear-energy","title":"Nuclear Energy","titleRaw":"Nuclear Energy"},{"id":11296,"slug":"sustainable-development","urlSafeValue":"sustainable-development","title":"Sustainable development","titleRaw":"Sustainable development"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"-Jhw9wrUMVI","dailymotionId":"x9uezxm"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/30\/14\/94\/09\/ED_PYR_3014949_20251125152650.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":65738066,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/30\/14\/94\/09\/SHD_PYR_3014949_20251125152650.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":102618205,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/30\/14\/94\/09\/FHD_PYR_3014949_20251125152650.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":366797950,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Botagoz Marabai","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"east-west-connect","urlSafeValue":"east-west-connect","title":"East-West Connect","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business-series\/east-west-connect"},"season":"EAST-WEST CONNECT_S02","episode":"S02E03 - KA - NUCLEAR","episodeId":"1175","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business-series","urlSafeValue":"business-series","title":"Business Series","url":"\/business\/business-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":76,"urlSafeValue":"business-series","title":"Business Series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1730466509,"endDate":2114341713,"type":"sponsored","slug":"mdq-2024","title":"MDQ 2024","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"MDQ","sponsorName":"mdq-2024","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mdq.kz","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/866\/300x64_cmsv2_c74631ff-d361-585c-9238-73fc14ca3554-866.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2025\/12\/03\/kazakhstan-advances-nuclear-projects-and-research-hubs-to-strengthen-its-energy-future","lastModified":1764771293},{"id":2850991,"cid":9567631,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Kazakhstan joins global fight: 16 days to end gender-based violence","daletPyramidId":3469208,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Cities across Kazakhstan lit orange to raise awareness of violence against women","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan joins global fight: 16 days to end gender-based violence","titleListing2":"Cities across Kazakhstan lit orange to raise awareness of violence against women","leadin":"Landmark buildings across Kazakhstan were lit up in orange to mark the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.","summary":"Landmark buildings across Kazakhstan were lit up in orange to mark the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.","keySentence":"","url":"cities-across-kazakhstan-lit-orange-to-raise-awareness-of-violence-against-women","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/12\/01\/cities-across-kazakhstan-lit-orange-to-raise-awareness-of-violence-against-women","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Each year, the 16 Days of Activism campaign runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.\n\nIn 2025, the UN's global campaign focuses on ending digital violence against all women and girls.\n\nKazakhstan supports the UN's 16 Days to End Gender-Based Violence. The country emphasises the importance of upholding human rights and encouraging open discussions about violence.\n\nAcross Kazakhstan, landmarks in Astana and Almaty were lit in orange to show solidarity throughout the campaign. The color serves as a visible reminder of support for victims and the importance of protecting human rights, reinforcing zero tolerance for all forms of violence.\n\nProtecting women in the digital age\n\nAccording to the UN agency for women's rights, less than 40% of countries have laws protecting women from online harassment and stalking, leaving some 1.8 billion women and girls without legal safeguards. This year, Kazakhstan moved to address the gap by introducing a law criminalising stalking, with penalties of up to 50 days in detention.\n\nAt the same time, the Kazakhstan Institute for Public Development presented a National Report on Domestic Violence. The report found that 82% of domestic violence cases are directed at women, over a third involve children, and nearly 13.5% affect older adults.\n\nIn 2024, Kazakhstan strengthened legal protections for women and children, introducing criminal liability for all forms of assault, from minor to grievous bodily harm. The law also removes the possibility of reconciliation in cases involving minors, signaling a tougher stance on violence against the most vulnerable.\n\nRaising awareness nationwide\n\nThe campaign spans the entire country, reaching universities, schools and public spaces.\n\nOn 25 November, Astana hosted the opening of the End Violence Film Festival, which runs for four days in both Astana and Shymkent.\n\nThe programme features films from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal, all highlighting the urgent need to end gender-based violence.\n\nKazakhstan takes part in the campaign each year and continues to strengthen its legal framework to protect women, children and vulnerable groups from violence.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Each year, the 16 Days of Activism campaign runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025, the UN's global campaign focuses on ending digital violence against all women and girls. <\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan supports the UN's 16 Days to End Gender-Based Violence. The country emphasises the importance of upholding human rights and encouraging open discussions about violence.<\/p>\n<p>Across Kazakhstan, landmarks in Astana and Almaty were lit in orange to show solidarity throughout the campaign. The color serves as a visible reminder of support for victims and the importance of protecting human rights, reinforcing zero tolerance for all forms of violence.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.562709590878605\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//76//31//808x454_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg/" alt=\"Atyrau Bridge in Astana \" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/384x216_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/640x360_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/750x422_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/828x466_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/1080x608_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/1200x675_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/1920x1080_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Atyrau Bridge in Astana <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">copyright: The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3>Protecting women in the digital age<\/h3>\n<p>According to the UN agency for women's rights, less than 40% of countries have laws protecting women from online harassment and stalking, leaving some 1.8 billion women and girls without legal safeguards. This year, Kazakhstan moved to address the gap by introducing a law criminalising stalking, with penalties of up to 50 days in detention.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, the Kazakhstan Institute for Public Development presented a National Report on Domestic Violence. The report found that 82% of domestic violence cases are directed at women, over a third involve children, and nearly 13.5% affect older adults.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, Kazakhstan strengthened legal protections for women and children, introducing criminal liability for all forms of assault, from minor to grievous bodily harm. The law also removes the possibility of reconciliation in cases involving minors, signaling a tougher stance on violence against the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2025//08//08//kazakh-vocalist-aigerim-altynbek-stuns-jury-wins-big-at-portofinos-opera-competition/">Kazakh vocalist Aigerim Altynbek stuns jury, wins big at Portofino\u2019s Opera Competition<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//26//how-kazakhstans-female-entrepreneurs-are-leading-central-asias-tech-revolution/">How Kazakhstan\u2019s female entrepreneurs are leading Central Asia\u2019s tech revolution<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3>Raising awareness nationwide<\/h3>\n<p>The campaign spans the entire country, reaching universities, schools and public spaces. <\/p>\n<p>On 25 November, Astana hosted the opening of the End Violence Film Festival, which runs for four days in both Astana and Shymkent. <\/p>\n<p>The programme features films from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal, all highlighting the urgent need to end gender-based violence.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.66640625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//76//31//808x539_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg/" alt=\"The launch of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign in Astana on Nov. 25\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/384x256_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/640x427_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/750x500_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/828x552_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/1080x720_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/1200x800_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/1920x1280_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The launch of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign in Astana on Nov. 25<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">copyright: The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Kazakhstan takes part in the campaign each year and continues to strengthen its legal framework to protect women, children and vulnerable groups from violence.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764593018,"updatedAt":1764605832,"publishedAt":1764605807,"firstPublishedAt":1764605807,"lastPublishedAt":1764605807,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9eb5d0ae-7b26-5f06-8506-b12f4cc005e0-9567631.jpg","altText":"Observation tower Baiterek in Astana","caption":"Observation tower Baiterek in Astana","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"copyright: The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"height":900},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ab9c17b4-cd17-577c-8a04-6827e4db1bfb-9567631.jpg","altText":"The launch of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign in Astana on Nov. 25","caption":"The launch of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign in Astana on Nov. 25","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"copyright: The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":853},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/76\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8ac55fbb-d3ec-56de-bd36-adebc50ba550-9567631.jpg","altText":"Atyrau Bridge in Astana ","caption":"Atyrau Bridge in Astana ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"copyright: The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1491,"height":839}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3550,"urlSafeValue":"tomiris.bilyal@euronews.com","title":"Tomiris Bilyal","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"},{"id":4625,"slug":"women-s-rights","urlSafeValue":"women-s-rights","title":"Women's rights","titleRaw":"Women's rights"},{"id":9547,"slug":"violence-against-women","urlSafeValue":"violence-against-women","title":"Violence against women","titleRaw":"Violence against women"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2836754},{"id":2802631}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-news\/culture-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news","url":"\/culture\/culture-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":53,"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":{"id":3900,"urlSafeValue":"almaty","title":"Almaty"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/12\/01\/cities-across-kazakhstan-lit-orange-to-raise-awareness-of-violence-against-women","lastModified":1764605807},{"id":2850070,"cid":9563811,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"OPINION KAZAKHSTAN FM","daletPyramidId":3436126,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Enhancing EU-Kazakhstan cooperation for a sustainable future ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Enhancing EU-Kazakhstan cooperation for a sustainable future ","titleListing2":"Enhancing EU-Kazakhstan cooperation for a sustainable future ","leadin":"Kazakhstan and the EU share a long-term interest in stable, resilient and predictable supply chains that underpin economic growth and deliver the technologies needed for a cleaner future, Foreign Affairs Minister Yermek Kosherbayev writes in an opinion article for Euronews.","summary":"Kazakhstan and the EU share a long-term interest in stable, resilient and predictable supply chains that underpin economic growth and deliver the technologies needed for a cleaner future, Foreign Affairs Minister Yermek Kosherbayev writes in an opinion article for Euronews.","keySentence":"","url":"enhancing-eu-kazakhstan-cooperation-for-a-sustainable-future","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/28\/enhancing-eu-kazakhstan-cooperation-for-a-sustainable-future","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"This December marks 10 years since Kazakhstan and the European Union signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), a milestone that confirmed our shared commitment to a broad and forward-looking partnership.\n\nOver the past decade, cooperation has expanded across political dialogue, security, investment, education, and connectivity. With more than \u20ac200 billion invested since 2005, the EU is now Kazakhstan\u2019s largest trade and investment partner.\n\nToday, as ever, our relationship is shaped by a shared commitment to the UN Charter and its principles, and a shared understanding that many of the global challenges can only be addressed through deeper collaboration between Europe and its close and reliable partners.\n\nOne such challenge sits at the core of Europe\u2019s long-term growth: securing the materials and technologies essential for the green and digital transitions. Europe\u2019s dependence on a small group of suppliers for critical raw materials has become a defining question for its competitiveness.\n\nEnsuring stable access to these inputs is no longer simply an industrial issue, it is a strategic one. It is in this context that Kazakhstan can play a meaningful role.\n\nKazakhstan is already part of the answer\n\nThe European Commission has emphasised that Europe must diversify its sources of critical raw materials. The question facing European policymakers today is how to mitigate the risk while maintaining momentum on the Green Deal.\n\nKazakhstan is already part of the answer. In 2024, bilateral trade with the EU reached $48.8 billion, and more than 80% of Kazakhstan\u2019s oil exports are directed to European markets.\n\nLooking ahead, we see an opportunity to build more secure and diversified critical minerals supply chains for Europe, an area where our resources and experience are directly relevant.\n\nThe EU\u2019s Critical Raw Materials Act highlights the scale of the challenge. By 2030, Europe aims to extract, process, and recycle far more of its needs while limiting dependence on any single external supplier.\n\nRecent disruptions have shown how easily supply chains can be strained by geopolitical tensions or logistical shocks. Demand for copper, graphite, rare earth elements, manganese, titanium and other transition minerals continues to grow at a pace far exceeding global supply.\n\nKazakhstan is one of the few countries that can contribute to filling this gap. According to the EU\u2019s own assessments, Kazakhstan can supply 21 of the 34 raw materials the EU considers critical, including several categorised as strategic. Our Sarytogan graphite project is included on the EU\u2019s official list of Strategic Projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act.\n\nThe basis for this work is strong. More than 4,000 European companies operate in Kazakhstan today. Our 2022 Strategic Partnership MoU with the EU on critical raw materials, batteries, and renewable hydrogen has strengthened the EPCA\u2019s economic pillar. The joint 2025\u20132026 Roadmap now sets clear priorities \u2013 from geological exploration to value-chain development and green hydrogen.\n\nThe task now is to turn this strong basis into practical results.\n\nTurning shared challenges into shared strengths together\n\nA first step is focusing jointly on a select number of high-impact projects. Expanding cooperation in key areas such as copper, manganese, titanium, rare earth elements and other essential minerals would help build a more diversified supply base for Europe and provide investors with clearer long-term visibility.\n\nBuilding resilience also means moving beyond raw materials alone. Europe\u2019s processing and refining goals will require trusted partners with both capacity and geographic reach. Kazakhstan has the resources to support this shift, and expanding cooperation in selected areas of processing would help create a more diversified and predictable supply base for Europe.\n\nTransport and logistics matter, too. Critical materials need sustainable and secure routes, and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route \u2013 known as the Middle Corridor \u2013 has already become an important link between Central Asia and Europe.\n\nWith more than \u20ac10 billion in commitments from the European Commission and international financial institutions, the route is gaining efficiency and cutting transit times. Continued investment in infrastructure, rail capacity and digital systems will further strengthen this corridor and help de-risk Europe\u2019s clean-energy supply chains.\n\nInnovation and skills must advance in step. Secure supply chains depend on technology and expertise, not just raw materials. Kazakhstan already participates in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, and with the visa facilitation for Kazakh citizens expected in the foreseeable future, deeper cooperation in geological surveying, battery recycling, low-impact extraction and green hydrogen would support Europe\u2019s climate goals while accelerating Kazakhstan\u2019s industrial upgrade.\n\nAs we mark 10 years since the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the direction is clear: Kazakhstan and the EU share a long-term interest in stable, resilient and predictable supply chains that underpin economic growth and deliver the technologies needed for a cleaner future.\n\nThe past decade has shown what this partnership can achieve. The decade ahead must be defined by implementation: strategic projects, stronger value chains, modernised infrastructure, and deeper technological cooperation.\n\nEurope\u2019s transition will ultimately depend on securing the materials that underpin future industries. With the right choices, both sides can build a stronger and more resilient partnership. Kazakhstan stands ready to work with the European Union to turn shared challenges into shared strengths.\n\nYermek Kosherbayev serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>This December marks 10 years since Kazakhstan and the European Union signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), a milestone that confirmed our shared commitment to a broad and forward-looking partnership. <\/p>\n<p>Over the past decade, cooperation has expanded across political dialogue, security, investment, education, and connectivity. With more than \u20ac200 billion invested since 2005, the EU is now Kazakhstan\u2019s largest trade and investment partner. <\/p>\n<p>Today, as ever, our relationship is shaped by a shared commitment to the UN Charter and its principles, and a shared understanding that many of the global challenges can only be addressed through deeper collaboration between Europe and its close and reliable partners. <\/p>\n<p>One such challenge sits at the core of Europe\u2019s long-term growth: securing the materials and technologies essential for the green and digital transitions. Europe\u2019s dependence on a small group of suppliers for critical raw materials has become a defining question for its competitiveness. <\/p>\n<p>Ensuring stable access to these inputs is no longer simply an industrial issue, it is a strategic one. It is in this context that Kazakhstan can play a meaningful role. <\/p>\n<h2>Kazakhstan is already part of the answer<\/h2>\n<p>The European Commission has emphasised that Europe must diversify its sources of critical raw materials. The question facing European policymakers today is how to mitigate the risk while maintaining momentum on the Green Deal. <\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan is already part of the answer. In 2024, bilateral trade with the EU reached $48.8 billion, and more than 80% of Kazakhstan\u2019s oil exports are directed to European markets. <\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, we see an opportunity to build more secure and diversified critical minerals supply chains for Europe, an area where our resources and experience are directly relevant. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">The past decade has shown what this partnership can achieve. The decade ahead must be defined by implementation: strategic projects, stronger value chains, modernised infrastructure and deeper technological cooperation. <\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7065\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//38//11//808x569_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Downtown Astana is seen from Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, 28 February 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/384x271_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/640x452_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/750x530_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/828x585_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/1080x763_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/1200x848_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/1920x1356_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Downtown Astana is seen from Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, 28 February 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The EU\u2019s Critical Raw Materials Act highlights the scale of the challenge. By 2030, Europe aims to extract, process, and recycle far more of its needs while limiting dependence on any single external supplier. <\/p>\n<p>Recent disruptions have shown how easily supply chains can be strained by geopolitical tensions or logistical shocks. Demand for copper, graphite, rare earth elements, manganese, titanium and other transition minerals continues to grow at a pace far exceeding global supply. <\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan is one of the few countries that can contribute to filling this gap. According to the EU\u2019s own assessments, Kazakhstan can supply 21 of the 34 raw materials the EU considers critical, including several categorised as strategic. Our Sarytogan graphite project is included on the EU\u2019s official list of Strategic Projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act. <\/p>\n<p>The basis for this work is strong. More than 4,000 European companies operate in Kazakhstan today. Our 2022 Strategic Partnership MoU with the EU on critical raw materials, batteries, and renewable hydrogen has strengthened the EPCA\u2019s economic pillar. The joint 2025\u20132026 Roadmap now sets clear priorities \u2013 from geological exploration to value-chain development and green hydrogen. <\/p>\n<p>The task now is to turn this strong basis into practical results. <\/p>\n<h2>Turning shared challenges into shared strengths together<\/h2>\n<p>A first step is focusing jointly on a select number of high-impact projects. Expanding cooperation in key areas such as copper, manganese, titanium, rare earth elements and other essential minerals would help build a more diversified supply base for Europe and provide investors with clearer long-term visibility. <\/p>\n<p>Building resilience also means moving beyond raw materials alone. Europe\u2019s processing and refining goals will require trusted partners with both capacity and geographic reach. Kazakhstan has the resources to support this shift, and expanding cooperation in selected areas of processing would help create a more diversified and predictable supply base for Europe. <\/p>\n<p>Transport and logistics matter, too. Critical materials need sustainable and secure routes, and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route \u2013 known as the Middle Corridor \u2013 has already become an important link between Central Asia and Europe. <\/p>\n<p>With more than \u20ac10 billion in commitments from the European Commission and international financial institutions, the route is gaining efficiency and cutting transit times. Continued investment in infrastructure, rail capacity and digital systems will further strengthen this corridor and help de-risk Europe\u2019s clean-energy supply chains. <\/p>\n<p>Innovation and skills must advance in step. Secure supply chains depend on technology and expertise, not just raw materials. Kazakhstan already participates in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, and with the visa facilitation for Kazakh citizens expected in the foreseeable future, deeper cooperation in geological surveying, battery recycling, low-impact extraction and green hydrogen would support Europe\u2019s climate goals while accelerating Kazakhstan\u2019s industrial upgrade. <\/p>\n<p>As we mark 10 years since the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the direction is clear: Kazakhstan and the EU share a long-term interest in stable, resilient and predictable supply chains that underpin economic growth and deliver the technologies needed for a cleaner future. <\/p>\n<p>The past decade has shown what this partnership can achieve. The decade ahead must be defined by implementation: strategic projects, stronger value chains, modernised infrastructure, and deeper technological cooperation. <\/p>\n<p>Europe\u2019s transition will ultimately depend on securing the materials that underpin future industries. With the right choices, both sides can build a stronger and more resilient partnership. Kazakhstan stands ready to work with the European Union to turn shared challenges into shared strengths. <\/p>\n<p><em>Yermek Kosherbayev serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.<\/em> <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764245350,"updatedAt":1764320425,"publishedAt":1764320400,"firstPublishedAt":1764327600,"lastPublishedAt":1764320425,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_008574d1-3732-503a-99ee-61b6f3478153-9563811.jpg","altText":"Yermek Kosherbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan ","caption":"Yermek Kosherbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Courtesy of Kazakhstan Foreign Affairs Ministry ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"height":900},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/38\/11\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f6d94442-50d3-514a-aea0-faf87c81a6ca-9563811.jpg","altText":"FILE: Downtown Astana is seen from Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, 28 February 2023","caption":"FILE: Downtown Astana is seen from Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, 28 February 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1413}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"},{"id":105,"slug":"european-union","urlSafeValue":"european-union","title":"European Union","titleRaw":"European Union"},{"id":22480,"slug":"euroviews","urlSafeValue":"euroviews","title":"Euroviews","titleRaw":"Euroviews"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"quotation","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2850404}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Yermek Kosherbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Kazakhstan","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":1,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/28\/enhancing-eu-kazakhstan-cooperation-for-a-sustainable-future","lastModified":1764320425},{"id":2847400,"cid":9551975,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"VC - S02E03 - TECHWOMEN - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3337028,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"How Kazakhstan\u2019s female entrepreneurs are leading Central Asia\u2019s tech revolution","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan\u2019s women are driving Central Asia\u2019s tech boom","titleListing2":"How Kazakhstan\u2019s female entrepreneurs are leading Central Asia\u2019s tech revolution","leadin":"From bootstrapped startups to the region\u2019s first female-focused venture fund, Kazakhstan\u2019s women are breaking barriers, transforming industries, and redefining what it means to lead in tech.","summary":"From bootstrapped startups to the region\u2019s first female-focused venture fund, Kazakhstan\u2019s women are breaking barriers, transforming industries, and redefining what it means to lead in tech.","keySentence":"","url":"how-kazakhstans-female-entrepreneurs-are-leading-central-asias-tech-revolution","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/26\/how-kazakhstans-female-entrepreneurs-are-leading-central-asias-tech-revolution","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Today, women are stepping into the tech sector from all kinds of backgrounds. Their journeys show just how rapidly Central Asia is evolving and highlight the women leading this new wave of change.\n\nOne of the pioneers driving this shift is Assem Bolatzhan, who moved from the financial sector to IT in 2015 through the Digital Kazakhstan programme.\n\n\u201cWe launched the Women in Tech chapter in Kazakhstan because we need to be part of a global community. After all, Women in Tech globally has 65 chapters around the world,\u201d says Bolatzhan.\n\nAccording to Rinata Ilyubayeva, Women in Tech Astana lead, nearly 60% of women-led startups in Kazakhstan focus on social impact.\n\n\u201cMost female startups are in EdTech, HealthTech, and solutions for children with autism, elderly people, and pregnant women. This highlights societal challenges that technology can address,\u201d she explains.\n\nAccording to the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, women\u2019s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Kazakhstan is estimated at around 25\u201330%, mirroring the global average. The next challenge is increasing the number of female startup founders and venture capital investors in the region.\n\nThe first female-focused VC in Central Asia\n\nKazakhstan\u2019s female leaders are now building the foundations for a new investment culture. This year, they united to create Central Asia\u2019s first female-focused venture capital initiative.\n\n\u201cWe are building a platform for negotiations, fundraising and business development to support women, because it\u2019s not always easy,\u201d says Ilyubayeva, CEO of Al-Farabi Innovation Hub Dubai and Women in Tech Astana lead.\n\n\u201cYou come home after work and have children to care for, cooking, cleaning and family expectations. In our traditional society, we constantly negotiate with relatives and the husband\u2019s family. Then the next morning, you return to work as a C-level decision-maker. It\u2019s mentally exhausting.\u201d\n\nJuggling motherhood and career\n\nWomen in Tech Kazakhstan also focuses on empowering women entering tech from diverse fields, such as finance, education, diplomacy, or traditional small businesses.\n\nOne example is Aigerim Nurgaliyeva, a serial entrepreneur who transitioned from running a conventional business to building startups. Her first challenge was overcoming the belief that she could not succeed in tech without a technical background.\n\n\u201cThe first obstacle was in my mind. I believed that if you don\u2019t have a tech background, there\u2019s no place for you here. Many girls still think this way,\u201d she says.\n\n\u201cEcosystems like Astana Hub and Women in Tech help change that mindset. You can build a startup without coding.\u201d\n\nToday, Aigerim is bootstrapping her second startup while balancing motherhood and multiple businesses. Her story shows that ambition, resourcefulness, and supportive networks can overcome barriers, proving that tech entrepreneurship is accessible even without formal technical education.\n\nKazakhstan\u2019s female tech leaders are not only transforming their country\u2014they are positioning Central Asia as a rising hub for innovation and female-driven entrepreneurship. By combining innovation with social impact, they are creating a model for the next generation of women in tech across the region.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Today, women are stepping into the tech sector from all kinds of backgrounds. Their journeys show just how rapidly Central Asia is evolving and highlight the women leading this new wave of change.<\/p>\n<p>One of the pioneers driving this shift is Assem Bolatzhan, who moved from the financial sector to IT in 2015 through the Digital Kazakhstan programme.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe launched the Women in Tech chapter in Kazakhstan because we need to be part of a global community. After all, Women in Tech globally has 65 chapters around the world,\u201d says Bolatzhan.<\/p>\n<p>According to Rinata Ilyubayeva, Women in Tech Astana lead, nearly 60% of women-led startups in Kazakhstan focus on social impact.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost female startups are in EdTech, HealthTech, and solutions for children with autism, elderly people, and pregnant women. This highlights societal challenges that technology can address,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, women\u2019s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Kazakhstan is estimated at around 25\u201330%, mirroring the global average. The next challenge is increasing the number of female startup founders and venture capital investors in the region.<\/p>\n<h2>The first female-focused VC in Central Asia<\/h2>\n<p>Kazakhstan\u2019s female leaders are now building the foundations for a new investment culture. This year, they united to create Central Asia\u2019s first female-focused venture capital initiative.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are building a platform for negotiations, fundraising and business development to support women, because it\u2019s not always easy,\u201d says Ilyubayeva, CEO of Al-Farabi Innovation Hub Dubai and Women in Tech Astana lead.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou come home after work and have children to care for, cooking, cleaning and family expectations. In our traditional society, we constantly negotiate with relatives and the husband\u2019s family. Then the next morning, you return to work as a C-level decision-maker. It\u2019s mentally exhausting.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Juggling motherhood and career<\/h2>\n<p>Women in Tech Kazakhstan also focuses on empowering women entering tech from diverse fields, such as finance, education, diplomacy, or traditional small businesses.<\/p>\n<p>One example is Aigerim Nurgaliyeva, a serial entrepreneur who transitioned from running a conventional business to building startups. Her first challenge was overcoming the belief that she could not succeed in tech without a technical background.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe first obstacle was in my mind. I believed that if you don\u2019t have a tech background, there\u2019s no place for you here. Many girls still think this way,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEcosystems like Astana Hub and Women in Tech help change that mindset. You can build a startup without coding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Today, Aigerim is bootstrapping her second startup while balancing motherhood and multiple businesses. Her story shows that ambition, resourcefulness, and supportive networks can overcome barriers, proving that tech entrepreneurship is accessible even without formal technical education.<\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan\u2019s female tech leaders are not only transforming their country\u2014they are positioning Central Asia as a rising hub for innovation and female-driven entrepreneurship. By combining innovation with social impact, they are creating a model for the next generation of women in tech across the region.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1763398009,"updatedAt":1764238887,"publishedAt":1764165614,"firstPublishedAt":1764165614,"lastPublishedAt":1764238886,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/19\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8f81e9ae-32dd-5915-9bf8-08674aa61c77-9551980.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11954,"slug":"women","urlSafeValue":"women","title":"Women","titleRaw":"Women"},{"id":389,"slug":"technology","urlSafeValue":"technology","title":"Technology","titleRaw":"Technology"},{"id":9505,"slug":"new-technologies","urlSafeValue":"new-technologies","title":"New technologies","titleRaw":"New technologies"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"yWSDPXdQzE4","dailymotionId":"x9tyaeu"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/29\/55\/62\/00\/ED_PYR_2955620_20251117174016.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":42409782,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/29\/55\/62\/00\/SHD_PYR_2955620_20251117174016.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":65347210,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/29\/55\/62\/00\/FHD_PYR_2955620_20251117174016.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":231526290,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Tomiris Bilyal","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"voices-from-central-asia","urlSafeValue":"voices-from-central-asia","title":"Voices from Central Asia","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/voices-from-central-asia"},"season":"VOICES OF CENTRAL ASIA_S02","episode":"S02E03 - TECHWOMEN","episodeId":"1117","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-series","urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture Series","url":"\/culture\/culture-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":55,"urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1730466509,"endDate":2114341713,"type":"sponsored","slug":"mdq-2024","title":"MDQ 2024","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"MDQ","sponsorName":"mdq-2024","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mdq.kz","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/866\/300x64_cmsv2_c74631ff-d361-585c-9238-73fc14ca3554-866.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/11\/26\/how-kazakhstans-female-entrepreneurs-are-leading-central-asias-tech-revolution","lastModified":1764238886},{"id":2848739,"cid":9557829,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Pashinyan's visit to Astana","daletPyramidId":3386476,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan shows support towards Armenia\u2019s peace and transport corridor initiatives ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan shows support towards Armenia\u2019s corridor initiatives ","titleListing2":"Astana signals support for Armenia\u2019s peace and transport corridor initiatives ","leadin":"Kazakhstan backed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity initiative during Armenia's Prime Ministers Nikol Pashinyan visit to Astana, highlighting the corridor\u2019s role in diversifying regional transport routes.","summary":"Kazakhstan backed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity initiative during Armenia's Prime Ministers Nikol Pashinyan visit to Astana, highlighting the corridor\u2019s role in diversifying regional transport routes.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-shows-support-towards-armenias-peace-and-transport-corridor-initiatives","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/22\/kazakhstan-shows-support-towards-armenias-peace-and-transport-corridor-initiatives","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan expressed its support for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) and Armenian Crossroads of Peace initiative during Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to its capital Astana.\n\n\u201cWe also confirm our interest in participating in the TRIPP project. Connecting these strategic corridors with the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and the North-South Corridor is in the interests of both countries,\u201d Tokayev said.\n\nFor Kazakhstan, the route, also referred to as the Zangezur Corridor by Azerbaijan and Turkey, is a way to diversify its transport routes.\n\n\u201cThe Zangezur Corridor is primarily about diversifying,\u201d said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin on the sidelines of the visit.\n\n\u201cPreviously, we went through Azerbaijan to Georgia's Black Sea ports, but this route will allow us to reach Nakhchivan and then directly Turkey. There is also a route through Iran, but it\u2019s not used as much.\u201d\n\nDuring talks with his Kazakh counterpart, Pashinyan thanked Kazakhstan for hosting the meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Almaty, which helped lay the groundwork for the 8 August peace agreement.\n\n\u201cThose negotiations were very important for further developments. It is also no secret that the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan is based on the Almaty Declaration,\u201d said Pashinyan.\n\nHe noted that as a result of the Washington Declaration, Armenia is now concentrating on advancing the Trump Route project and is engaged in active negotiations with the US to clarify and finalise the legal framework and regulations.\n\n\u201cThis is indeed a very solid foundation for a lasting, stable and reliable peace, and we, of course, should make efforts to sign and ratify the peace agreement in the near future,\u201d he said.\n\nThe prime minister also highlighted the benefits TRIPP will bring to bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Armenia, as well as the expanded export opportunities \u201cin the case of Armenia, to the east, in the case of Kazakhstan, to the west.\u201d\n\nThe leaders also celebrated the first shipment of 1,000 tonnes of grain from Kazakhstan to Armenia.\n\nThe joint statement signed by the two countries elevated their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership.\n\nThe official delegations signed 15 agreements and memorandums, and discussed the possibility of reopening an air connection between the countries and establishing a Kazakh-Armenian Business Council.\n\nTrade, transit, investment cooperation, subsoil use, agriculture, digitalisation, AI, healthcare and cultural and humanitarian ties were also part of the agenda.\n\nArmenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement\n\nOn 8 August, with mediation by US President Donald Trump, Pashinyan and Azerbaijan\u2019s President Ilham Aliyev signed a joint declaration to finalise a peace agreement aimed at ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.\n\nAlthough an important step, the agreement requires ratification and changes in the Armenian legislature.\u00a0\n\nAnother major element of the agreement involves building a transport link, TRIPP, connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, which is separated by a 44 km stretch of Armenian land.\n\nThe route would remain under Armenian sovereignty and operate under Armenian law, but the US would receive exclusive development rights for 99 years.\u00a0\n\nBeyond its immediate purpose, the project would enable the movement of people and goods from Europe to Azerbaijan and the wider Central Asian region without passing through Russia or Iran.\u00a0\n\nBoth\u00a0Iran\u00a0and\u00a0Russia\u00a0criticised Washington\u2019s role in the proposed TRIPP initiative. Iran is unhappy with the disruption of its connection to Armenia, while Russia may lose its influence in the South Caucasus.\u00a0\n\nInvolving the US is also intended to prevent the Azerbaijan-Turkey tandem from gaining control of the border and cutting Armenia off from Iran.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan expressed its support for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) and Armenian Crossroads of Peace initiative during Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to its capital Astana.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe also confirm our interest in participating in the TRIPP project. Connecting these strategic corridors with the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and the North-South Corridor is in the interests of both countries,\u201d Tokayev said.<\/p>\n<p>For Kazakhstan, the route, also referred to as the Zangezur Corridor by Azerbaijan and Turkey, is a way to diversify its transport routes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.66640625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//55//78//29//808x539_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg/" alt=\"Tokayev awarded Pashinyan with the Golden Eagle Order to commemorate his part in developing bilateral cooperation.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/384x256_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/640x427_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/750x500_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/828x552_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/1080x720_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/1200x800_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/1920x1280_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Tokayev awarded Pashinyan with the Golden Eagle Order to commemorate his part in developing bilateral cooperation.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Akorda presidential press service<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cThe Zangezur Corridor is primarily about diversifying,\u201d said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin on the sidelines of the visit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPreviously, we went through Azerbaijan to Georgia's Black Sea ports, but this route will allow us to reach Nakhchivan and then directly Turkey. There is also a route through Iran, but it\u2019s not used as much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During talks with his Kazakh counterpart, Pashinyan thanked Kazakhstan for hosting the meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Almaty, which helped lay the groundwork for the 8 August peace agreement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose negotiations were very important for further developments. It is also no secret that the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan is based on the Almaty Declaration,\u201d said Pashinyan.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-euronews\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"auto widget__ratio widget__ratio--16x9\">\n <iframe type=\"text\/html\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//embed//2822182/" width=\"100%\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen seamless>\n <\/iframe>\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>He noted that as a result of the Washington Declaration, Armenia is now concentrating on advancing the Trump Route project and is engaged in active negotiations with the US to clarify and finalise the legal framework and regulations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is indeed a very solid foundation for a lasting, stable and reliable peace, and we, of course, should make efforts to sign and ratify the peace agreement in the near future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The prime minister also highlighted the benefits TRIPP will bring to bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Armenia, as well as the expanded export opportunities \u201cin the case of Armenia, to the east, in the case of Kazakhstan, to the west.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The leaders also celebrated the first shipment of 1,000 tonnes of grain from Kazakhstan to Armenia.<\/p>\n<p>The joint statement signed by the two countries elevated their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.71015625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//55//78//29//808x573_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg/" alt=\"Leaders of both countries signed a Joint Statement elevating the interstate relations to a strategic partnership.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/384x273_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/640x455_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/750x533_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/828x588_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/1080x767_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/1200x852_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/1920x1364_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Leaders of both countries signed a Joint Statement elevating the interstate relations to a strategic partnership.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Akorda presidential press service<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The official delegations signed 15 agreements and memorandums, and discussed the possibility of reopening an air connection between the countries and establishing a Kazakh-Armenian Business Council.<\/p>\n<p>Trade, transit, investment cooperation, subsoil use, agriculture, digitalisation, AI, healthcare and cultural and humanitarian ties were also part of the agenda.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>On 8 August, with mediation by US President Donald Trump, Pashinyan and Azerbaijan\u2019s President Ilham Aliyev signed a joint declaration to finalise a peace agreement aimed at ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.<\/p>\n<p>Although an important step, the agreement requires ratification and changes in the Armenian legislature. <\/p>\n<p>Another major element of the agreement involves building a transport link, TRIPP, connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, which is separated by a 44 km stretch of Armenian land.<\/p>\n<p>The route would remain under Armenian sovereignty and operate under Armenian law, but the US would receive exclusive development rights for 99 years. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//10//armenia-and-azerbaijan-move-closer-to-peace-pushing-russia-out-from-the-south-caucasus/">Armenia and Azerbaijan move closer to peace, pushing Russia out from the South Caucasus<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//08//08//donald-trump-hosts-historic-peace-summit-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan/">Donald Trump hosts historic peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Beyond its immediate purpose, the project would enable the movement of people and goods from Europe to Azerbaijan and the wider Central Asian region without passing through Russia or Iran. <\/p>\n<p>Both Iran and Russia criticised Washington\u2019s role in the proposed TRIPP initiative. Iran is unhappy with the disruption of its connection to Armenia, while Russia may lose its influence in the South Caucasus. <\/p>\n<p>Involving the US is also intended to prevent the Azerbaijan-Turkey tandem from gaining control of the border and cutting Armenia off from Iran.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1763821484,"updatedAt":1763975454,"publishedAt":1763841965,"firstPublishedAt":1763841965,"lastPublishedAt":1763975453,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1fa2f3f4-56c5-5408-93fa-dda42feeccc9-9557829.jpg","altText":"Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev shaking hands.","caption":"Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev shaking hands.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Akorda presidential press service","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":882},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_da88e882-97ff-5536-b603-a6b61d7f2300-9557829.jpg","altText":"Tokayev awarded Pashinyan with the Golden Eagle Order to commemorate his part in developing bilateral cooperation.","caption":"Tokayev awarded Pashinyan with the Golden Eagle Order to commemorate his part in developing bilateral cooperation.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Akorda presidential press service","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":853},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/78\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ad916fec-bde3-5aa2-b527-474a6136c0ae-9557829.jpg","altText":"Leaders of both countries signed a Joint Statement elevating the interstate relations to a strategic partnership.","caption":"Leaders of both countries signed a Joint Statement elevating the interstate relations to a strategic partnership.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Akorda presidential press service","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":909}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3546,"urlSafeValue":"galiya.khassenkhanova@euronews.com","title":"Galiya Khassenkhanova","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11,"slug":"armenia","urlSafeValue":"armenia","title":"Armenia","titleRaw":"Armenia"},{"id":15,"slug":"azerbaijan","urlSafeValue":"azerbaijan","title":"Azerbaijan","titleRaw":"Azerbaijan"},{"id":4461,"slug":"caucasus","urlSafeValue":"caucasus","title":"Caucasus","titleRaw":"Caucasus"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"euronews","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2847097},{"id":2814833},{"id":2850213}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/22\/kazakhstan-shows-support-towards-armenias-peace-and-transport-corridor-initiatives","lastModified":1763975453},{"id":2840548,"cid":9522233,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"MO - S02E04 - KA - KAIRAT FOOTBALL - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3074279,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kairat Almaty takes UEFA Champions League to Central Asia","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan expands the map of European football as Almaty\u2019s Kairat reaches the Champions League for the first time","leadin":"Real Madrid\u2019s visit to Kazakhstan became a national celebration and a major tourism boost, as Europe\u2019s elite stage reached Almaty for the first time.","summary":"Real Madrid\u2019s visit to Kazakhstan became a national celebration and a major tourism boost, as Europe\u2019s elite stage reached Almaty for the first time.","keySentence":"","url":"kairat-almaty-takes-uefa-champions-league-to-central-asia","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/19\/kairat-almaty-takes-uefa-champions-league-to-central-asia","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan\u2019s largest city, Almaty, took UEFA\u2019s premier competition further east than ever before. Local club Kairat made history as the easternmost team to reach the Champions League, hosting a match more than 13 hours by plane from Madrid \u2014 one of the tournament\u2019s most remote fixtures.\u00a0\n\nAn unexpected UEFA draw brought one of the world\u2019s most titled teams, Real Madrid, to Kazakhstan \u2014 and the nation went wild with anticipation. Tickets sold out within hours, leaving hundreds of thousands of fans without tickets to the dream game.\u00a0\n\nThe announcement set off a wave of excitement across Kazakhstan, both online and offline. AI-generated Mbapp\u00e9 memes flooded social media, showing him in traditional dress and sampling local dishes \u2014 symbols of the warm welcome reserved for honoured guests. Meanwhile, the city was painted in the club\u2019s yellow and black colours.\u00a0\n\nOn match day, lines stretched far beyond the Central Stadium, with people from across the country still hoping to find tickets. The atmosphere was electric, with faces painted in team emblems, flags waving and scarves raised high in anticipation of the historic match.\n\nWhy the buzz?\n\nThe last time Kazakhstan experienced UEFA group-stage hysteria was in 2015, when capital Astana\u2019s local team advanced to that level for the first time. Since then, the excitement had quietened \u2014 until Almaty\u2019s Kairat stunned Scotland\u2019s Celtic in the Champions League play-off. The victory not only revived the country\u2019s football dreams but also earned Kairat the right to face one of the world\u2019s most titled clubs \u2014 Real Madrid.\u00a0\n\nWhen the Champions League draw revealed that Kairat would play against Real Madrid, emotions ran high inside the Almaty club. The moment the players heard the news, they erupted in cheers \u2014 a celebration the team proudly shared online.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nFounded in 1954 in Almaty, Kairat has long been a symbol of Kazakh football. It remains the only local team ever to play in the Soviet Top League and has become a four-time national champion. Slowly but steadily, the club is turning into a source of international football talent. Next season, 17-year-old Kairat striker Dastan Satpayev will transfer to Chelsea \u2014 a milestone for both the player and Kazakh football.\n\nReal Madrid arrives in Almaty\n\nThe Spanish team arrived in Almaty in a subdued mood after suffering their first La Liga defeat of the season to Atl\u00e9tico. During the pre-match press conference, midfielder Federico Valverde spoke about the team\u2019s mindset.\u00a0\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve talked a lot about our mistakes. The defeat was painful, and we want to come back stronger. We know we\u2019re about to play a serious match against Kairat.\u201d\u00a0\n\nSpeculation before the match centred on the long flight and Almaty\u2019s weather \u2014 but the city greeted the Spanish team with sunshine and hospitality. The journey was indeed long, more than 6,000 kilometres from Madrid, with little time for recovery between matches. Still, coach Xabi Alonso told reporters, \u201cThe team is tired after the long flight, but there should be no excuses.\u201d\u00a0\n\nThe long-awaited match\n\nThe stands of Almaty\u2019s Central Stadium were packed, with the roar of the home crowd lifting Kairat\u2019s spirits as the players pressed forward from the first minutes. Coach Xabi Alonso later described those opening moments as uncomfortable for his team.\u00a0\n\n\u201cAt the start of the match, Kairat\u2019s intensity surprised us. There were moments when it wasn\u2019t easy \u2014 episodes that could have thrown us off balance. But we stayed focused on our goal to win.\u201d\u00a0\n\nHowever, Kairat couldn\u2019t find a way past Real\u2019s defence. The visitors dominated and secured a 5\u20130 victory. Yet even this runaway score didn\u2019t disappoint Kairat\u2019s coach, Rafael Urazbakhtin. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he said it was all about valuable experience.\u00a0\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re simply in different weight categories \u2014 that\u2019s something we have to accept. We gained priceless experience playing against such an opponent. Of course, it\u2019s always painful to lose; it\u2019s hard for any team. But we have to take this result as it is. We tried, we pushed and at times we played well \u2014 probably well enough to deserve one goal, but we couldn\u2019t finish our chances.\u201d\u00a0\n\nA tourism boost for Almaty\n\nBeyond football, the event left a lasting impact on the city itself. According to Almaty\u2019s mayor\u2019s office, the event drew tens of thousands of domestic visitors, including more than 5,000 tourists from abroad. Most international fans arrived from China, India, Russia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain and several other countries.\u00a0\n\nCity officials said the match had a substantial economic impact, with Mastercard data showing foreign tourists spent an average of about 1,300 euros during their stay. Those expenses \u2014 from hotels and restaurants to transport, leisure and shopping \u2014 gave a notable boost to the city\u2019s service sector. Hotel occupancy reached record seasonal levels, according to the mayor\u2019s office.\u00a0\n\nAccording to the \u201cKazakh Tourism\u201d National Company, major sporting events like this are a part of Kazakhstan\u2019s sports tourism development strategy. And it\u2019s not just professional competitions that contribute. Acting Chairman Daniyel Serzhanuly explains:\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\u201cThe Almaty Marathon this year gathered 16,000 runners, including nearly 2,000 foreign travelers from 30 countries. So, it was a huge economic impact. We can also look at smaller events, such as the marathon in Turkistan. October is a low season for Turkistan, only 2,000 runners attended \u2014 most of them from neighboring countries and other regions of Kazakhstan. These events help support the local tourism industry during the off-peak season.\u201d\u00a0\n\nBig or small, these events are putting Kazakhstan on the global sports map \u2014 turning casual visitors into returning travelers and inspiring many to choose the country for their next adventure.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan\u2019s largest city, Almaty, took UEFA\u2019s premier competition further east than ever before. Local club Kairat made history as the easternmost team to reach the Champions League, hosting a match more than 13 hours by plane from Madrid \u2014 one of the tournament\u2019s most remote fixtures. <\/p>\n<p>An unexpected UEFA draw brought one of the world\u2019s most titled teams, Real Madrid, to Kazakhstan \u2014 and the nation went wild with anticipation. Tickets sold out within hours, leaving hundreds of thousands of fans without tickets to the dream game. <\/p>\n<p>The announcement set off a wave of excitement across Kazakhstan, both online and offline. AI-generated Mbapp\u00e9 memes flooded social media, showing him in traditional dress and sampling local dishes \u2014 symbols of the warm welcome reserved for honoured guests. Meanwhile, the city was painted in the club\u2019s yellow and black colours. <\/p>\n<p>On match day, lines stretched far beyond the Central Stadium, with people from across the country still hoping to find tickets. The atmosphere was electric, with faces painted in team emblems, flags waving and scarves raised high in anticipation of the historic match.<\/p>\n<h2>Why the buzz?<\/h2>\n<p>The last time Kazakhstan experienced UEFA group-stage hysteria was in 2015, when capital Astana\u2019s local team advanced to that level for the first time. Since then, the excitement had quietened \u2014 until Almaty\u2019s Kairat stunned Scotland\u2019s Celtic in the Champions League play-off. The victory not only revived the country\u2019s football dreams but also earned Kairat the right to face one of the world\u2019s most titled clubs \u2014 Real Madrid. <\/p>\n<p>When the Champions League draw revealed that Kairat would play against Real Madrid, emotions ran high inside the Almaty club. The moment the players heard the news, they erupted in cheers \u2014 a celebration the team proudly shared online. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-freeform\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DN6JFLhAkjy\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.instagram.com//reel//DN6JFLhAkjy//?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">Voir cette publication sur Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.instagram.com//reel//DN6JFLhAkjy//?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">Une publication partag\u00e9e par \u00ab\u049a\u0430\u0439\u0440\u0430\u0442\u00bb \u0424\u041a | FC Kairat Almaty (@f.c.kairat)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><cms-n \/><script async src=https://www.euronews.com/"////www.instagram.com//embed.js/">/n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Founded in 1954 in Almaty, Kairat has long been a symbol of Kazakh football. It remains the only local team ever to play in the Soviet Top League and has become a four-time national champion. Slowly but steadily, the club is turning into a source of international football talent. Next season, 17-year-old Kairat striker Dastan Satpayev will transfer to Chelsea \u2014 a milestone for both the player and Kazakh football.<\/p>\n<h2>Real Madrid arrives in Almaty<\/h2>\n<p>The Spanish team arrived in Almaty in a subdued mood after suffering their first La Liga defeat of the season to Atl\u00e9tico. During the pre-match press conference, midfielder Federico Valverde spoke about the team\u2019s mindset. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve talked a lot about our mistakes. The defeat was painful, and we want to come back stronger. We know we\u2019re about to play a serious match against Kairat.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Speculation before the match centred on the long flight and Almaty\u2019s weather \u2014 but the city greeted the Spanish team with sunshine and hospitality. The journey was indeed long, more than 6,000 kilometres from Madrid, with little time for recovery between matches. Still, coach Xabi Alonso told reporters, \u201cThe team is tired after the long flight, but there should be no excuses.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//22//33//808x454_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg/" alt=\"Xabi Alonso at the press conference\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/384x216_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/640x360_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/750x422_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/828x466_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/1080x608_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/1200x675_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/1920x1080_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Xabi Alonso at the press conference<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>The long-awaited match<\/h2>\n<p>The stands of Almaty\u2019s Central Stadium were packed, with the roar of the home crowd lifting Kairat\u2019s spirits as the players pressed forward from the first minutes. Coach Xabi Alonso later described those opening moments as uncomfortable for his team. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the start of the match, Kairat\u2019s intensity surprised us. There were moments when it wasn\u2019t easy \u2014 episodes that could have thrown us off balance. But we stayed focused on our goal to win.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//22//33//808x454_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg/" alt=\"Kairat–Real Madrid match\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/384x216_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/640x360_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/750x422_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/828x466_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/1080x608_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/1200x675_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/1920x1080_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Kairat–Real Madrid match<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>However, Kairat couldn\u2019t find a way past Real\u2019s defence. The visitors dominated and secured a 5\u20130 victory. Yet even this runaway score didn\u2019t disappoint Kairat\u2019s coach, Rafael Urazbakhtin. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he said it was all about valuable experience. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re simply in different weight categories \u2014 that\u2019s something we have to accept. We gained priceless experience playing against such an opponent. Of course, it\u2019s always painful to lose; it\u2019s hard for any team. But we have to take this result as it is. We tried, we pushed and at times we played well \u2014 probably well enough to deserve one goal, but we couldn\u2019t finish our chances.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2>A tourism boost for Almaty<\/h2>\n<p>Beyond football, the event left a lasting impact on the city itself. According to Almaty\u2019s mayor\u2019s office, the event drew tens of thousands of domestic visitors, including more than 5,000 tourists from abroad. Most international fans arrived from China, India, Russia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain and several other countries. <\/p>\n<p>City officials said the match had a substantial economic impact, with Mastercard data showing foreign tourists spent an average of about 1,300 euros during their stay. Those expenses \u2014 from hotels and restaurants to transport, leisure and shopping \u2014 gave a notable boost to the city\u2019s service sector. Hotel occupancy reached record seasonal levels, according to the mayor\u2019s office. <\/p>\n<p>According to the \u201cKazakh Tourism\u201d National Company, major sporting events like this are a part of Kazakhstan\u2019s sports tourism development strategy. And it\u2019s not just professional competitions that contribute. Acting Chairman Daniyel Serzhanuly explains: <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Almaty Marathon this year gathered 16,000 runners, including nearly 2,000 foreign travelers from 30 countries. So, it was a huge economic impact. We can also look at smaller events, such as the marathon in Turkistan. October is a low season for Turkistan, only 2,000 runners attended \u2014 most of them from neighboring countries and other regions of Kazakhstan. These events help support the local tourism industry during the off-peak season.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Big or small, these events are putting Kazakhstan on the global sports map \u2014 turning casual visitors into returning travelers and inspiring many to choose the country for their next adventure. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1761126344,"updatedAt":1763561967,"publishedAt":1763560824,"firstPublishedAt":1762351224,"lastPublishedAt":1763561966,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_162a3088-db2b-58a9-9fc2-59968bcaeaa2-9522233.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1500},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_61e7d818-bb53-5ff5-b6bb-c6c357561ca2-9522233.jpg","altText":"Kairat\u2013Real Madrid match","caption":"Kairat\u2013Real Madrid match","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/22\/33\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e7227dd1-3930-57a9-9bbc-c4e87a1ce01e-9522233.jpg","altText":"Xabi Alonso at the press conference","caption":"Xabi Alonso at the press conference","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8527,"slug":"champions-league","urlSafeValue":"champions-league","title":"Champions League","titleRaw":"Champions League"},{"id":8257,"slug":"football","urlSafeValue":"football","title":"Football","titleRaw":"Football"},{"id":7829,"slug":"sport","urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport","titleRaw":"Sport"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"html","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2848600}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"aB07a3mn5K8","dailymotionId":"x9u2ks4"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/29\/61\/78\/03\/ED_PYR_2961783_20251119141145.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":42115930,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/29\/61\/78\/03\/SHD_PYR_2961783_20251119141145.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":64900434,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/29\/61\/78\/03\/FHD_PYR_2961783_20251119141145.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":230579638,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Meruyert Zhakiya","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"modern-nomads","urlSafeValue":"modern-nomads","title":"Modern Nomads","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/modern-nomads"},"season":"MODERN NOMADS_S02","episode":"S02E04 - KA - KAIRAT FOOTBALL","episodeId":"1037","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-series","urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture Series","url":"\/culture\/culture-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":55,"urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1730466509,"endDate":2114341713,"type":"sponsored","slug":"mdq-2024","title":"MDQ 2024","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"MDQ","sponsorName":"mdq-2024","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mdq.kz","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/866\/300x64_cmsv2_c74631ff-d361-585c-9238-73fc14ca3554-866.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/11\/19\/kairat-almaty-takes-uefa-champions-league-to-central-asia","lastModified":1763561966},{"id":2845041,"cid":9541707,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"KAZAKHSTAN MEETING TRUMP","daletPyramidId":3246830,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan to join Abraham Accords as it signs critical minerals and trade deals with the US","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan to join Abraham Accords as it signs trade deals with the US","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan to join Abraham Accords as it signs critical minerals and trade deals with the US.","leadin":"US President Donald Trump held an Oval Office call with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expanding the Abraham Accords to include the central Asian nation.","summary":"US President Donald Trump held an Oval Office call with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expanding the Abraham Accords to include the central Asian nation.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-to-join-abraham-accords-as-it-signs-critical-minerals-and-trade-deals-with-the-","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/08\/kazakhstan-to-join-abraham-accords-as-it-signs-critical-minerals-and-trade-deals-with-the-","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan has officially pledged to join the Abraham Accords, a series of US-brokered agreements launched in 2020 to normalise diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab nations.\n\nUS President Donald Trump expanded the accords by securing President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev\u2019s commitment to sign the agreement during a phone call attended by the two leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.\n\nThe call was made from the Oval Office during a visit by Tokayev to Washington for the C5+1 summit, a gathering involving the leaders of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the United States. The US also finalised a $1.1 billion dollar deal granting an American firm rights to develop Kazakhstan\u2019s critical minerals deposits.\n\nAt the C5+1 summit, Trump made the gesture by inviting Tokayev to join a phone call with Netanyahu to reaffirm Kazakhstan\u2019s intent to join the initiative.\n\nSpeaking at the White House, Trump confirmed the diplomatic breakthrough: \"I\u2019m delighted to report that Kazakhstan has officially agreed. A tremendous country with a tremendous leader has officially joined the Abraham Accords.\"\n\nTokayev noted that the US President has \u201cmanaged to achieve outstanding results that seemed unattainable to many, creating real prerequisites for establishing lasting peace in the Middle East.\u201d\n\nA pivotal diplomatic shift, according to experts\n\nExperts say Kazakhstan\u2019s decision marks a pivotal diplomatic shift as Central Asia continues to balance its ties with China and Russia. Miras Zhiyenbayev, Advisor to the Chairman for International Affairs at Maqsut Narikbayev University, commented on the move's significance.\n\n\"If we sign something, we create a special framework for a broader context; different countries around the world to join the initiative,\" Zhiyenbayev said. \"Many news (will be) forthcoming after this historic call, but the real content of these accords for Kazakhstan will be realised very soon.\"\n\nKazakhstan\u2019s president also expressed support for Trump's peace initiatives, and referenced the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), an infrastructure corridor running through southern Armenia that connects mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan. Tokayev hailed the project as a contribution to the further development of the Middle Corridor.\n\nThe Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which links trade between China and Europe while bypassing Russia, will be connected to the TRIPP, thus aiming to boost trade and ease logistical bottlenecks.\n\nThe United States also signed a $1.1 billion agreement with Kazakhstan to develop the world\u2019s largest untapped tungsten deposits, giving a US company a majority stake in the joint venture. Washington hailed the partnership as a significant step towards securing critical minerals. Kazakhstan already supplies a quarter of America\u2019s uranium needs.\n\nNew agreements achieved worth tens of billions of dollars\n\nAdditionally, $17.2 billion in new agreements were signed between Kazakhstan and US companies across the sectors of mineral resources, digital technologies and aviation, which included Kazakhstan\u2019s plans to purchase additional Boeing aircraft for its national fleet.\n\nJeff Erlich, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan, noted the diverse nature of these investments: \u201cThere is growing American investment in, say, consumer goods or IT, other areas that grow with the economic growth and the demographics of the country. Historically, the giant deals have been in oil and gas.\u201d\n\nThe US remains Kazakhstan\u2019s largest investor, with cumulative investments of more than $100 billion, about 80% of all foreign investment in Central Asia. Bilateral trade has nearly doubled to $5 billion, with more than 600 American companies now operating in Kazakhstan.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan has officially pledged to join the Abraham Accords, a series of US-brokered agreements launched in 2020 to normalise diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab nations. <\/p>\n<p>US President Donald Trump expanded the accords by securing President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev\u2019s commitment to sign the agreement during a phone call attended by the two leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n<p>The call was made from the Oval Office during a visit by Tokayev to Washington for the C5+1 summit, a gathering involving the leaders of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the United States. The US also finalised a $1.1 billion dollar deal granting an American firm rights to develop Kazakhstan\u2019s critical minerals deposits.<\/p>\n<p>At the C5+1 summit, Trump made the gesture by inviting Tokayev to join a phone call with Netanyahu to reaffirm Kazakhstan\u2019s intent to join the initiative.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the White House, Trump confirmed the diplomatic breakthrough: \"I\u2019m delighted to report that Kazakhstan has officially agreed. A tremendous country with a tremendous leader has officially joined the Abraham Accords.\"<\/p>\n<p>Tokayev noted that the US President has \u201cmanaged to achieve outstanding results that seemed unattainable to many, creating real prerequisites for establishing lasting peace in the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//54//17//07//808x539_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg/" alt=\"Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attends a dinner alongside leaders from countries in Central Asia, with President Donald Trump, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/384x256_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/640x427_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/750x500_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/828x552_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/1080x720_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/1200x800_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/1920x1281_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attends a dinner alongside leaders from countries in Central Asia, with President Donald Trump, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Jacquelyn Martin\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>A pivotal diplomatic shift, according to experts<\/h2>\n<p>Experts say Kazakhstan\u2019s decision marks a pivotal diplomatic shift as Central Asia continues to balance its ties with China and Russia. Miras Zhiyenbayev, Advisor to the Chairman for International Affairs at Maqsut Narikbayev University, commented on the move's significance.<\/p>\n<p>\"If we sign something, we create a special framework for a broader context; different countries around the world to join the initiative,\" Zhiyenbayev said. \"Many news (will be) forthcoming after this historic call, but the real content of these accords for Kazakhstan will be realised very soon.\"<\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan\u2019s president also expressed support for Trump's peace initiatives, and referenced the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), an infrastructure corridor running through southern Armenia that connects mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan. Tokayev hailed the project as a contribution to the further development of the Middle Corridor.<\/p>\n<p>The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which links trade between China and Europe while bypassing Russia, will be connected to the TRIPP, thus aiming to boost trade and ease logistical bottlenecks.<\/p>\n<p>The United States also signed a $1.1 billion agreement with Kazakhstan to develop the world\u2019s largest untapped tungsten deposits, giving a US company a majority stake in the joint venture. Washington hailed the partnership as a significant step towards securing critical minerals. Kazakhstan already supplies a quarter of America\u2019s uranium needs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//54//17//07//808x539_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg/" alt=\"President Donald Trump, center, alongside Vice President JD Vance, left, attends a dinner with leaders from countries in Central Asia, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/384x256_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/640x427_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/750x500_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/828x552_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/1080x720_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/1200x800_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/1920x1281_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">President Donald Trump, center, alongside Vice President JD Vance, left, attends a dinner with leaders from countries in Central Asia, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Jacquelyn Martin\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>New agreements achieved worth tens of billions of dollars<\/h2>\n<p>Additionally, $17.2 billion in new agreements were signed between Kazakhstan and US companies across the sectors of mineral resources, digital technologies and aviation, which included Kazakhstan\u2019s plans to purchase additional Boeing aircraft for its national fleet.<\/p>\n<p>Jeff Erlich, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan, noted the diverse nature of these investments: \u201cThere is growing American investment in, say, consumer goods or IT, other areas that grow with the economic growth and the demographics of the country. Historically, the giant deals have been in oil and gas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The US remains Kazakhstan\u2019s largest investor, with cumulative investments of more than $100 billion, about 80% of all foreign investment in Central Asia. Bilateral trade has nearly doubled to $5 billion, with more than 600 American companies now operating in Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1762619225,"updatedAt":1762629326,"publishedAt":1762629322,"firstPublishedAt":1762629322,"lastPublishedAt":1762629322,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ce4062ec-981e-5d40-a5de-01a4031291b9-9541707.jpg","altText":"Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov, from left, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev","caption":"Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov, from left, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Jacquelyn Martin\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0e7ae4a6-976d-5d48-b29d-ee2e836de925-9541707.jpg","altText":"President Donald Trump, center, alongside Vice President JD Vance, left, attends a dinner with leaders from countries in Central Asia, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025","caption":"President Donald Trump, center, alongside Vice President JD Vance, left, attends a dinner with leaders from countries in Central Asia, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Jacquelyn Martin\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/17\/07\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_96cb1933-a379-5046-a600-041d5291aa3c-9541707.jpg","altText":"Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attends a dinner alongside leaders from countries in Central Asia, with President Donald Trump, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025","caption":"Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attends a dinner alongside leaders from countries in Central Asia, with President Donald Trump, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Jacquelyn Martin\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"},{"id":11900,"slug":"donald-trump","urlSafeValue":"donald-trump","title":"Donald Trump","titleRaw":"Donald Trump"},{"id":157,"slug":"israel","urlSafeValue":"israel","title":"Israel","titleRaw":"Israel"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2843027},{"id":2837381},{"id":2846311}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"6xCw2VT7-rs","dailymotionId":"x9tg2io"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/28\/83\/94\/06\/ED_PYR_2883946_20251108190636.mp4","editor":"","duration":60400,"filesizeBytes":11709382,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/28\/83\/94\/06\/SHD_PYR_2883946_20251108190636.mp4","editor":"","duration":60400,"filesizeBytes":16165655,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/28\/83\/94\/06\/FHD_PYR_2883946_20251108190636.mp4","editor":"","duration":60400,"filesizeBytes":48219233,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Botagoz Marabayeva","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/08\/kazakhstan-to-join-abraham-accords-as-it-signs-critical-minerals-and-trade-deals-with-the-","lastModified":1762629322},{"id":2843027,"cid":9532713,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"KAZAKHSTAN CRYPTO","daletPyramidId":3171396,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan closes 130 crypto platforms in shadow economy crackdown","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan closes 130 crypto platforms in shadow economy crackdown","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan closes 130 crypto platforms in shadow economy crackdown","leadin":"Authorities in Kazakhstan seized digital assets worth \u20ac14.4 million and uncovered 81 illegal cash-out networks amid growing efforts to curb financial crime.","summary":"Authorities in Kazakhstan seized digital assets worth \u20ac14.4 million and uncovered 81 illegal cash-out networks amid growing efforts to curb financial crime.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-closes-130-crypto-platforms-in-shadow-economy-crackdown","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/31\/kazakhstan-closes-130-crypto-platforms-in-shadow-economy-crackdown","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan has intensified its fight against financial crime, closing 130 cryptocurrency exchanges linked to money laundering and confiscating digital assets valued at $16.7 million (\u20ac14.4 million), the Kazakh Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) reported.\u00a0\n\nAccording to the AFM, these shadow platforms were used by criminal groups across Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova to launder proceeds from drug trafficking and online fraud.\u00a0\n\nThe agency described the scheme as a multi-step process. Drug dealers and cybercriminals first transferred their profits, either in fiat or cryptocurrency, to exchange wallets, where the funds were converted and routed through a series of transactions to disguise their origin.\u00a0\n\n\u201cThese illicit exchanges act as professional money launderers, cashing out and transferring criminal income abroad,\u201d AFM statement said. \u201cThey rely on bank accounts and wallets belonging to front men.\u201d\u00a0\n\nUnder Kazakh law, only platforms licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) and integrated with the national banking system are permitted to operate. The Authority places strong emphasis on cybersecurity and personal data protection.\u00a0\n\n\u201cThe AFSA rigorously reviews the security of client asset storage during licensing, requiring segregated client accounts and audited IT infrastructure that meets strict cybersecurity standards,\u201d said their statement.\u00a0\n\nAs of Monday, 27 Digital Asset Service Providers (DASPs), including 12 crypto exchanges, are authorised to operate in Kazakhstan. All are subject to ongoing financial monitoring and compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nHidden cash-out networks\u00a0\n\nThe AFM also uncovered 81 clandestine groups that specialised in converting illicit funds into cash, with total transactions exceeding \u20ac38.5 million.\u00a0\n\nIn a country that prides itself on its digital payment culture, where you can pay for a loaf of bread with a QR code, cash remains one of the few ways to conceal financial activity.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nAFM Deputy Chairman Kairat Bizhanov noted that cash withdrawals continue to grow, reaching \u20ac21 billion this year, which is \u20ac1.6 billion more than in 2024. ATMs are identified as a major vulnerability in this system.\u00a0\n\nHe emphasised that anonymous transfers remain a key challenge, as they allow money to move through the system without identifying either sender or recipient.\u00a0\n\nTo address this, the AFM and the National Bank of Kazakhstan are introducing new security measures.\n\nCash deposits exceeding 500,000 tenge (\u20ac802) will soon require users to enter a personal identification number. Starting 1 January, banks must also store ATM video footage for at least 180 days.\u00a0\n\n\u201cAdditionally, biometric verification through facial or fingerprint recognition is being considered. These measures will help close loopholes for anonymous transactions,\u201d Bizhanov said.\u00a0\n\nOther financial violations\u00a0\n\nAuthorities also dismantled 18 illegal facilities producing tobacco and alcohol, and intercepted the unlawful export of petroleum products worth \u20ac27 million.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nLaw enforcement seized \u20ac19 million worth of vapes, banned in Kazakhstan since 2024, and shut down 62 underground gambling operations, including 11 online casinos.\u00a0\n\n\u201cA significant portion of financial violations stems from the activities of shell companies,\u201d Bizhanov added.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nOver the past three years, tax authorities have deregistered 3,600 such entities, which had facilitated more than 30,000 fictitious transactions worth \u20ac450 million.\u00a0\n\nKazakhstan aims to reduce the share of the shadow economy to 15% of GDP by the end of this year, as authorities tighten control over the country\u2019s rapidly digitising financial system.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan has intensified its fight against financial crime, closing 130 cryptocurrency exchanges linked to money laundering and confiscating digital assets valued at $16.7 million (\u20ac14.4 million), the Kazakh Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) reported. <\/p>\n<p>According to the AFM, these shadow platforms were used by criminal groups across Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova to launder proceeds from drug trafficking and online fraud. <\/p>\n<p>The agency described the scheme as a multi-step process. Drug dealers and cybercriminals first transferred their profits, either in fiat or cryptocurrency, to exchange wallets, where the funds were converted and routed through a series of transactions to disguise their origin. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese illicit exchanges act as professional money launderers, cashing out and transferring criminal income abroad,\u201d AFM statement said. \u201cThey rely on bank accounts and wallets belonging to front men.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Under Kazakh law, only platforms licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) and integrated with the national banking system are permitted to operate. The Authority places strong emphasis on cybersecurity and personal data protection. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe AFSA rigorously reviews the security of client asset storage during licensing, requiring segregated client accounts and audited IT infrastructure that meets strict cybersecurity standards,\u201d said their statement. <\/p>\n<p>As of Monday, 27 Digital Asset Service Providers (DASPs), including 12 crypto exchanges, are authorised to operate in Kazakhstan. All are subject to ongoing financial monitoring and compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations. <\/p>\n<h2>Hidden cash-out networks<\/h2>\n<p>The AFM also uncovered 81 clandestine groups that specialised in converting illicit funds into cash, with total transactions exceeding \u20ac38.5 million. <\/p>\n<p>In a country that prides itself on its digital payment culture, where you can pay for a loaf of bread with a QR code, cash remains one of the few ways to conceal financial activity. <\/p>\n<p>AFM Deputy Chairman Kairat Bizhanov noted that cash withdrawals continue to grow, reaching \u20ac21 billion this year, which is \u20ac1.6 billion more than in 2024. ATMs are identified as a major vulnerability in this system. <\/p>\n<p>He emphasised that anonymous transfers remain a key challenge, as they allow money to move through the system without identifying either sender or recipient. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2025//07//20//the-most-powerful-supercomputer-in-central-asia-launches-in-kazakhstanin-bid-for-ai-boost/">The most powerful supercomputer in Central Asia launches in Kazakhstan in bid for AI boost <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//10//07//kazakhstans-quiet-revolution-crypto-ai-and-a-tech-transformation/">Kazakhstan/u2019s quiet revolution: Crypto, AI, and a tech transformation<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>To address this, the AFM and the National Bank of Kazakhstan are introducing new security measures. <\/p>\n<p>Cash deposits exceeding 500,000 tenge (\u20ac802) will soon require users to enter a personal identification number. Starting 1 January, banks must also store ATM video footage for at least 180 days. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAdditionally, biometric verification through facial or fingerprint recognition is being considered. These measures will help close loopholes for anonymous transactions,\u201d Bizhanov said. <\/p>\n<h2>Other financial violations<\/h2>\n<p>Authorities also dismantled 18 illegal facilities producing tobacco and alcohol, and intercepted the unlawful export of petroleum products worth \u20ac27 million. <\/p>\n<p>Law enforcement seized \u20ac19 million worth of vapes, banned in Kazakhstan since 2024, and shut down 62 underground gambling operations, including 11 online casinos. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cA significant portion of financial violations stems from the activities of shell companies,\u201d Bizhanov added. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7065\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//45//66//25//808x569_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg/" alt=\"Downtown Astana is seen from Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, 28 February, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/66\/25\/384x271_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/66\/25\/640x452_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/66\/25\/750x530_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/66\/25\/828x585_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/66\/25\/1080x763_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/66\/25\/1200x848_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/66\/25\/1920x1356_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Downtown Astana is seen from Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, 28 February, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Over the past three years, tax authorities have deregistered 3,600 such entities, which had facilitated more than 30,000 fictitious transactions worth \u20ac450 million. <\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan aims to reduce the share of the shadow economy to 15% of GDP by the end of this year, as authorities tighten control over the country\u2019s rapidly digitising financial system. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1761924500,"updatedAt":1765262852,"publishedAt":1761927314,"firstPublishedAt":1761927314,"lastPublishedAt":1765262851,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/16\/01\/20\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_931d6864-3b3e-5713-a412-f32c1fa430fd-9160120.jpg","altText":"A woman uses an ATM outside a bank in Portland, OR, 12 November 2024","caption":"A woman uses an ATM outside a bank in Portland, OR, 12 November 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/27\/13\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1c5161fe-bbdf-5544-88fb-65d07d11a798-9532713.jpg","altText":"Police block the road to control the traffic in Almaty, 12 January, 2022","caption":"Police block the road to control the traffic in Almaty, 12 January, 2022","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/66\/25\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_874c9e23-4cf0-59ae-aec4-6b4f667e5f51-9456625.jpg","altText":"Downtown Astana is seen from Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, 28 February, 2023","caption":"Downtown Astana is seen from Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, 28 February, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1413}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3546,"urlSafeValue":"galiya.khassenkhanova@euronews.com","title":"Galiya Khassenkhanova","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"},{"id":29630,"slug":"crypto","urlSafeValue":"crypto","title":"crypto","titleRaw":"crypto"},{"id":12211,"slug":"money-laundering","urlSafeValue":"money-laundering","title":"money laundering","titleRaw":"money laundering"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2837381},{"id":2837080},{"id":2845041}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World 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- S02E02 - AI IN KZ - MASTER","daletPyramidId":2948149,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan bets on AI: Building unicorns and next-gen computing infrastructure","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"How Kazakhstan hopes to funnel Central Asia\u2019s AI wave","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan bets on AI: Building unicorns and next-gen computing infrastructure","leadin":"With ambitions to lead Central Asia\u2019s nascent AI sector, Kazakhstan is launching a global hub to grow startups from the classroom to the market.","summary":"With ambitions to lead Central Asia\u2019s nascent AI sector, Kazakhstan is launching a global hub to grow startups from the classroom to the market.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-bets-on-ai-building-unicorns-and-next-gen-computing-infrastructure","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/29\/kazakhstan-bets-on-ai-building-unicorns-and-next-gen-computing-infrastructure","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan is racing to become Central Asia\u2019s hub for artificial intelligence, positioning itself as the region\u2019s gateway to global tech.\u00a0\n\nMost regional startup investments now flow into Kazakh AI ventures, and the country has already produced its first billion-dollar unicorn.\u00a0\n\nWith a goal to launch 100 new startups annually, Kazakhstan is opening its first AI-focused university and the International AI Centre, Alem AI, in Astana. The initiative aims to bridge research, talent, and commercialisation.\n\nThis year, the country also unveiled Central Asia\u2019s most powerful supercomputer \u2014 capable of 2 quintillion calculations per second \u2014 spurring a compact AI system designed to replace entire companies and government departments.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan is racing to become Central Asia\u2019s hub for artificial intelligence, positioning itself as the region\u2019s gateway to global tech. <\/p>\n<p>Most regional startup investments now flow into Kazakh AI ventures, and the country has already produced its first billion-dollar unicorn. <\/p>\n<p>With a goal to launch 100 new startups annually, Kazakhstan is opening its first AI-focused university and the International AI Centre, Alem AI, in Astana. The initiative aims to bridge research, talent, and commercialisation.<\/p>\n<p>This year, the country also unveiled Central Asia\u2019s most powerful supercomputer \u2014 capable of 2 quintillion calculations per second \u2014 spurring a compact AI system designed to replace entire companies and government departments.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1760003927,"updatedAt":1761747980,"publishedAt":1761746401,"firstPublishedAt":1761746401,"lastPublishedAt":1761747979,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/38\/43\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a8219884-7bf8-56a3-9e0a-d214338d2cbe-9503843.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1138}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12661,"slug":"artificial-intelligence","urlSafeValue":"artificial-intelligence","title":"Artificial intelligence","titleRaw":"Artificial intelligence"},{"id":9505,"slug":"new-technologies","urlSafeValue":"new-technologies","title":"New technologies","titleRaw":"New technologies"},{"id":4577,"slug":"computers","urlSafeValue":"computers","title":"Computers","titleRaw":"Computers"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2843027},{"id":2845041}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"-SLq7b_at70"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/26\/45\/30\/08\/ED_PYR_2645308_20251023124452.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":65394431,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/26\/45\/30\/08\/SHD_PYR_2645308_20251023124452.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":101844534,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/26\/45\/30\/08\/FHD_PYR_2645308_20251023124452.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":366305816,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Botagoz Marabai","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"east-west-connect","urlSafeValue":"east-west-connect","title":"East-West Connect","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business-series\/east-west-connect"},"season":"EAST-WEST CONNECT_S02","episode":"S02E02 - AI IN KZ","episodeId":"987","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business-series","urlSafeValue":"business-series","title":"Business Series","url":"\/business\/business-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":76,"urlSafeValue":"business-series","title":"Business Series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1730466509,"endDate":2114341713,"type":"sponsored","slug":"mdq-2024","title":"MDQ 2024","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"MDQ","sponsorName":"mdq-2024","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mdq.kz","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/866\/300x64_cmsv2_c74631ff-d361-585c-9238-73fc14ca3554-866.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2025\/10\/29\/kazakhstan-bets-on-ai-building-unicorns-and-next-gen-computing-infrastructure","lastModified":1761747979},{"id":2840690,"cid":9522907,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"KAZAKHSTAN AZERBAIJAN ENERGY","daletPyramidId":3080533,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan strengthen ties for massive global infrastructure and energy projects","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan agree on infrastructure and energy projects","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan strengthen ties for massive global infrastructure and energy projects","leadin":"The leaders of both countries laid out the paths ahead on major infrastructure and energy projects for the Eurasian region within the enhanced strategic partnerships between the two economic powerhouses of the region.","summary":"The leaders of both countries laid out the paths ahead on major infrastructure and energy projects for the Eurasian region within the enhanced strategic partnerships between the two economic powerhouses of the region.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-and-azerbaijan-strengthen-ties-for-massive-global-infrastructure-and-energy-pro","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/22\/kazakhstan-and-azerbaijan-strengthen-ties-for-massive-global-infrastructure-and-energy-pro","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev and his Kazakhstan counterpart president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed 15 agreements covering energy, transport,\u00a0industry\u00a0and artificial intelligence,\u00a0during Aliyev's state visit to Kazakhstan.\n\nThe visit marks the 20th anniversary of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership and Allied Relations between the two countries, and it signals a major economic offensive for the two countries together with their neighbours within the Organisation of Turkic states.\u00a0\n\nThe so-called Middle Corridor, which connects Europe and Asia, including China, through Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, is a strategic connectivity project for the region and globally, as traffic is shifting from traditional routes, which include Russia.\n\nKazakhstan's president announced that the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, keeps growing in freight traffic, with a major cargo hub being built along the way, including a Trans-Caspian ferry system for new supply chains.\n\nFreight traffic along this key Eurasian link grew by 62% last year to 4.5 million tons, and countries plan to increase that figure to 10 million tons. Tokayev highlighted efforts to remove \u201cbottlenecks\u201d and harmonise tariffs along the corridor.\n\nAliyev, for his part, emphasised the strategic importance of the Zangezur Corridor, a new transport route connecting Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan and onward to Turkey. He said its completion would further boost regional logistics capacity by 2028.\n\nBoth sides also pledged to double bilateral trade to $1 billion (\u20ac861 million) in the near future, with a growing volume of joint ventures in agriculture, IT and other domains.\u00a0\n\nThe presidents also signed energy agreements and a framework for a joint investment mechanism between Kazakhstan\u2019s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna and the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).\n\nAnother key project is the Caspian subsea cable project, expected to enhance regional electricity trade and strengthen the countries\u2019 positions in renewable energy exports.\n\nKazakhstan also plans to expand oil shipments through Azerbaijan\u2019s Baku\u2013Tbilisi\u2013Ceyhan pipeline, which carried 1.5 million tons of Kazakh crude last year.\n\nPeace in South Caucasus is 'new beginning' for region\u00a0\n\nThe historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan sets the stage for an economic revival of the region, and\u00a0Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan\u00a0are now charting a new phase of cooperation.\n\nPresident Tokayev commended\u00a0 Aliyev on achieving peace with Armenia. Aliyev, in turn, said that \"a new stage is beginning\" for the region, while Tokayev called it a \"historic\" milestone.\n\n\"Kazakhstan officially welcomed this important event. I am confident that the agreements reached will strengthen the atmosphere of trust in the South Caucasus and open up new opportunities for universal progress,\" Tokayev said.\n\n\"The initialling of a peace agreement less than two years after the last clashes testifies to the fact that both countries have demonstrated a significant level of political will,\" Aliyev noted.\n\nDuring his state visit, Aliyev made the surprise announcement that Azerbaijan lifted all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia, and the first such transit was the shipment of Kazakh grain.\n\n\"I do believe that this is also a good indicator that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is no longer just on paper but is already a matter of practice,\" Aliyev stressed.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev and his Kazakhstan counterpart president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed 15 agreements covering energy, transport, industry and artificial intelligence, during Aliyev's state visit to Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n<p>The visit marks the 20th anniversary of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership and Allied Relations between the two countries, and it signals a major economic offensive for the two countries together with their neighbours within the Organisation of Turkic states. <\/p>\n<p>The so-called Middle Corridor, which connects Europe and Asia, including China, through Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, is a strategic connectivity project for the region and globally, as traffic is shifting from traditional routes, which include Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan's president announced that the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, keeps growing in freight traffic, with a major cargo hub being built along the way, including a Trans-Caspian ferry system for new supply chains.<\/p>\n<p>Freight traffic along this key Eurasian link grew by 62% last year to 4.5 million tons, and countries plan to increase that figure to 10 million tons. Tokayev highlighted efforts to remove \u201cbottlenecks\u201d and harmonise tariffs along the corridor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.623046875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//29//07//808x502_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg/" alt=\"Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign agreements in Astana\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/384x239_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/640x399_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/750x467_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/828x516_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/1080x673_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/1200x748_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/1920x1196_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign agreements in Astana<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Aliyev, for his part, emphasised the strategic importance of the Zangezur Corridor, a new transport route connecting Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan and onward to Turkey. He said its completion would further boost regional logistics capacity by 2028.<\/p>\n<p>Both sides also pledged to double bilateral trade to $1 billion (\u20ac861 million) in the near future, with a growing volume of joint ventures in agriculture, IT and other domains. <\/p>\n<p>The presidents also signed energy agreements and a framework for a joint investment mechanism between Kazakhstan\u2019s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna and the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).<\/p>\n<p>Another key project is the Caspian subsea cable project, expected to enhance regional electricity trade and strengthen the countries\u2019 positions in renewable energy exports.<\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan also plans to expand oil shipments through Azerbaijan\u2019s Baku\u2013Tbilisi\u2013Ceyhan pipeline, which carried 1.5 million tons of Kazakh crude last year.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Peace in South Caucasus is 'new beginning' for region<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan sets the stage for an economic revival of the region, and Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are now charting a new phase of cooperation.<\/p>\n<p>President Tokayev commended Aliyev on achieving peace with Armenia. Aliyev, in turn, said that \"a new stage is beginning\" for the region, while Tokayev called it a \"historic\" milestone.<\/p>\n<p>\"Kazakhstan officially welcomed this important event. I am confident that the agreements reached will strengthen the atmosphere of trust in the South Caucasus and open up new opportunities for universal progress,\" Tokayev said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//09//27//president-aliyev-showcases-azerbaijans-peace-deal-and-energy-leadership-at-un/">President Aliyev showcases Azerbaijan\u2019s peace deal and energy leadership at UN<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//news//2025//10//15//from-regional-unity-to-global-influence-turkic-nations-set-bold-vision-in-azerbaijan/">From regional unity to global influence: Turkic nations set bold vision in Azerbaijan<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"The initialling of a peace agreement less than two years after the last clashes testifies to the fact that both countries have demonstrated a significant level of political will,\" Aliyev noted.<\/p>\n<p>During his state visit, Aliyev made the surprise announcement that Azerbaijan lifted all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia, and the first such transit was the shipment of Kazakh grain.<\/p>\n<p>\"I do believe that this is also a good indicator that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is no longer just on paper but is already a matter of practice,\" Aliyev stressed.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1761150194,"updatedAt":1765262759,"publishedAt":1761150843,"firstPublishedAt":1761150843,"lastPublishedAt":1765262759,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_aa5efa77-0b7b-5196-be17-438a71136907-9522907.jpg","altText":"Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign agreements in Astana","caption":"Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign agreements in Astana","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1763,"height":991},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/29\/07\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_07de702a-c57c-5bfb-9f75-bffabce66110-9522907.jpg","altText":"Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign agreements in Astana","caption":"Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign agreements in Astana","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":638}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3546,"urlSafeValue":"galiya.khassenkhanova@euronews.com","title":"Galiya Khassenkhanova","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"},{"id":15,"slug":"azerbaijan","urlSafeValue":"azerbaijan","title":"Azerbaijan","titleRaw":"Azerbaijan"},{"id":11,"slug":"armenia","urlSafeValue":"armenia","title":"Armenia","titleRaw":"Armenia"},{"id":27428,"slug":"central-asia","urlSafeValue":"central-asia","title":"Central Asia","titleRaw":"Central 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News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/10\/22\/kazakhstan-and-azerbaijan-strengthen-ties-for-massive-global-infrastructure-and-energy-pro","lastModified":1765262759},{"id":2836754,"cid":9499513,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"VC - S02E02 - KA - STUNT LADY - MASTER","daletPyramidId":2921069,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"From horseback mastery to modern combat: how stuntwoman Zhibek Zhappasbayeva is fearless in action","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakh stuntwoman Zhibek Zhappasbayeva defies global barriers","titleListing2":"From horseback mastery to modern combat: how stuntwoman Zhibek Zhappasbayeva is fearless in action","leadin":"Zhibek Zhappasbayeva is breaking global barriers in the stunt world, seamlessly blending tradition with modern action and proving that Kazakh stunt performers can do it all.","summary":"Zhibek Zhappasbayeva is breaking global barriers in the stunt world, seamlessly blending tradition with modern action and proving that Kazakh stunt performers can do it all.","keySentence":"","url":"from-horseback-mastery-to-modern-combat-how-stuntwoman-zhibek-zhappasbayeva-is-fearless-in","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/22\/from-horseback-mastery-to-modern-combat-how-stuntwoman-zhibek-zhappasbayeva-is-fearless-in","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"In demand both at home and abroad, Kazakh stuntwoman Zhibek Zhappasbayeva has worked on projects for Netflix, HBO, and Bollywood. \u00a0\n\nAs one of the few professional female stunt performers in Kazakhstan, she constantly defies stereotypes, proving that Kazakh stuntwomen can excel in both traditional horseback sequences and modern combat scenes.\n\nDespite the injuries and challenges that come with her craft, Zhibek continues to break barriers in a field long dominated by men, and she wouldn\u2019t trade it for anything.\n\nBeyond performing, she now trains the next generation, passing on her hard-earned expertise to young women entering the world of stunts.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>In demand both at home and abroad, Kazakh stuntwoman Zhibek Zhappasbayeva has worked on projects for Netflix, HBO, and Bollywood. <\/p>\n<p>As one of the few professional female stunt performers in Kazakhstan, she constantly defies stereotypes, proving that Kazakh stuntwomen can excel in both traditional horseback sequences and modern combat scenes.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the injuries and challenges that come with her craft, Zhibek continues to break barriers in a field long dominated by men, and she wouldn\u2019t trade it for anything.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond performing, she now trains the next generation, passing on her hard-earned expertise to young women entering the world of stunts.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759822081,"updatedAt":1761138086,"publishedAt":1761138023,"firstPublishedAt":1761138023,"lastPublishedAt":1761138084,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/95\/45\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ceeed4b1-32e9-54a5-9fe5-7bedead99825-9499545.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8513,"slug":"martial-arts","urlSafeValue":"martial-arts","title":"Martial arts","titleRaw":"Martial 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- ALMATY ART MUSEUM ","daletPyramidId":2946462,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Almaty Museum of Arts opens its doors in Kazakhstan\u2019s cultural capital","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Almaty Museum of Arts: a new icon on Kazakhstan's cultural landscape ","titleListing2":"Almaty Museum of Arts: a new icon on Kazakhstan's cultural landscape ","leadin":"Dedicated to modern and contemporary art, the new museum marks a bold chapter in Central Asia\u2019s cultural landscape","summary":"Dedicated to modern and contemporary art, the new museum marks a bold chapter in Central Asia\u2019s cultural landscape","keySentence":"","url":"almaty-museum-of-arts-opens-its-doors-in-kazakhstans-cultural-capital","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/10\/12\/almaty-museum-of-arts-opens-its-doors-in-kazakhstans-cultural-capital","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The long-awaited opening of the Almaty Museum of Arts marks a milestone in the region\u2019s cultural life.\n\nFounded by businessman and philanthropist Nurlan Smagulov, it showcases more than 700 works from Kazakhstan and Central Asia, alongside pieces by leading international artists.\n\nWith its diverse range of media, genres, and perspectives, the museum aims to serve as a hub for contemporary art in Central Asia.\n\nThe museum sits at the foothills of the Tian Shan mountains and stands as a work of art in its own right. Designed by British firm Chapman Taylor and completed over three years, the 10,060-square-meter complex consists of two intersecting wings \u2014 one clad in Jura limestone, the other in aluminium \u2014 symbolising Almaty\u2019s mountainous landscape and urban environment.\n\nArchitecture as Art\n\nArt begins before visitors even step inside. Outdoors, large-scale installations welcome guests and set the tone for the experience ahead.\n\nSpanish visual artist, sculptor and designer Jaume Plensa\u2019s NADES (2023) \u2014 a 12 metre portrait of a young woman with closed eyes and a traditional Kazakh braid \u2014 offers a moment of calm amid the city\u2019s urban flow.\n\nBritish-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare\u2019s Wind Sculpture (TG) II (2022) offers another nod to Central Asian traditions, where scarves hold cultural significance. The 12-metre high work takes the form of a wind-blown aluminium scarf painted in vibrant Ankara-inspired patterns, reflecting on layered cultural identities and colonial legacies central to Shonibare\u2019s practice.\n\nBerlin-based artist Alicja Kwade\u2019s Pre-Position (2023), inspired by Kazakhstan\u2019s Torysh Valley and its surreal spherical rock formations, combines stone spheres and steel forms to evoke celestial systems and ancient astronomical tools \u2014 a meditation on time, gravity, and universal connection.\n\nQonaqtar: Guests of the Steppe\n\nThe Almaty Museum of Arts opened with two exhibitions, the first titled Qonaqtar \u2014 \u201cGuests\u201d in Kazakh. Centred on artists of the 1960s, the show begins with works portraying nomadic culture, daily rituals, food, and festive gatherings. Highlights include Baursaks (1993) by Bakhtiyar Tabiyev, showing a woman frying traditional dough, and Aisha Galimbayeva\u2019s Shepherd\u2019s Feast (1965).\n\nAs visitors move deeper into the hall, the exhibition turns toward more complex reflections, juxtaposing the weight of Soviet restrictions with the richness of Central Asia\u2019s artistic heritage.\n\nAt its core is Salikhitdin Aytbayev\u2019s photograph On Virgin Soil. Lunchtime (1960s), which addresses the Virgin Lands campaign (1954\u20131965) \u2014 a Soviet effort to plough vast steppe regions to boost grain production, marked by labour enthusiasm, infrastructure building, and mass migration into the region.\n\n\u201cIf Aisha Galimbayeva is my starting point, then this is the anchor here,\u201d explains Inga La\u0304ce, the museum\u2019s chief curator. \u201cIt talks about the moment when migration happens and it totally changes the population of the whole country. And that also opens up other stories of what else happens in the steppe on the land.\u201d\n\nAcross paintings, graphic works, sculpture, and contemporary practices, the exhibition also explores themes of labour migration, identity, displacement, and belonging.\n\nI Understand Everything: Almagul Menlibayeva\u2019s Retrospective\n\nThe museum also presents I Understand Everything, the first retrospective of Almagul Menlibayeva, a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans painting, textiles, performance, photography, film, and new media.\n\nKnown for blending Eurasian myths, shamanistic imagery, and post-Soviet realities, Menlibayeva has developed what she calls a personal and political \u201ccosmology\u201d that examines identity, memory, and cultural resilience. Her works have been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale and major museums in Europe, Asia, and the United States.\n\n\u201cWe are so glad to finally have a space where we can truly think,\u201d Menlibayeva says. \u201cIt feels like a temple of art \u2014 and artists have so much to share. This year I\u2019ve had many exhibitions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Bangkok. Everywhere, people are deeply curious about Kazakhstan, about Central Asia. We have the perspective of looking through a post-socialist lens. We are multidimensional.\u201d\n\nCurated by Gridthiya Gaweewong, Artistic Director of the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok, the exhibition unfolds in two chapters. The first (September 2025 \u2013 January 2026) revisits the Kazakh steppe, the Aral Sea, and the Semipalatinsk nuclear test zone, culminating in the multi-channel installation Kurchatov 22 \u2014 named after the secret town in Kazakhstan that served as the centre of the USSR\u2019s nuclear weapons program. The second (opens in February 2026) turns to Kazakhstan\u2019s geopolitical terrains and sites of memory, featuring works on Stalin-era labour camps and women\u2019s agency along the Silk Road.\n\nInternational Perspectives\n\nAlongside its Kazakh and Central Asian collections, the museum dedicates several rooms to leading international artists.\n\nAmerican sculptor Richard Serra\u2019s Junction (2011) \u2014 the last large-scale work relocated with his approval before his passing \u2014 envelops viewers in vast curving steel forms that redefine the experience of space. Inside the long steel labyrinth, every step produces a heavy echo against the walls, amplifying a sense of weight and pressure.\n\nIn the room of German artist Anselm Kiefer, the scent of charcoal fills the air. His installation Questi scritti, quando verranno bruciati, daranno finalmente un po\u2019 di luce, (2020\u201321) \u2014 titled after writings by Italian philosopher Andrea Emo \u2014 combines oil on canvas with burnt books and metal wire, evoking destruction and renewal.\n\nTwo additional rooms present iconic works of contemporary art: Yayoi Kusama\u2019s Infinity Mirror Room: LOVE IS CALLING (2013), an immersive environment of light, pattern, and poetry, and Bill Viola\u2019s Stations (1994), a meditative video installation on transformation, inspired in part by Sufi philosophy.\n\nLooking ahead, the museum plans to rotate its collection and stage more solo exhibitions, while partnering with international curators and institutions. With workshops, education programs, and a conservation lab in development, it aims to grow into a vibrant hub for art and dialogue in Central Asia.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The long-awaited opening of the Almaty Museum of Arts marks a milestone in the region\u2019s cultural life. <\/p>\n<p>Founded by businessman and philanthropist Nurlan Smagulov, it showcases more than 700 works from Kazakhstan and Central Asia, alongside pieces by leading international artists. <\/p>\n<p>With its diverse range of media, genres, and perspectives, the museum aims to serve as a hub for contemporary art in Central Asia.<\/p>\n<p>The museum sits at the foothills of the Tian Shan mountains and stands as a work of art in its own right. Designed by British firm Chapman Taylor and completed over three years, the 10,060-square-meter complex consists of two intersecting wings \u2014 one clad in Jura limestone, the other in aluminium \u2014 symbolising Almaty\u2019s mountainous landscape and urban environment.<\/p>\n<h2>Architecture as Art<\/h2>\n<p>Art begins before visitors even step inside. Outdoors, large-scale installations welcome guests and set the tone for the experience ahead.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.75\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x962_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"NADES by Jaume Plensa (2003)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x288_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x480_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x563_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x621_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x810_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x900_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1440_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">NADES by Jaume Plensa (2003)<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Credit: Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Spanish visual artist, sculptor and designer <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//02//23//spanish-artist-jaume-plensa-prepares-to-take-macbeth-opera-beyond-barcelona/">Jaume Plensa<\/strong><\/a><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//video//2023//02//23//spanish-artist-jaume-plensa-prepares-to-take-macbeth-opera-beyond-barcelona/">/u2019s NADES (2023) \u2014 a 12 metre portrait of a young woman with closed eyes and a traditional Kazakh braid \u2014 offers a moment of calm amid the city\u2019s urban flow.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.75\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x962_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Wind Sculpture (TG) II (2022) by Yinka Shonibare, installed at the Almaty Museum of Arts\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x288_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x480_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x563_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x621_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x810_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x900_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1440_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Wind Sculpture (TG) II (2022) by Yinka Shonibare, installed at the Almaty Museum of Arts<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Photo: Euronews <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare\u2019s Wind Sculpture (TG) II (2022) offers another nod to Central Asian traditions, where scarves hold cultural significance. The 12-metre high work takes the form of a wind-blown aluminium scarf painted in vibrant Ankara-inspired patterns, reflecting on layered cultural identities and colonial legacies central to Shonibare\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.666015625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x853_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Alicja Kwade, Pre-Position (2023), installed outside the Almaty Museum of Arts\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x256_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x426_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x500_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x551_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x719_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x799_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1279_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Alicja Kwade, Pre-Position (2023), installed outside the Almaty Museum of Arts<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Photo: Alexey Naroditsky \/ Courtesy of Almaty Museum of Arts<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Berlin-based artist Alicja Kwade\u2019s Pre-Position (2023), inspired by Kazakhstan\u2019s Torysh Valley and its surreal spherical rock formations, combines stone spheres and steel forms to evoke celestial systems and ancient astronomical tools \u2014 a meditation on time, gravity, and universal connection.<\/p>\n<h2>Qonaqtar: Guests of the Steppe<\/h2>\n<p>The Almaty Museum of Arts opened with two exhibitions, the first titled Qonaqtar \u2014 \u201cGuests\u201d in Kazakh. Centred on artists of the 1960s, the show begins with works portraying nomadic culture, daily rituals, food, and festive gatherings. Highlights include Baursaks (1993) by Bakhtiyar Tabiyev, showing a woman frying traditional dough, and Aisha Galimbayeva\u2019s Shepherd\u2019s Feast (1965).<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7936197916666666\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x1016_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Bakhtiyar Tabiyev, Baursaqs, 1993. Collection of Almaty Museum of Arts\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x305_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x508_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x595_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x657_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x857_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x952_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1524_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Bakhtiyar Tabiyev, Baursaqs, 1993. Collection of Almaty Museum of Arts<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Courtesy of Almaty Museum of Arts.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7779947916666666\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x992_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Aisha Galimbayeva, Shepherd’s Feast (1965)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x299_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x498_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x583_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x644_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x840_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x934_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1494_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Aisha Galimbayeva, Shepherd’s Feast (1965)<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Courtesy of Almaty Museum of Arts<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>As visitors move deeper into the hall, the exhibition turns toward more complex reflections, juxtaposing the weight of Soviet restrictions with the richness of Central Asia\u2019s artistic heritage. <\/p>\n<p>At its core is Salikhitdin Aytbayev\u2019s photograph On Virgin Soil. Lunchtime (1960s), which addresses the Virgin Lands campaign (1954\u20131965) \u2014 a Soviet effort to plough vast steppe regions to boost grain production, marked by labour enthusiasm, infrastructure building, and mass migration into the region.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5520833333333334\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x707_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Salikhitdin Aytbayev, On Virgin Soil. Lunchtime (1960s)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x212_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x353_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x414_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x457_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x596_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x663_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1060_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Salikhitdin Aytbayev, On Virgin Soil. Lunchtime (1960s)<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Courtesy of Almaty Museum of Arts<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cIf Aisha Galimbayeva is my starting point, then this is the anchor here,\u201d explains Inga La\u0304ce, the museum\u2019s chief curator. \u201cIt talks about the moment when migration happens and it totally changes the population of the whole country. And that also opens up other stories of what else happens in the steppe on the land.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Across paintings, graphic works, sculpture, and contemporary practices, the exhibition also explores themes of labour migration, identity, displacement, and belonging.<\/p>\n<h2>I Understand Everything: Almagul Menlibayeva\u2019s Retrospective<\/h2>\n<p>The museum also presents I Understand Everything, the first retrospective of Almagul Menlibayeva, a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans painting, textiles, performance, photography, film, and new media. <\/p>\n<p>Known for blending Eurasian myths, shamanistic imagery, and post-Soviet realities, Menlibayeva has developed what she calls a personal and political \u201ccosmology\u201d that examines identity, memory, and cultural resilience. Her works have been exhibited internationally, including at the <strong>Venice Biennale<\/strong> and major museums in Europe, Asia, and the United States.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x719_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Almagul Menlibayeva at her exhibition\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x216_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x360_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x422_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x466_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x608_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x675_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1080_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Almagul Menlibayeva at her exhibition<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Photo: Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cWe are so glad to finally have a space where we can truly think,\u201d Menlibayeva says. \u201cIt feels like a temple of art \u2014 and artists have so much to share. This year I\u2019ve had many exhibitions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Bangkok. Everywhere, people are deeply curious about Kazakhstan, about Central Asia. We have the perspective of looking through a post-socialist lens. We are multidimensional.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x719_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Gridthiya Gaweewong (centre) at the Almaty Museum of Arts\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x216_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x360_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x422_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x466_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x608_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x675_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1080_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Gridthiya Gaweewong (centre) at the Almaty Museum of Arts<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Photo: Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Curated by Gridthiya Gaweewong, Artistic Director of the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok, the exhibition unfolds in two chapters. The first (September 2025 \u2013 January 2026) revisits the Kazakh steppe, the Aral Sea, and the Semipalatinsk nuclear test zone, culminating in the multi-channel installation Kurchatov 22 \u2014 named after the secret town in Kazakhstan that served as the centre of the USSR\u2019s nuclear weapons program. The second (opens in February 2026) turns to Kazakhstan\u2019s geopolitical terrains and sites of memory, featuring works on Stalin-era labour camps and women\u2019s agency along the Silk Road.<\/p>\n<h2>International Perspectives<\/h2>\n<p>Alongside its Kazakh and Central Asian collections, the museum dedicates several rooms to leading international artists.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x853_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Richard Serra, Junction (2011)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x256_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x427_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x500_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x552_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x720_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x800_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1280_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Richard Serra, Junction (2011)<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Courtesy of Almaty Museum of Arts<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>American sculptor Richard Serra\u2019s Junction (2011) \u2014 the last large-scale work relocated with his approval before his passing \u2014 envelops viewers in vast curving steel forms that redefine the experience of space. Inside the long steel labyrinth, every step produces a heavy echo against the walls, amplifying a sense of weight and pressure.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.666015625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//33//03//1280x853_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg/" alt=\"Anselm Kiefer, Questi scritti, quando verranno bruciati, daranno finalmente un po’ di luce, (2020–21)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/384x256_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/640x426_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/750x500_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/828x551_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1080x719_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1200x799_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/1920x1279_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Anselm Kiefer, Questi scritti, quando verranno bruciati, daranno finalmente un po’ di luce, (2020–21)<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Credit: Almaty Museum of Art\/Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In the room of German artist Anselm Kiefer, the scent of charcoal fills the air. His installation <em>Questi scritti, quando verranno bruciati, daranno finalmente un po\u2019 di luce<\/em>, (2020\u201321) \u2014 titled after writings by Italian philosopher Andrea Emo \u2014 combines oil on canvas with burnt books and metal wire, evoking destruction and renewal.<\/p>\n<p>Two additional rooms present iconic works of contemporary art: <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//video//2023//06//30//take-a-look-inside-yayoi-kusamas-spectacular-inflatable-wonderland-at-manchesters-aviva-st/">Yayoi Kusama<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s Infinity Mirror Room: LOVE IS CALLING (2013), an immersive environment of light, pattern, and poetry, and Bill Viola\u2019s Stations (1994), a meditative video installation on transformation, inspired in part by Sufi philosophy.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, the museum plans to rotate its collection and stage more solo exhibitions, while partnering with international curators and institutions. With workshops, education programs, and a conservation lab in development, it aims to grow into a vibrant hub for art and dialogue in Central Asia.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759995032,"updatedAt":1765971295,"publishedAt":1760249691,"firstPublishedAt":1760249691,"lastPublishedAt":1765971294,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_27adcd8e-3127-5f68-926a-16e3eed0a51c-9503303.jpg","altText":"Yinka Shonibara's Wind Sculpture (TG) II (2022) outside Almaty Museum of Art ","caption":"Yinka Shonibara's Wind Sculpture (TG) II (2022) outside Almaty Museum of Art ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Photo: Euronews ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":864},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f303e92c-41b7-5cd3-99ab-ba5643c74507-9503303.jpg","altText":"Anselm Kiefer, Questi scritti, quando verranno bruciati, daranno finalmente un po\u2019 di luce, (2020\u201321)","caption":"Anselm Kiefer, Questi scritti, quando verranno bruciati, daranno finalmente un po\u2019 di luce, (2020\u201321)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Credit: Almaty Museum of Art\/Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":1023},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1c9ccf68-971f-5e90-814c-1e8a3b25f202-9503303.jpg","altText":"Gridthiya Gaweewong (centre) at the Almaty Museum of Arts","caption":"Gridthiya Gaweewong (centre) at the Almaty Museum of Arts","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Photo: Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":864},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1bdf06c2-6dfd-5806-ba21-7b55f5a10dc7-9503303.jpg","altText":"Almagul Menlibayeva at her exhibition","caption":"Almagul Menlibayeva at her exhibition","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Photo: Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":864},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2e00545b-a143-5541-8102-0421f6cb6cbe-9503303.jpg","altText":"Salikhitdin Aytbayev, On Virgin Soil. Lunchtime (1960s)","caption":"Salikhitdin Aytbayev, On Virgin Soil. Lunchtime (1960s)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Courtesy of Almaty Museum of Arts","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":848},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_168733b0-ed52-5025-a262-42aa1c3ed5d2-9503303.jpg","altText":"Aisha Galimbayeva, Shepherd\u2019s Feast (1965)","caption":"Aisha Galimbayeva, Shepherd\u2019s Feast (1965)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Courtesy of Almaty Museum of Arts","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":1195},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e59376e8-8a6a-5c24-91c6-8877ce0645a9-9503303.jpg","altText":"Bakhtiyar Tabiyev, Baursaqs, 1993. Collection of Almaty Museum of Arts","caption":"Bakhtiyar Tabiyev, Baursaqs, 1993. Collection of Almaty Museum of Arts","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"xxx","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":1219},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_385dc26a-319d-5e06-887a-4fdc82618779-9503303.jpg","altText":"xx","caption":"xx","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Photo: Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":1023},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fd65aa73-0de6-5550-a1d2-e6c3c955f6eb-9503303.jpg","altText":"Wind Sculpture (TG) II (2022) by Yinka Shonibare, installed at the Almaty Museum of Arts","caption":"Wind Sculpture (TG) II (2022) by Yinka Shonibare, installed at the Almaty Museum of Arts","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Photo: Euronews ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":1152},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9fd703ca-d34f-5d38-bd1f-2f10c2d080c7-9503303.jpg","altText":"NADES by Jaume Plensa (2003)","caption":"NADES by Jaume Plensa (2003)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Credit: Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":1152},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8e0806b2-2c6d-5572-9d89-40b7e9bc41ca-9503303.jpg","altText":"xx","caption":"xx","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"xx","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3547,"urlSafeValue":"meruyert.zhakiyanova@euronews.com","title":"Meruyert Zhakiyanova","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":4155,"slug":"painting","urlSafeValue":"painting","title":"Painting","titleRaw":"Painting"},{"id":4151,"slug":"sculpture","urlSafeValue":"sculpture","title":"Sculpture","titleRaw":"Sculpture"},{"id":6923,"slug":"museum","urlSafeValue":"museum","title":"Museum","titleRaw":"Museum"},{"id":4159,"slug":"exhibition","urlSafeValue":"exhibition","title":"Exhibition","titleRaw":"Exhibition"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":10}],"related":[{"id":2833331},{"id":2845070},{"id":2847220}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"art","urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/art\/art"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"art","urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art","url":"\/culture\/art"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":70,"urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":{"id":3900,"urlSafeValue":"almaty","title":"Almaty"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/10\/12\/almaty-museum-of-arts-opens-its-doors-in-kazakhstans-cultural-capital","lastModified":1765971294},{"id":2837080,"cid":9501631,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Kazakhstan AI-powered board director","daletPyramidId":2934096,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Your country\u2019s sovereign wealth fund, decided by a machine? Kazakhstan says yes","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Your country\u2019s sovereign wealth fund, decided by a machine? Kazakhstan says yes","leadin":"An AI-powered director just joined the board of Kazakhstan\u2019s sovereign wealth fund \u2014 and it gets a vote.","summary":"An AI-powered director just joined the board of Kazakhstan\u2019s sovereign wealth fund \u2014 and it gets a vote.","keySentence":"","url":"your-countrys-sovereign-wealth-fund-decided-by-a-machine-kazakhstan-says-yes","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/2025\/10\/08\/your-countrys-sovereign-wealth-fund-decided-by-a-machine-kazakhstan-says-yes","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan\u2019s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna has unveiled an AI-generated independent board director, potentially the first of its kind in Central Asia. The system, called SKAI (Samruk-Kazyna Artificial Intelligence), will be able to vote on decisions concerning the fund\u2019s activities, like strategic, financial and governance. Trained on internal documents dating back to 2008, the machine director is designed to support more accurate and balanced decision-making.\u00a0\n\nSKAI runs in a closed circuit on Kazakhtelecom\u2019s Al Farabium supercomputer, the second most powerful in the country. It relies on the Kazakh-language model Alem LLM, and allows data to be processed locally without leaving Kazakhstan.\u00a0\n\nThe AI director was presented to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the 2025 Digital Bridge forum in Astana. \u2014 the largest tech forum in Central Eurasia.\n\nThe forum comes on the heels of the UN General Assembly, where President Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan\u2019s commitment to the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. It is a platform designed to bring states and stakeholders together to develop international guardrails for AI management.\n\nKazakhstan as the regional technological bridge\n\nKazakhstan is positioning itself as an early adopter of artificial intelligence in the region, aiming to become a fully digital economy within three years.\u00a0\n\nThe country is working to adopt the Digital Code, which will set the framework for the digitalization of the economy, education, healthcare, and public administration. Meanwhile, the law on artificial intelligence is under review in parliament and will soon be forwarded to the Senate for approval before being signed by the president.\u00a0\n\n\u201cToday, more than 92% of public services are available online. Last year, cashless payments in the country accounted for over 85%. In just the first six months of this year, citizens of Kazakhstan received 26 million digital services \u2014 half of them via smartphones. These are solid results. At the same time, it should be noted that the development of AI is moving at a very fast pace, which requires us to constantly update our approaches,\u201d said Tokayev during the first AI Council meeting, at the forum.\u00a0\n\nInternational experts say Kazakhstan\u2019s technological potential is rooted in its strong mathematical tradition and engineering talent.\u00a0\n\n\u201cThe US leads the world in ideas, semiconductors, venture capital ecosystems, and best application in business for AI, but the East also plays a role. China builds the most efficient models, it makes them opensource and shares with the world. China has the ability to build consumer apps like TikTok. And China has a government with an ecosystem that is built to connect the business to the academia and venture capital. These systems can all work together. I think that Kazakhstan is in a wonderful position as the digital bridge that will connect not just academia to businesses but also the East to the West,\u201d said Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of Sinovation Ventures, and a member of Kazakhstan\u2019s newly formed Council on AI.\u00a0\n\nKazakhstan is building a unified artificial intelligence ecosystem with the launch of its first AI research university and the unveiling of the international AI Centre \u2014 Alem AI (\u201cWorld AI\u201d) \u2014 in Astana. In his speech at the forum\u2019s plenary session, Tokayev described the center as a \u201cfactory of ideas and innovations.\u201d He also revealed that a second national supercomputer cluster is under development, while the first already boasts nearly 2 exaflops of power \u2014 capable of performing 2 quintillion calculations every second.\n\nBraille device for instant messaging and other solutions\n\nNearly 200 Kazakh startups are offering solutions to real-world problems. Among them is Pocketdot \u2014 the first pocket-sized device with a sensory braille display and keypad that connects to a smartphone. It helps blind users communicate privately by converting information into braille. For instance, a photo of a menu or a room can be turned into text via apps, and Pocketdot transcribes it into braille. This makes chatting in messengers, scrolling social media, shopping online, taking courses, and even making bank transfers accessible to blind users.\u00a0\n\n\u201cWhen the user receives a message or needs to send something, they receive a vibration or sound notification. With specific gestures and swipes, they can launch an application, such as WhatsApp, and type text on the phone using the Braille sensory keyboard. In the same way, they can also read back what they have written,\u201d said Pocketdot founder Adil Jussupov.\n\nMeeting the region\u2019s soaring demand for education, Kazakhstan\u2019s edtech frontrunner \u2014 CodiPlay \u2014 is emerging as a potential game-changer. The startup is valued at more than \u20ac85 million. The app teaches digital skills through gaming, engineering, and robotics. It\u2019s already used in over 1,200 schools across 13 countries, including the US, UK, the Middle East, and North Africa. With more than a million learners worldwide, CodiPlay has been recognized by the UN as a digital public good.\n\n\u201cIn this area of Astana, there is a big concentration of AI driven and digital driven guys who want to create good startups and there is good networking. My friend helped me to talk with Zimbabwe or MENA and other markets. We have co-founders from South Korea and also from Silicon Valley, but we have a company here because of AIFC (Astana International Finance Centre) facilities which help us create companies here and to attract investments. For investors, it's very important to have British law. All these financial institutions, this financial district and centre give us additional opportunities to attract investments from international VCs,\u201d said CodiPlay CEO Danabek Kaliazhdarov.\n\nEurope plugs into Kazakhstan\u2019s AI revolution\n\nFrance\u2019s Clever Cloud joined forces with Kazakhstan on the QazCloud project \u2014 a step toward boosting the nation\u2019s digital sovereignty. Unlike big hyperscalers such as Google, whose cloud services are managed abroad, QazCloud will be operated on Kazakh territory. Behind the scenes, versatile digital storage platforms like Clever Cloud keep the apps and websites people use every day running smoothly \u2014 from banking and shopping to online learning \u2014 making sure they stay fast, secure, and always available.\u00a0\n\nQazCloud will soon be open to the public, helping Kazakhstan not only secure its own digital future but also export cloud services worldwide with greater value.\u00a0\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re looking at what people use on top of cloud, they are not using only simple service but also managed service which are more software than infrastructure. And what we provide is exactly that. It\u2019s the ability to have the same level of service or value as Google or Azhar but on top of real sovereign cloud in Kazakhstan,\u201d said the Clever Cloud CEO Quentin Adam.\u00a0\n\nFrance\u2019s Ksaar is looking to step in to help Kazakhstan tackle digitalization hurdles. Its platform lets anyone without coding skills build enterprise software and automate workflows. Ksaar hopes to streamline Kazakhstan\u2019s digital transition by turning Excel files and government documents into ready-to-use apps, fast and loss-free.\n\n\u201cIf you have a specific workflow and you have a work process, you don't know how you're going to tackle it. You have the data stored somewhere, but you don't know how to use it, because that comes into play. We make sure that you can you use the data as much as you want. And we can plug AI into this,\u201d said Ksaar account manager Charles Chokre.\u00a0\n\nKazakhstan is tapping into AI diplomacy\n\nEuropeans along with other international experts will oversee Kazakhstan\u2019s AI policy. French innovative educator Nicolas Sadirac, German-American futurist Olaf J. Groth, alongside over a dozen other world specialists are now part of the nation\u2019s newly formed Council for Artificial Intelligence Development. The government has pledged to fund council members\u2019 fellowships at their home universities.\u00a0\n\nThe French innovative educator Nicolas Sadirac, is spearheading the first regional AI school in the western city of Aktau. The institution will be open not only to schoolchildren but also to students, researchers, and entrepreneurs.\u00a0\n\nStanford professor Paul Kim will help select the top 100,000 students for an intensive AI entrepreneurship module. The most promising startups will then move on to incubation and acceleration programs.\u00a0\n\nEducation as funnel for export of AI products\n\nKazakhstan aims to produce more than 100,000 student-led startups each year. It will do so by turning its education system into a startup pipeline.\u00a0\n\nTo build the necessary human capital, the state is rolling out a nationwide free training framework. Public schools and universities are being overhauled, with mandatory AI courses introduced across all higher education institutions. By the summer of 2026, every teacher in the country is expected to be trained in AI. By the end of this year, every undergraduate student in Kazakhstan will have completed the multistage training program AI Sana and received certification in AI literacy and skills.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nEarlier this year, the country unveiled its third and most advanced large language model\u00a0 \u2014 Alem LLM, created in partnership with AI pioneer Kai-Fu Lee, general director of Sinnovation Ventures and 01.ai. These models are a fast-growing form of AI designed to generate human-like responses to text, voice, or other inputs.\u00a0\n\nAlem LLM will be embedded into Kazakhstan\u2019s existing e-government infrastructure. Its developers claim that Alem LLM outperforms ChatGPT and Gemini in processing the Kazakh language. The system is open to startups, companies, and international platforms to build custom AI products and services in Kazakh.\u00a0\n\nTelegram messenger opens a dedicated lab at Kazakhstan\u2019s AI centre\n\nTelegram is stepping into Kazakhstan\u2019s AI scene \u2014 launching a new lab inside the Alem AI Centre. Founder Pavel Durov says its first mission pairs the platform with the nation\u2019s powerful supercomputer cluster.\n\n\u201cFor the last few months Telegram has been quietly working on a new technology. Technology at the Intersection of Artificial intelligence and blockchain. This technology will allow more than a billion people use AI features powered by the centralized computing network in a private, transparent and efficient manner,\u201d said Durov.\u00a0\n\nThe Telegram CEO said he hopes Kazakhstan\u2019s supercomputer cluster will become one of the first major providers of computing power for the network. Earlier this year, in June 2025, the company opened its first regional office at Astana Hub - the largest international technopark for IT startups in Central Asia.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan\u2019s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna has unveiled an AI-generated independent board director, potentially the first of its kind in Central Asia. The system, called SKAI (Samruk-Kazyna Artificial Intelligence), will be able to vote on decisions concerning the fund\u2019s activities, like strategic, financial and governance. Trained on internal documents dating back to 2008, the machine director is designed to support more accurate and balanced decision-making.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>SKAI runs in a closed circuit on Kazakhtelecom\u2019s Al Farabium supercomputer, the second most powerful in the country. It relies on the Kazakh-language model Alem LLM, and allows data to be processed locally without leaving Kazakhstan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x454_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"\u3164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x216_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x360_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x422_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x466_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x608_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x675_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1080_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">\u3164<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Samruk-Kazyna JSC<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The AI director was presented to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the 2025 Digital Bridge forum in Astana. \u2014 the largest tech forum in Central Eurasia.<\/p>\n<p>The forum comes on the heels of the UN General Assembly, where President Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan\u2019s commitment to the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. It is a platform designed to bring states and stakeholders together to develop international guardrails for AI management.<\/p>\n<h2>Kazakhstan as the regional technological bridge<\/h2>\n<p>Kazakhstan is positioning itself as an early adopter of artificial intelligence in the region, aiming to become a fully digital economy within three years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The country is working to adopt the Digital Code, which will set the framework for the digitalization of the economy, education, healthcare, and public administration. Meanwhile, the law on artificial intelligence is under review in parliament and will soon be forwarded to the Senate for approval before being signed by the president.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.63515625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x515_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"President Tokayev at Artificial intelligence development Council meeting\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x244_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x407_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x476_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x526_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x686_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x762_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1220_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">President Tokayev at Artificial intelligence development Council meeting<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Aqorda<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cToday, more than 92% of public services are available online. Last year, cashless payments in the country accounted for over 85%. In just the first six months of this year, citizens of Kazakhstan received 26 million digital services \u2014 half of them via smartphones. These are solid results. At the same time, it should be noted that the development of AI is moving at a very fast pace, which requires us to constantly update our approaches,\u201d said Tokayev during the first AI Council meeting, at the forum.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>International experts say Kazakhstan\u2019s technological potential is rooted in its strong mathematical tradition and engineering talent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe US leads the world in ideas, semiconductors, venture capital ecosystems, and best application in business for AI, but the East also plays a role. China builds the most efficient models, it makes them opensource and shares with the world. China has the ability to build consumer apps like TikTok. And China has a government with an ecosystem that is built to connect the business to the academia and venture capital. These systems can all work together. I think that Kazakhstan is in a wonderful position as the digital bridge that will connect not just academia to businesses but also the East to the West,\u201d said Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of Sinovation Ventures, and a member of Kazakhstan\u2019s newly formed Council on AI.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x454_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"AlemAI building\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x216_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x360_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x422_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x466_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x608_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x675_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1080_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">AlemAI building<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Kazakhstan is building a unified artificial intelligence ecosystem with the launch of its first AI research university and the unveiling of the international AI Centre \u2014 Alem AI (\u201cWorld AI\u201d) \u2014 in Astana. In his speech at the forum\u2019s plenary session, Tokayev described the center as a \u201cfactory of ideas and innovations.\u201d He also revealed that a second national supercomputer cluster is under development, while the first already boasts nearly 2 exaflops of power \u2014 capable of performing 2 quintillion calculations every second.<\/p>\n<h2>Braille device for instant messaging and other solutions<\/h2>\n<p>Nearly 200 Kazakh startups are offering solutions to real-world problems. Among them is Pocketdot \u2014 the first pocket-sized device with a sensory braille display and keypad that connects to a smartphone. It helps blind users communicate privately by converting information into braille. For instance, a photo of a menu or a room can be turned into text via apps, and Pocketdot transcribes it into braille. This makes chatting in messengers, scrolling social media, shopping online, taking courses, and even making bank transfers accessible to blind users.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x454_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"PocketDot founder Adil Jussupov and Aidana Jussupova\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x216_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x360_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x422_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x466_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x608_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x675_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1080_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">PocketDot founder Adil Jussupov and Aidana Jussupova<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Botagoz Marabai archive, Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cWhen the user receives a message or needs to send something, they receive a vibration or sound notification. With specific gestures and swipes, they can launch an application, such as WhatsApp, and type text on the phone using the Braille sensory keyboard. In the same way, they can also read back what they have written,\u201d said Pocketdot founder Adil Jussupov.<\/p>\n<p>Meeting the region\u2019s soaring demand for education, Kazakhstan\u2019s edtech frontrunner \u2014 CodiPlay \u2014 is emerging as a potential game-changer. The startup is valued at more than \u20ac85 million. The app teaches digital skills through gaming, engineering, and robotics. It\u2019s already used in over 1,200 schools across 13 countries, including the US, UK, the Middle East, and North Africa. With more than a million learners worldwide, CodiPlay has been recognized by the UN as a digital public good.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x454_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"Danabek Kaliazhdarov CodiPlay CEO\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x216_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x360_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x422_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x466_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x608_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x675_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1080_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Danabek Kaliazhdarov CodiPlay CEO<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews\u00a0<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cIn this area of Astana, there is a big concentration of AI driven and digital driven guys who want to create good startups and there is good networking. My friend helped me to talk with Zimbabwe or MENA and other markets. We have co-founders from South Korea and also from Silicon Valley, but we have a company here because of AIFC (Astana International Finance Centre) facilities which help us create companies here and to attract investments. For investors, it's very important to have British law. All these financial institutions, this financial district and centre give us additional opportunities to attract investments from international VCs,\u201d said CodiPlay CEO Danabek Kaliazhdarov.<\/p>\n<h2>Europe plugs into Kazakhstan\u2019s AI revolution<\/h2>\n<p>France\u2019s Clever Cloud joined forces with Kazakhstan on the QazCloud project \u2014 a step toward boosting the nation\u2019s digital sovereignty. Unlike big hyperscalers such as Google, whose cloud services are managed abroad, QazCloud will be operated on Kazakh territory. Behind the scenes, versatile digital storage platforms like Clever Cloud keep the apps and websites people use every day running smoothly \u2014 from banking and shopping to online learning \u2014 making sure they stay fast, secure, and always available.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>QazCloud will soon be open to the public, helping Kazakhstan not only secure its own digital future but also export cloud services worldwide with greater value.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.75\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x608_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"Quentin Adam, Clever Cloud CEO\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x288_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x480_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x563_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x621_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x810_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x900_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1440_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Quentin Adam, Clever Cloud CEO<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Botagoz Marabai archive, Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re looking at what people use on top of cloud, they are not using only simple service but also managed service which are more software than infrastructure. And what we provide is exactly that. It\u2019s the ability to have the same level of service or value as Google or Azhar but on top of real sovereign cloud in Kazakhstan,\u201d said the Clever Cloud CEO Quentin Adam.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>France\u2019s Ksaar is looking to step in to help Kazakhstan tackle digitalization hurdles. Its platform lets anyone without coding skills build enterprise software and automate workflows. Ksaar hopes to streamline Kazakhstan\u2019s digital transition by turning Excel files and government documents into ready-to-use apps, fast and loss-free.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x454_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"Ksaar stand at Digital bridge\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x216_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x360_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x422_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x466_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x608_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x675_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1080_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Ksaar stand at Digital bridge<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cIf you have a specific workflow and you have a work process, you don't know how you're going to tackle it. You have the data stored somewhere, but you don't know how to use it, because that comes into play. We make sure that you can you use the data as much as you want. And we can plug AI into this,\u201d said Ksaar account manager Charles Chokre.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Kazakhstan is tapping into AI diplomacy<\/h2>\n<p>Europeans along with other international experts will oversee Kazakhstan\u2019s AI policy. French innovative educator Nicolas Sadirac, German-American futurist Olaf J. Groth, alongside over a dozen other world specialists are now part of the nation\u2019s newly formed Council for Artificial Intelligence Development. The government has pledged to fund council members\u2019 fellowships at their home universities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.64765625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x525_cmsv2_bee9185d-915c-5b71-93cd-c20c7b705b2d-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"Artificial Intelligence Development Council group picture\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x249_cmsv2_bee9185d-915c-5b71-93cd-c20c7b705b2d-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x415_cmsv2_bee9185d-915c-5b71-93cd-c20c7b705b2d-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x486_cmsv2_bee9185d-915c-5b71-93cd-c20c7b705b2d-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x536_cmsv2_bee9185d-915c-5b71-93cd-c20c7b705b2d-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x699_cmsv2_bee9185d-915c-5b71-93cd-c20c7b705b2d-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x777_cmsv2_bee9185d-915c-5b71-93cd-c20c7b705b2d-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1244_cmsv2_bee9185d-915c-5b71-93cd-c20c7b705b2d-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Artificial Intelligence Development Council group picture<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Aqorda<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The French innovative educator Nicolas Sadirac, is spearheading the first regional AI school in the western city of Aktau. The institution will be open not only to schoolchildren but also to students, researchers, and entrepreneurs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stanford professor Paul Kim will help select the top 100,000 students for an intensive AI entrepreneurship module. The most promising startups will then move on to incubation and acceleration programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Education as funnel for export of AI products<\/h2>\n<p>Kazakhstan aims to produce more than 100,000 student-led startups each year. It will do so by turning its education system into a startup pipeline.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To build the necessary human capital, the state is rolling out a nationwide free training framework. Public schools and universities are being overhauled, with mandatory AI courses introduced across all higher education institutions. By the summer of 2026, every teacher in the country is expected to be trained in AI. By the end of this year, every undergraduate student in Kazakhstan will have completed the multistage training program AI Sana and received certification in AI literacy and skills.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x454_cmsv2_f6d9f675-5802-5fee-8b35-a40aea5fe82d-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"Robot dogs at Digital Bridge exhibition\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x216_cmsv2_f6d9f675-5802-5fee-8b35-a40aea5fe82d-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x360_cmsv2_f6d9f675-5802-5fee-8b35-a40aea5fe82d-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x422_cmsv2_f6d9f675-5802-5fee-8b35-a40aea5fe82d-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x466_cmsv2_f6d9f675-5802-5fee-8b35-a40aea5fe82d-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x608_cmsv2_f6d9f675-5802-5fee-8b35-a40aea5fe82d-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x675_cmsv2_f6d9f675-5802-5fee-8b35-a40aea5fe82d-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1080_cmsv2_f6d9f675-5802-5fee-8b35-a40aea5fe82d-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Robot dogs at Digital Bridge exhibition<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Earlier this year, the country unveiled its third and most advanced large language model\u00a0 \u2014 Alem LLM, created in partnership with AI pioneer Kai-Fu Lee, general director of Sinnovation Ventures and 01.ai. These models are a fast-growing form of AI designed to generate human-like responses to text, voice, or other inputs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Alem LLM will be embedded into Kazakhstan\u2019s existing e-government infrastructure. Its developers claim that Alem LLM outperforms ChatGPT and Gemini in processing the Kazakh language. The system is open to startups, companies, and international platforms to build custom AI products and services in Kazakh.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Telegram messenger opens a dedicated lab at Kazakhstan\u2019s AI centre<\/h2>\n<p>Telegram is stepping into Kazakhstan\u2019s AI scene \u2014 launching a new lab inside the Alem AI Centre. Founder Pavel Durov says its first mission pairs the platform with the nation\u2019s powerful supercomputer cluster.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.52875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//50//16//31//808x428_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg/" alt=\"Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram instant messenger\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/384x203_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/640x338_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/750x397_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/828x438_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1080x571_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1200x635_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/1920x1015_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram instant messenger<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Aqorda<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cFor the last few months Telegram has been quietly working on a new technology. Technology at the Intersection of Artificial intelligence and blockchain. This technology will allow more than a billion people use AI features powered by the centralized computing network in a private, transparent and efficient manner,\u201d said Durov.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Telegram CEO said he hopes Kazakhstan\u2019s supercomputer cluster will become one of the first major providers of computing power for the network. Earlier this year, in June 2025, the company opened its first regional office at Astana Hub - the largest international technopark for IT startups in Central Asia.\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759916437,"updatedAt":1759917796,"publishedAt":1759914186,"firstPublishedAt":1759914186,"lastPublishedAt":1759914186,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_de7bf51c-a9ba-50cd-add4-fce639e90651-9501631.jpg","altText":"AI-generated Independent Director SKAI","caption":"AI-generated Independent Director SKAI","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Samruk-Kazyna JSC","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1392,"height":752},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b820b247-84a4-56eb-9a14-1262fa0eb32b-9501631.jpg","altText":"Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram instant messenger","caption":"Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram 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picture","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Aqorda","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":829},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_17b0ff79-682b-5b41-99f7-4e0d61878faa-9501631.jpg","altText":"Ksaar stand at Digital bridge","caption":"Ksaar stand at Digital bridge","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8595ebcb-d10b-5bb1-8e48-cd752776045d-9501631.jpg","altText":"Quentin Adam, Clever Cloud CEO","caption":"Quentin Adam, Clever Cloud CEO","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Botagoz Marabai archive, Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1500},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1ed1e526-551c-5787-8224-9ce871c2557b-9501631.jpg","altText":"Danabek Kaliazhdarov CodiPlay CEO","caption":"Danabek Kaliazhdarov CodiPlay CEO","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews\u00a0","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_449b62a4-cc5e-50bf-8aa7-26b55d71ea22-9501631.jpg","altText":"PocketDot founder Adil Jussupov and Aidana Jussupova","caption":"PocketDot founder Adil Jussupov and Aidana Jussupova","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Botagoz Marabai archive, Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_94454323-fc98-55a3-a4ce-5df955e1e3bf-9501631.jpg","altText":"AlemAI building","caption":"AlemAI building","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7d51c331-64f4-54b0-8481-b7b6706659e5-9501631.jpg","altText":"President Tokayev at Artificial intelligence development Council meeting","caption":"President Tokayev at Artificial intelligence development Council meeting","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Aqorda","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":813},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/16\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_55fec356-af41-5d80-8035-eeb0f9d433ba-9501631.jpg","altText":"Samruk-Kazyna JSC","caption":"Samruk-Kazyna JSC","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Samruk-Kazyna JSC","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":800,"height":450}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12661,"slug":"artificial-intelligence","urlSafeValue":"artificial-intelligence","title":"Artificial intelligence","titleRaw":"Artificial intelligence"},{"id":9505,"slug":"new-technologies","urlSafeValue":"new-technologies","title":"New technologies","titleRaw":"New 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News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/next\/2025\/10\/08\/your-countrys-sovereign-wealth-fund-decided-by-a-machine-kazakhstan-says-yes","lastModified":1759914186},{"id":2836894,"cid":9500473,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business AI Kazak","daletPyramidId":2927119,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan\u2019s quiet revolution: Crypto, AI, and a tech transformation","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan\u2019s quiet revolution: Crypto, AI, and a tech transformation","titleListing2":"","leadin":"A country once known for its oil and vast grassland plains is now racing to become Central Asia\u2019s digital powerhouse \u2014 betting on artificial intelligence, AI governance, and crypto assets to reinvent its future.","summary":"A country once known for its oil and vast grassland plains is now racing to become Central Asia\u2019s digital powerhouse \u2014 betting on artificial intelligence, AI governance, and crypto assets to reinvent its future.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstans-quiet-revolution-crypto-ai-and-a-tech-transformation","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2025\/10\/07\/kazakhstans-quiet-revolution-crypto-ai-and-a-tech-transformation","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Nations are currently competing to harness the power of artificial intelligence and digitalisation. China and the United States are at the forefront of the race, while the European Union is more heavily focused on ethical regulation and digital rights.\n\nFor emerging economies, entering the race signals an attempt to shift the global power dynamics in their favour, seeking to narrow the development gap.\u00a0\n\nFor the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan, it\u2019s also a means to branch out from its raw materials-based economy, a model which cannot last forever.\n\nThe country has made digitalisation and AI development the centrepiece of its national strategy, which Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced in his September public address.\u00a0\n\n\u201cI have set the strategically important task of transforming Kazakhstan into a fully-fledged digital country within three years,\u201d he stated.\u00a0\n\nA ministry, a law, and a code\u00a0\n\nTo support the strategy, the president announced the creation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, which will oversee the integration of AI across key sectors of the economy and restructure governance around AI principles.\u00a0\n\nAstana is also drafting a Digital Code, designed to organise digital governance and ensure data protection.\u00a0\n\nAnother bold step for Kazakhstan is a proposed law on artificial intelligence, which regulates 'high-risk' systems and mandates the labelling of AI-generated content.\u00a0\n\nCrucially, the legislation gives regulators the authority to suspend harmful AI applications.\n\n\u201cWe should not let ethical norms fall behind this rapid evolution,\u201d Tokayev warned at the recent United Nations General Assembly, aligning Kazakhstan\u2019s stance with the European Union\u2019s approach to responsible AI.\n\nAI governance and crypto assets\u00a0\n\nKazakhstan\u2019s ambitions go beyond regulation, as it plans on transforming the financial sector and public services as well.\n\nThe country already boasts some of the region\u2019s most advanced digital public services, with over 92% available online and cashless transactions making up the vast majority of payments.\n\nThe country now wants to move from e-Gov to AI-Gov \u2014 embedding machine learning into governance itself.\u00a0\n\nAt the same time, Astana is experimenting with digital finance. The government is expanding the use of its national digital currency, digital tenge, which is already being used to finance projects from the National Fund.\u00a0\n\n\u201cNow is the time to scale up the use of the digital tenge within the national and local budgets, as well as in the budgets of state holdings,\u201d Tokayev said in his September address.\u00a0\n\nIn the same speech, Tokayev announced the establishment of the State Digital Assets Fund, which will serve as the reserve for crypto and digital assets.\n\nHub of Eurasia\n\nAnother way Kazakhstan aims to position itself as the digital hub of Eurasia is by introducing a focus on AI in education.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nFor this, President Tokayev announced the creation of an AI research university, which should prepare the future generation of specialists capable of supporting Kazakhstan through its digital transformation.\u00a0\n\nThe Alem.ai International Centre for Artificial Intelligence, launched on 2 October, will spearhead this transition by designing AI tools for policymaking, data analysis and forecasting.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nThis summer, the country also launched Central Asia\u2019s most powerful supercomputer, with a second one on the way. The machine will power the country\u2019s e-government services and support AI model training.\u00a0\n\nDigital identity in a multipolar world\n\nKazakhstan\u2019s digital transformation also carries a geopolitical weight. Positioned between China, Russia, and Europe, the country is balancing partnerships while asserting digital sovereignty \u2014 welcoming Western data firms, cooperating with Chinese researchers, and nurturing its own AI ecosystem.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nThis multi-vector approach mirrors Astana\u2019s broader foreign policy and places Kazakhstan among a small group of nations embedding AI into their institutional fabric.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nThe challenge now is to turn bold reforms into tangible progress that strengthens competitiveness without losing control of the rapid technological shift.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Nations are currently competing to harness the power of artificial intelligence and digitalisation. China and the United States are at the forefront of the race, while the European Union is more heavily focused on ethical regulation and digital rights.<\/p>\n<p>For emerging economies, entering the race signals an attempt to shift the global power dynamics in their favour, seeking to narrow the development gap. <\/p>\n<p>For the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan, it\u2019s also a means to branch out from its raw materials-based economy, a model which cannot last forever.<\/p>\n<p>The country has made digitalisation and AI development the centrepiece of its national strategy, which Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced in his September public address. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have set the strategically important task of transforming Kazakhstan into a fully-fledged digital country within three years,\u201d he stated. <\/p>\n<h2>A ministry, a law, and a code<\/h2>\n<p>To support the strategy, the president announced the creation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, which will oversee the integration of AI across key sectors of the economy and restructure governance around AI principles. <\/p>\n<p>Astana is also drafting a Digital Code, designed to organise digital governance and ensure data protection. <\/p>\n<p>Another bold step for Kazakhstan is a proposed law on artificial intelligence, which regulates 'high-risk' systems and mandates the labelling of AI-generated content. <\/p>\n<p>Crucially, the legislation gives regulators the authority to suspend harmful AI applications.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe should not let ethical norms fall behind this rapid evolution,\u201d Tokayev warned at the recent United Nations General Assembly, aligning Kazakhstan\u2019s stance with the European Union\u2019s approach to responsible AI.<\/p>\n<h2>AI governance and crypto assets<\/h2>\n<p>Kazakhstan\u2019s ambitions go beyond regulation, as it plans on transforming the financial sector and public services as well.<\/p>\n<p>The country already boasts some of the region\u2019s most advanced digital public services, with over 92% available online and cashless transactions making up the vast majority of payments.<\/p>\n<p>The country now wants to move from e-Gov to AI-Gov \u2014 embedding machine learning into governance itself. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//01//kazakhstans-katon-karagay-where-nature-lives-in-harmony-with-people/">Kazakhstan/u2019s Katon Karagay: where nature lives in harmony with people<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//news//2025//09//19//kazakhstans-constitution-turns-30-with-political-reforms/">Kazakhstan/u2019s Constitution turns 30 with political reforms<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>At the same time, Astana is experimenting with digital finance. The government is expanding the use of its national digital currency, digital tenge, which is already being used to finance projects from the National Fund. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow is the time to scale up the use of the digital tenge within the national and local budgets, as well as in the budgets of state holdings,\u201d Tokayev said in his September address. <\/p>\n<p>In the same speech, Tokayev announced the establishment of the State Digital Assets Fund, which will serve as the reserve for crypto and digital assets.<\/p>\n<h2>Hub of Eurasia<\/h2>\n<p>Another way Kazakhstan aims to position itself as the digital hub of Eurasia is by introducing a focus on AI in education. <\/p>\n<p>For this, President Tokayev announced the creation of an AI research university, which should prepare the future generation of specialists capable of supporting Kazakhstan through its digital transformation. <\/p>\n<p>The Alem.ai International Centre for Artificial Intelligence, launched on 2 October, will spearhead this transition by designing AI tools for policymaking, data analysis and forecasting. <\/p>\n<p>This summer, the country also launched Central Asia\u2019s most powerful<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2025//07//20//the-most-powerful-supercomputer-in-central-asia-launches-in-kazakhstanin-bid-for-ai-boost/"> <strong>supercomputer<\/strong><\/a>, with a second one on the way. The machine will power the country\u2019s e-government services and support AI model training. <\/p>\n<h2>Digital identity in a multipolar world<\/h2>\n<p>Kazakhstan\u2019s digital transformation also carries a geopolitical weight. Positioned between China, Russia, and Europe, the country is balancing partnerships while asserting digital sovereignty \u2014 welcoming Western data firms, cooperating with Chinese researchers, and nurturing its own AI ecosystem. <\/p>\n<p>This multi-vector approach mirrors Astana\u2019s broader foreign policy and places Kazakhstan among a small group of nations embedding AI into their institutional fabric. <\/p>\n<p>The challenge now is to turn bold reforms into tangible progress that strengthens competitiveness without losing control of the rapid technological shift.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759846214,"updatedAt":1765262703,"publishedAt":1759846851,"firstPublishedAt":1759846851,"lastPublishedAt":1765262703,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/04\/73\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_14f6a59e-5024-56df-947f-714b467d991c-9500473.jpg","altText":"Preside of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. New York. 23 Sept. 2025.","caption":"Preside of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. New York. 23 Sept. 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP\/Pamela Smith","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1282}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3546,"urlSafeValue":"galiya.khassenkhanova@euronews.com","title":"Galiya Khassenkhanova","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"},{"id":12661,"slug":"artificial-intelligence","urlSafeValue":"artificial-intelligence","title":"Artificial intelligence","titleRaw":"Artificial intelligence"},{"id":389,"slug":"technology","urlSafeValue":"technology","title":"Technology","titleRaw":"Technology"},{"id":15196,"slug":"digital-society","urlSafeValue":"digital-society","title":"Digital Society","titleRaw":"Digital Society"},{"id":572,"slug":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","titleRaw":"Economy"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":72,"urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2025\/10\/07\/kazakhstans-quiet-revolution-crypto-ai-and-a-tech-transformation","lastModified":1765262703},{"id":2832116,"cid":9472084,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CULTURE ALTERED ITW ","daletPyramidId":2744829,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Who wants to live forever? Tom Felton stars in biohacking dystopian drama ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Fitter, happier and more productive: Can enhanced humans do drama? ","titleListing2":"Who wants to live forever? Tom Felton stars in biohacking dystopian drama ","leadin":"Altered, a new film by Timo Vuorensola, examines a future world where humans vye for technological parts to change their bodies and their lives for the better. Euronews caught up with the Finnish director who's recently finished filming in Kazakhstan.","summary":"Altered, a new film by Timo Vuorensola, examines a future world where humans vye for technological parts to change their bodies and their lives for the better. Euronews caught up with the Finnish director who's recently finished filming in Kazakhstan.","keySentence":"","url":"who-wants-to-live-forever-tom-felton-stars-in-biohacking-dystopian-drama","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/10\/04\/who-wants-to-live-forever-tom-felton-stars-in-biohacking-dystopian-drama","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Last month, when the Russian and Chinese presidents were overheard talking privately at a Beijing military parade about living till being at least 150 years old, repeated human organ transplants were at the centre of that 'hot mic' moment.\n\nThe musings of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping fuelled lots of talk online about immortality which underlined how advances in medicine and technology are making once far-fetched ideas now seem attainable.\n\nBut what if those twin pillars of science could help create enhanced humans? How would it change the world? And what price would people be prepared to pay for fitter, stronger, and more productive versions of themselves? These are only a few of the questions explored in Timo Vuorensola's new film Altered, where the world is divided most definitely between the haves and have nots.\n\nEuronews caught up with the film director behind Iron Sky and 97 Minutes to discuss his the movie, his lead casting choices of Tom Felton (Harry Potter\u2019s Draco Malfoy) and Richard Brake (Game of Thrones\u2019 King of the Night), and the decision to produce the feature in Kazakhstan. \u00a0\u00a0\n\nWhat should audiences look forward to in Altered? What inspired you to explore the concept of altered humans?\u00a0\n\nTimo Vuorensola: I got inspired by a couple of major themes, but I think technological progress has been an interest of mine all the time. And, lately, the faster technology improves, the more we are leaving behind people who don't have access to, or the possibility, or the interest in that kind of technology. And they are easily becoming second-class citizens because our society is so much shaped around the fact that you know how to use all these tools, whether it's smartphones, whether it's a laptop, whether it's everything you have on the Internet.\n\nAnd nowadays, with artificial intelligence making big moves and changing the whole landscape, not everybody has that possibility. At the same time, I have been interested in biological development, where we, interestingly, haven't really gone yet. I'm sure science and ethics are the reasons for that. But I thought that, okay, what if I take this idea of rapid AI development and just change that into rapid bioengineering development, and make that a story. And I think that's when the bell started to ring, \u201cOkay, there is a story somewhere there.\u201d\u00a0\n\nWhat do you think was that one crucial point in your film where humanity made the decision to go in a different direction and develop biotechnology?\u00a0\n\nIn my film, the story starts around the time of the missile crisis in the 1960s. And in my film, the world war actually started, and nearly everybody was destroyed, but humankind rebuilt itself. But instead of going digital, they started to research biological possibilities. It all started with a great beautiful big idea that we're going to make humans even better, but then it becomes very ethically, medically, biologically, and scientifically questionable. How fast should it develop? Where is the line between regular and altered humans? What happens to those that become stronger, compared to those who are not? Are they now seen as the lower caste? And that's really one of the main things that I liked playing around with in this movie.\u00a0\n\nKazakhstan played a huge role in filming, especially as a filming location. What led you to choose the country initially? How much of the production was actually completed there, and how was the overall experience?\u00a0\n\nKazakhstan came into the picture when we started to look for a suitable location. And we knew that we couldn't be building everything on a CGI or in a studio. So, the question was, where are we going to find an architecture that would work in this kind of world? And well, it didn't take me long to realise that Astana is a beautiful city with quite amazing architecture. At the same time, it\u2019s providing architecture of different kinds of eras. We needed both of those worlds in the film. We also needed more of a Soviet style older architecture. And then, we wanted to bring in that very high-tech, high-end architecture. And there aren't a lot of cities in the world that have both available. We travelled all over Kazakhstan looking for locations. Eventually, we decided that we're going to shoot everything in Astana. I think more or less 100% of the filming was done in Astana, except for a couple of drone shots.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nHow about working with the team there? Because you had to work with local production companies and local actors. How was that experience?\u00a0\n\nI've been working quite a lot with international crews, and I always find that it takes a little while to get attuned. Although film is a very structured system. Everybody has the same positions \u2013 there is a first assistant director, a director of photography, and a second camera assistant. And everybody has a different background from where they come, so they do the job a little bit differently. The great thing about Kazakhstan is that there is such a strong history of film. If we go back to the beginnings of film, we can find so much that's been done in that part of the world. So, finding professionals was not an issue for me. We had a very professional crew, and the same thing with the actors. Obviously, it is an English-language film, so that was a little bit restrictive for some of the actors, but luckily, we were able to find very good people to play the key roles. Obviously, I didn't know Kazakhstan's film culture that much, but when I started to work and really get to know the people, it was fantastic to see how great the actors there were.\u00a0 So, I would say my experience overall was great. The only thing was that by the time we were finishing, it started to get really cold.\u00a0\n\nSince we're talking about casting, how did the main cast come about? Why was Tom Felton chosen for the role of Leon? Why was Richard Brake picked for the antagonist role? And how do they meet the expectations of the characters that you wanted them to embody?\u00a0\n\nWhen I write, I don't want to have too much of an actor in mind because then you're most likely going to be disappointed because the schedules don't work or the budget doesn't work, or they just don't like the script. I like to keep the options open. For Leon, I needed an actor who has the vulnerability, who has the humour, obviously, pure acting chops. And then I started to go through people, and quite soon Tom Felton's name came up and I was like \u201cthat's it!\u201d And I thought that he would have the qualities, the background. There were a lot of things that had a green flag about him. And so, we approached him, and he really liked the script and wanted to do it. And then with Richard Brake, it was kind of a similar thing. I knew I needed a strong presence. I needed somebody who can portray somebody who has this threatening presence, but I didn't want to have like a big, massive actor. I wanted somebody who has the physical presence, but it comes from the eyes and the face and the reactions. And then I started to look through ideas, and Richard Brake came up. Actually, a friend of mine, who had just done a film with Richard, said that he is a great guy. That's the way all these characters come up.\u00a0\n\nEvery production has its challenges and hurdles. Have you encountered any problems when filming or in post-production of Altered?\u00a0\n\nLike every filming day, you start by solving a million issues, so in that sense, nothing new. We had a bit of a language issue. We had people coming from so many different backgrounds and so many different languages. Trying to get everybody into the same room and understand the same things, that was a bit of a challenge in the beginning, but once we got rolling, it was surprisingly easy. And then, post-production is always a pain, especially with my movies, because I make films with a lot of visual effects, and then I'm quite demanding when it comes to those visual effects shots.\u00a0\n\nHow did the post-production go? You\u2019ve spent it in Antalya, has that led to a more enjoyable end result?\u00a0\n\nIt's impossible to say because post-production itself is a long journey. And when you start making a film, it's like you are introduced to an animal. You don't know what that animal is. You don't even know what species that animal is. And then you start to learn a little bit how this film works and how it comes together. And it's a massive learning experience. What I know for sure, shooting in Kazakhstan itself brought an interesting aura to the whole thing. It brought us all away from our homes and we had to get to know the place, we had to get to know the people, which went hand in hand with the process of understanding deeper the film and the world of the film and I think you can definitely see that resonating on the screen.\u00a0\n\nHow does Altered fit within your broader body of work?\u00a0\n\nI think it is a continuation of what I've done with Iron Sky. Iron Sky was a film where I spoke about totalitarianism in today's world, how totalitarianism finds its way into today's political landscape. Altered is not so much about totalitarianism, but it is about the oppression of a certain group of people. It is looking at the oppression of the majority towards the minority.\u00a0 Iron Sky 1, Iron Sky 2 discuss the negative impact of totalitarianism and that ideology on society. Altered discusses that from a bit of a different perspective. But I always say that science fiction is a box, which offers a different kind of vantage point to our world. No matter how crazy or wild the world you describe in your movie, it is still talking about this world and our problems and issues that we need to solve. It just offers a different kind of perspective on this world.\u00a0\n\nWhat do you think will be your future works? Do you already plan for something, or are you just enjoying the little hiatus between filming of Altered and its release?\u00a0\n\nWith the Iron Sky team, I'm working on a science fiction trilogy. I'm also working on a catastrophe movie, there is an action movie which I'm involved in. I'm also developing a Finnish action TV series, first of its kind in Finland. But, you know, with film you got to have a lot of balls in the game because you never know which is going to go forward and which is going to stall.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Last month, when the Russian and Chinese presidents were overheard talking privately at a Beijing military parade about living till being at least 150 years old, repeated human organ transplants were at the centre of that 'hot mic' moment.<\/p>\n<p>The musings of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping fuelled lots of talk online about immortality which underlined how advances in medicine and technology are making once far-fetched ideas now seem attainable.<\/p>\n<p>But what if those twin pillars of science could help create enhanced humans? How would it change the world? And what price would people be prepared to pay for fitter, stronger, and more productive versions of themselves? These are only a few of the questions explored in Timo Vuorensola's new film <em>Altered,<\/em> where the world is divided most definitely between the haves and have nots.<\/p>\n<p>Euronews caught up with the film director behind <em>Iron Sky<\/em> and <em>97 Minutes<\/em> to discuss his the movie, his lead casting choices of Tom Felton (Harry Potter\u2019s Draco Malfoy) and Richard Brake (Game of Thrones\u2019 King of the Night), and the decision to produce the feature in Kazakhstan. <\/p>\n<p><strong>What should audiences look forward to in Altered? What inspired you to explore the concept of altered humans?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>Timo Vuorensola: I got inspired by a couple of major themes, but I think technological progress has been an interest of mine all the time. And, lately, the faster technology improves, the more we are leaving behind people who don't have access to, or the possibility, or the interest in that kind of technology. And they are easily becoming second-class citizens because our society is so much shaped around the fact that you know how to use all these tools, whether it's smartphones, whether it's a laptop, whether it's everything you have on the Internet. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//47//20//84//1280x853_cmsv2_c0636bc0-282b-5240-b088-da56b810895f-9472084.jpg/" alt=\"Director Timo Vuorensola gives directions to Elizaveta Bugulova, who portrays Chloe in Altered\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/384x256_cmsv2_c0636bc0-282b-5240-b088-da56b810895f-9472084.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/640x427_cmsv2_c0636bc0-282b-5240-b088-da56b810895f-9472084.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/750x500_cmsv2_c0636bc0-282b-5240-b088-da56b810895f-9472084.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/828x552_cmsv2_c0636bc0-282b-5240-b088-da56b810895f-9472084.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1080x720_cmsv2_c0636bc0-282b-5240-b088-da56b810895f-9472084.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1200x800_cmsv2_c0636bc0-282b-5240-b088-da56b810895f-9472084.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1920x1280_cmsv2_c0636bc0-282b-5240-b088-da56b810895f-9472084.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Director Timo Vuorensola gives directions to Elizaveta Bugulova, who portrays Chloe in Altered<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Credit: Timo Vuorensola <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>And nowadays, with artificial intelligence making big moves and changing the whole landscape, not everybody has that possibility. At the same time, I have been interested in biological development, where we, interestingly, haven't really gone yet. I'm sure science and ethics are the reasons for that. But I thought that, okay, what if I take this idea of rapid AI development and just change that into rapid bioengineering development, and make that a story. And I think that's when the bell started to ring, \u201cOkay, there is a story somewhere there.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><strong>What do you think was that one crucial point in your film where humanity made the decision to go in a different direction and develop biotechnology?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>In my film, the story starts around the time of the missile crisis in the 1960s. And in my film, the world war actually started, and nearly everybody was destroyed, but humankind rebuilt itself. But instead of going digital, they started to research biological possibilities. It all started with a great beautiful big idea that we're going to make humans even better, but then it becomes very ethically, medically, biologically, and scientifically questionable. How fast should it develop? Where is the line between regular and altered humans? What happens to those that become stronger, compared to those who are not? Are they now seen as the lower caste? And that's really one of the main things that I liked playing around with in this movie. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Kazakhstan played a huge role in filming, especially as a filming location. What led you to choose the country initially? How much of the production was actually completed there, and how was the overall experience?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan came into the picture when we started to look for a suitable location. And we knew that we couldn't be building everything on a CGI or in a studio. So, the question was, where are we going to find an architecture that would work in this kind of world? And well, it didn't take me long to realise that Astana is a beautiful city with quite amazing architecture. At the same time, it\u2019s providing architecture of different kinds of eras. We needed both of those worlds in the film. We also needed more of a Soviet style older architecture. And then, we wanted to bring in that very high-tech, high-end architecture. And there aren't a lot of cities in the world that have both available. We travelled all over Kazakhstan looking for locations. Eventually, we decided that we're going to shoot everything in Astana. I think more or less 100% of the filming was done in Astana, except for a couple of drone shots. <\/p>\n<p><strong>How about working with the team there? Because you had to work with local production companies and local actors. How was that experience?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>I've been working quite a lot with international crews, and I always find that it takes a little while to get attuned. Although film is a very structured system. Everybody has the same positions \u2013 there is a first assistant director, a director of photography, and a second camera assistant. And everybody has a different background from where they come, so they do the job a little bit differently. The great thing about Kazakhstan is that there is such a strong history of film. If we go back to the beginnings of film, we can find so much that's been done in that part of the world. So, finding professionals was not an issue for me. We had a very professional crew, and the same thing with the actors. Obviously, it is an English-language film, so that was a little bit restrictive for some of the actors, but luckily, we were able to find very good people to play the key roles. Obviously, I didn't know Kazakhstan's film culture that much, but when I started to work and really get to know the people, it was fantastic to see how great the actors there were. So, I would say my experience overall was great. The only thing was that by the time we were finishing, it started to get really cold. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-extended widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//47//20//84//1280x719_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg/" alt=\"Tom Felton, British actress Aggy K. Addams and popular Kazakh actor Daniyar Alshinov on the set of Altered.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/384x216_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/640x360_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/750x422_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/828x466_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1080x608_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1200x675_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1920x1080_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Tom Felton, British actress Aggy K. Addams and popular Kazakh actor Daniyar Alshinov on the set of Altered.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Copyright: Timo Vuorensola<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>Since we're talking about casting, how did the main cast come about? Why was Tom Felton chosen for the role of Leon? Why was Richard Brake picked for the antagonist role? And how do they meet the expectations of the characters that you wanted them to embody?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>When I write, I don't want to have too much of an actor in mind because then you're most likely going to be disappointed because the schedules don't work or the budget doesn't work, or they just don't like the script. I like to keep the options open. For Leon, I needed an actor who has the vulnerability, who has the humour, obviously, pure acting chops. And then I started to go through people, and quite soon Tom Felton's name came up and I was like \u201cthat's it!\u201d And I thought that he would have the qualities, the background. There were a lot of things that had a green flag about him. And so, we approached him, and he really liked the script and wanted to do it. And then with Richard Brake, it was kind of a similar thing. I knew I needed a strong presence. I needed somebody who can portray somebody who has this threatening presence, but I didn't want to have like a big, massive actor. I wanted somebody who has the physical presence, but it comes from the eyes and the face and the reactions. And then I started to look through ideas, and Richard Brake came up. Actually, a friend of mine, who had just done a film with Richard, said that he is a great guy. That's the way all these characters come up. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//47//20//84//808x539_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg/" alt=\"Timo Vuorensola, Tom Felton and Elizaveta Bugulova discuss a scene on the set of Altered\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/384x256_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/640x427_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/750x500_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/828x552_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1080x720_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1200x800_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1920x1280_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Timo Vuorensola, Tom Felton and Elizaveta Bugulova discuss a scene on the set of Altered<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Copyright: Timo Vuorensola <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>Every production has its challenges and hurdles. Have you encountered any problems when filming or in post-production of Altered?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>Like every filming day, you start by solving a million issues, so in that sense, nothing new. We had a bit of a language issue. We had people coming from so many different backgrounds and so many different languages. Trying to get everybody into the same room and understand the same things, that was a bit of a challenge in the beginning, but once we got rolling, it was surprisingly easy. And then, post-production is always a pain, especially with my movies, because I make films with a lot of visual effects, and then I'm quite demanding when it comes to those visual effects shots. <\/p>\n<p><strong>How did the post-production go? You\u2019ve spent it in Antalya, has that led to a more enjoyable end result?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>It's impossible to say because post-production itself is a long journey. And when you start making a film, it's like you are introduced to an animal. You don't know what that animal is. You don't even know what species that animal is. And then you start to learn a little bit how this film works and how it comes together. And it's a massive learning experience. What I know for sure, shooting in Kazakhstan itself brought an interesting aura to the whole thing. It brought us all away from our homes and we had to get to know the place, we had to get to know the people, which went hand in hand with the process of understanding deeper the film and the world of the film and I think you can definitely see that resonating on the screen. <\/p>\n<p><strong>How does Altered fit within your broader body of work?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>I think it is a continuation of what I've done with Iron Sky. Iron Sky was a film where I spoke about totalitarianism in today's world, how totalitarianism finds its way into today's political landscape. Altered is not so much about totalitarianism, but it is about the oppression of a certain group of people. It is looking at the oppression of the majority towards the minority. Iron Sky 1, Iron Sky 2 discuss the negative impact of totalitarianism and that ideology on society. Altered discusses that from a bit of a different perspective. But I always say that science fiction is a box, which offers a different kind of vantage point to our world. No matter how crazy or wild the world you describe in your movie, it is still talking about this world and our problems and issues that we need to solve. It just offers a different kind of perspective on this world. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//47//20//84//808x539_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg/" alt=\"That's a wrap! Timo Vuorensola on the set of Altered in Astana, Kazakhstan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/384x256_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/640x427_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/750x500_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/828x552_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1080x720_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1200x800_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/1920x1280_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">That's a wrap! Timo Vuorensola on the set of Altered in Astana, Kazakhstan<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Copyright: Timo Vuorensola<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>What do you think will be your future works? Do you already plan for something, or are you just enjoying the little hiatus between filming of Altered and its release?<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>With the Iron Sky team, I'm working on a science fiction trilogy. I'm also working on a catastrophe movie, there is an action movie which I'm involved in. I'm also developing a Finnish action TV series, first of its kind in Finland. But, you know, with film you got to have a lot of balls in the game because you never know which is going to go forward and which is going to stall. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1758176770,"updatedAt":1765262680,"publishedAt":1759558444,"firstPublishedAt":1759558444,"lastPublishedAt":1765262679,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0d854fa5-068d-5c98-ac2c-df6964f43a3c-9472084.jpg","altText":"Actors Richard Brake as Frank Kessler and Tom Felton as Leon on the set of Altered","caption":"Actors Richard Brake as Frank Kessler and Tom Felton as Leon on the set of Altered","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Credit: Timo Vuorensola","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d260fa25-8210-57c3-8dcc-18769fc5a3ed-9472084.jpg","altText":"That's a wrap! Timo Vuorensola on the set of Altered in Astana, Kazakhstan","caption":"That's a wrap! Timo Vuorensola on the set of Altered in Astana, Kazakhstan","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright: Timo Vuorensola","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a876ac7e-c120-5516-bfd9-4cb22909b791-9472084.jpg","altText":"Timo Vuorensola, Tom Felton and Elizaveta Bugulova discuss a scene on the set of Altered","caption":"Timo Vuorensola, Tom Felton and Elizaveta Bugulova discuss a scene on the set of Altered","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright: Timo Vuorensola\u00a0","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/20\/84\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_92050b84-9882-5f86-9156-4db379c841d5-9472084.jpg","altText":"Tom Felton, British actress Aggy K. Addams and popular Kazakh actor Daniyar Alshinov on the set of Altered.","caption":"Tom Felton, British actress Aggy K. 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Katon Karagay is a hidden jewel of untouched wilderness in Central Asia.","summary":"Pristine nature, free wildlife, ancient glaciers, pristine waters. Katon Karagay is a hidden jewel of untouched wilderness in Central Asia.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstans-katon-karagay-where-nature-lives-in-harmony-with-people","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/01\/kazakhstans-katon-karagay-where-nature-lives-in-harmony-with-people","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Katon Karagay is Kazakhstan\u2019s easternmost region. Amid the frozen Altay peaks, the borders of Kazakhstan, China and Russia meet. Burial mounds in its valleys reveal it was once home to ancient civilisations, yet centuries of human presence have not spoiled its purity.\n\nIts waters are drinkable, lakes pristine, forests undisturbed, and wildlife like moose, lynx, snow leopards and Altay deer roam freely.\n\nRemote and hard to reach, Katon is changing: a new airport, expanded roads, and locals preparing to welcome tourists, hopeful, but wary of mass visitation.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Katon Karagay is Kazakhstan\u2019s easternmost region. Amid the frozen Altay peaks, the borders of Kazakhstan, China and Russia meet. Burial mounds in its valleys reveal it was once home to ancient civilisations, yet centuries of human presence have not spoiled its purity.<\/p>\n<p>Its waters are drinkable, lakes pristine, forests undisturbed, and wildlife like moose, lynx, snow leopards and Altay deer roam freely.<\/p>\n<p>Remote and hard to reach, Katon is changing: a new airport, expanded roads, and locals preparing to welcome tourists, hopeful, but wary of mass visitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1757321601,"updatedAt":1759346668,"publishedAt":1759323628,"firstPublishedAt":1759323628,"lastPublishedAt":1759346668,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/58\/00\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ab595aa0-e860-58e1-933c-71a66d5b4c0f-9455800.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12639,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel","titleRaw":"Travel"},{"id":4221,"slug":"tourism","urlSafeValue":"tourism","title":"Tourism","titleRaw":"Tourism"},{"id":9625,"slug":"fauna-and-flora","urlSafeValue":"fauna-and-flora","title":"Fauna and Flora","titleRaw":"Fauna and Flora"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"siJBLYjntpY","dailymotionId":"x9r38ik"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/24\/08\/22\/05\/ED_PYR_2408225_20250924101651.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":42158024,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/24\/08\/22\/05\/SHD_PYR_2408225_20250924101651.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":64907096,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/24\/08\/22\/05\/FHD_PYR_2408225_20250924101651.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":230273687,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Bojan Brkic","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"modern-nomads","urlSafeValue":"modern-nomads","title":"Modern Nomads","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/modern-nomads"},"season":"MODERN NOMADS_S02","episode":"S02E02 - 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The UN Alliance of Civilizations held its first session at the Congress, warning of rising threats to holy sites.\n\nThe three-day event ended with the Astana Declaration of Peace, calling for dialogue and joint action.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Astana has hosted the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, gathering 100 delegations from 60 countries under the theme \u201cSynergy for the Future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged faith leaders to prevent the world\u2019s \u201cdescent into chaos,\u201d while debates centred on global conflicts and safeguarding religious heritage. The UN Alliance of Civilizations held its first session at the Congress, warning of rising threats to holy sites.<\/p>\n<p>The three-day event ended with the Astana Declaration of Peace, calling for dialogue and joint action.\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1756807216,"updatedAt":1758904093,"publishedAt":1758891659,"firstPublishedAt":1758891659,"lastPublishedAt":1758904093,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/65\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fdc28f25-292a-5779-a076-327bc3492cdf-9446574.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1910,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":7825,"slug":"summit","urlSafeValue":"summit","title":"Summit","titleRaw":"Summit"},{"id":378,"slug":"religion","urlSafeValue":"religion","title":"Religion","titleRaw":"Religion"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"},{"path":"editorial.focuskazakhstan"},{"path":"editorial"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"MiMftPAcvR4","dailymotionId":"x9r3qsu"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/23\/65\/34\/04\/ED_PYR_2365344_20250924145909.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":42098176,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/23\/65\/34\/04\/SHD_PYR_2365344_20250924145909.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":64761751,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/23\/65\/34\/04\/FHD_PYR_2365344_20250924145909.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":230209861,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Meruyert Zhakiya","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"focus","urlSafeValue":"focus","title":"Focus","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/focus"},"season":"FOCUS KAZAKHSTAN_S02","episode":"S02E02 - 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S02E01 - KA-RENEWABLES - MASTER","daletPyramidId":2650807,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan scales up green finance and energy transition efforts in Central Asia","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Kazakhstan\u2019s renewable energy push: green finance, storage projects, and a new power corridor to Europe","leadin":"Kazakhstan ramps up renewables and green finance to cut emissions and position itself as Central Asia\u2019s clean energy transit hub.","summary":"Kazakhstan ramps up renewables and green finance to cut emissions and position itself as Central Asia\u2019s clean energy transit hub.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-scales-up-green-finance-and-energy-transition-efforts-in-central-asia","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/09\/24\/kazakhstan-scales-up-green-finance-and-energy-transition-efforts-in-central-asia","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan is accelerating its green transition, yet climate finance inflows remain limited. Coal still fuels 70% of Kazakhstan\u2019s power, yet the nation pledges to cut emissions 15% in just five years. Backed by tax breaks and 20-year contracts with producers, \u20ac8 billion in renewables are underway with storage projects planned. Meanwhile, the Astana International Finance Centre is helping drive a \u20ac3.3 billion green bond market across Central Asia.\n\nAt the same time, Kazakhstan is spearheading a \u201cGreen Corridor\u201d power link to Europe, a high-voltage link to Europe that could carry the region\u2019s surplus wind and solar power, backed by regional partners and EU funding, reinforcing its role in Central Asia\u2019s energy transition.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan is accelerating its green transition, yet climate finance inflows remain limited. Coal still fuels 70% of Kazakhstan\u2019s power, yet the nation pledges to cut emissions 15% in just five years. Backed by tax breaks and 20-year contracts with producers, \u20ac8 billion in renewables are underway with storage projects planned. Meanwhile, the Astana International Finance Centre is helping drive a \u20ac3.3 billion green bond market across Central Asia.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Kazakhstan is spearheading a \u201cGreen Corridor\u201d power link to Europe, a high-voltage link to Europe that could carry the region\u2019s surplus wind and solar power, backed by regional partners and EU funding, reinforcing its role in Central Asia\u2019s energy transition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1757336810,"updatedAt":1758720777,"publishedAt":1758718849,"firstPublishedAt":1758718849,"lastPublishedAt":1758720777,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/63\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_23ea5ce0-5b3f-5515-acd3-e17b0462a906-9456303.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11296,"slug":"sustainable-development","urlSafeValue":"sustainable-development","title":"Sustainable development","titleRaw":"Sustainable development"},{"id":235,"slug":"renewable-energies","urlSafeValue":"renewable-energies","title":"Renewable energies","titleRaw":"Renewable energies"},{"id":13696,"slug":"wind-turbine","urlSafeValue":"wind-turbine","title":"Wind turbine","titleRaw":"Wind turbine"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2840690}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"lQq35bk7VSY","dailymotionId":"x9r1m26"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/24\/10\/95\/05\/ED_PYR_2410955_20250923145226.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":65481014,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/24\/10\/95\/05\/SHD_PYR_2410955_20250923145226.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":102160304,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/24\/10\/95\/05\/FHD_PYR_2410955_20250923145226.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":366753114,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Botagoz Marabai","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"east-west-connect","urlSafeValue":"east-west-connect","title":"East-West Connect","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business-series\/east-west-connect"},"season":"EAST-WEST CONNECT_S02","episode":"S02E01 - 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Despite differences in faith and traditions, we are all united by common aspirations and good intentions,\u201d he said.\n\nWhile Ukraine was less frequently addressed than Gaza, Middle Eastern delegates were the most vocal about the Israel-Hamas war in the Strip.\n\nDr Mohammed Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, called the violence in Gaza \u201cshameful\u201d and urged recognition of Palestine\u2019s independence. Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Kalman Meir Ber stressed that the conflict is not religious in nature.\n\n\u201cI want to emphasise before the forum: this war is not religious. Judaism is not against any religion; on the contrary, we have published several appeals calling for respect for every faith, everyone, and their path,\u201d he said.\n\nHead of the Congress Secretariat and Kazakhstan\u2019s Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev highlighted that even though some of the religious leaders gathered there were from nations at war, they managed to have the conversation calmly and constructively.\n\nReligion\u2019s role in a 'post-secular' era\n\nThe central message of the congress was that interfaith dialogue must be a driving force for peace. Speakers stressed that religion has the power to unite people in an increasingly fractured world.\n\n\u201cI am confident that religious leaders will do everything possible to prevent the world from sliding into the abyss of chaos, reminding many politicians of common sense, goodwill and moral responsibility,\u201d said President Tokayev in his speech.\n\nHe noted the growing role of religion today and emphasised that we are entering a new post-secular era, where religion will once again play a vital role in social and political spheres.\n\n\u201cKazakhstan thinks that spiritual diplomacy could be an effective instrument because spiritual diplomacy has a huge potential. Around 80% of the world's population identify themselves with a religious organisation,\u201d added Maulen Ashimbayev.\n\nPope Leo XIV, in a message to participants, emphasised religion\u2019s unifying mission. \u201cEvery authentic religious impulse fosters dialogue and cooperation, grounded in our innate awareness of the interdependence that binds individuals and nations,\u201d he wrote.\n\n\u201cFrom this perspective, working together in harmony is not merely a pragmatic choice, but a reflection of the deeper order of reality.\u201d\n\nAlongside conflict and the role of religion, the congress tackled global challenges such as climate change, inequality and artificial intelligence. Leaders underlined the moral duty to combat environmental degradation, the importance of education in preventing radicalisation, and the need for ethical use of new technologies.\n\nTokayev suggested drafting a joint document on the role of faith leaders in tackling climate change, and creating an interfaith commission on AI ethics to develop universal principles for the responsible use of emerging technologies.\n\nHe also proposed launching a \u201cMovement for Peace\u201d under the congress auspices, with religious leaders serving as its moral core in promoting non-violence and dialogue.\n\nParticipants determined that the ninth congress will take place in 2028. Astana will be the host, as it has been since the first congress in 2003.\n\nThroughout eight meetings, Kazakhstan has been bringing together high-level religious leaders, such as Pope Francis, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb.\n\nto promote peace, eradicate extremism and strengthen ties between religions and cultures.\n\nSafeguarding of religious sites\n\nAs part of the congress this year, the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) held a special session on safeguarding religious sites, chaired by UNAOC High Representative Miguel \u00c1ngel Moratinos.\n\nSpeakers advocated for urgent and coordinated action to protect places of worship from vandalism, targeted attacks and neglect. They stressed that protecting religious sites requires legislative actions, technical preservation, community engagement and rapid-response measures.\n\nThe wars in Gaza and Ukraine were again highlighted, as they threaten not only lives but also religious heritage.\n\n\u201cWhile we protect the holy places of others, we can hope others will protect our holy places,\u201d noted Rabbi David Antebi Sacca.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the mounting death tolls, and the atrocities committed there were the dominant themes at the eighth Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Kazakhstan's capital Astana. <\/p>\n<p>More than 100 representatives of Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Daoism, Orthodox Christianity, Shintoism and other faiths gathered on 17 and 18 September to deliberate on religion\u2019s role in today\u2019s turbulent world. <\/p>\n<p>Speakers condemned violence, rejected the abuse of religion for political ends, and called for mutual respect and dialogue. <\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the congress, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed concern over growing tension and polarisation in various countries and hoped religious leaders could be the bridge to connect people. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe role of this Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is exceptional. Despite differences in faith and traditions, we are all united by common aspirations and good intentions,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6245\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//47//70//76//808x505_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg/" alt=\"Participants of the Eighth Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/384x240_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/640x400_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/750x468_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/828x517_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/1080x674_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/1200x749_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/1920x1199_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Participants of the Eighth Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Presidential Press Service<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>While Ukraine was less frequently addressed than Gaza, Middle Eastern delegates were the most vocal about the Israel-Hamas war in the Strip. <\/p>\n<p>Dr Mohammed Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, called the violence in Gaza \u201cshameful\u201d and urged recognition of Palestine\u2019s independence. Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Kalman Meir Ber stressed that the conflict is not religious in nature. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to emphasise before the forum: this war is not religious. Judaism is not against any religion; on the contrary, we have published several appeals calling for respect for every faith, everyone, and their path,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>Head of the Congress Secretariat and Kazakhstan\u2019s Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev highlighted that even though some of the religious leaders gathered there were from nations at war, they managed to have the conversation calmly and constructively. <\/p>\n<h2>Religion\u2019s role in a 'post-secular' era<\/h2>\n<p>The central message of the congress was that interfaith dialogue must be a driving force for peace. Speakers stressed that religion has the power to unite people in an increasingly fractured world. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am confident that religious leaders will do everything possible to prevent the world from sliding into the abyss of chaos, reminding many politicians of common sense, goodwill and moral responsibility,\u201d said President Tokayev in his speech. <\/p>\n<p>He noted the growing role of religion today and emphasised that we are entering a new post-secular era, where religion will once again play a vital role in social and political spheres. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cKazakhstan thinks that spiritual diplomacy could be an effective instrument because spiritual diplomacy has a huge potential. Around 80% of the world's population identify themselves with a religious organisation,\u201d added Maulen Ashimbayev. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.646875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//47//70//76//808x521_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg/" alt=\"Head of Congress Secretariat Maulen Ashimbayev presiding over the Congress session\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/384x248_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/640x414_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/750x485_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/828x536_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/1080x699_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/1200x776_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/1920x1242_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Head of Congress Secretariat Maulen Ashimbayev presiding over the Congress session<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Presidential Press Service <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Pope Leo XIV, in a message to participants, emphasised religion\u2019s unifying mission. \u201cEvery authentic religious impulse fosters dialogue and cooperation, grounded in our innate awareness of the interdependence that binds individuals and nations,\u201d he wrote. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom this perspective, working together in harmony is not merely a pragmatic choice, but a reflection of the deeper order of reality.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Alongside conflict and the role of religion, the congress tackled global challenges such as climate change, inequality and artificial intelligence. Leaders underlined the moral duty to combat environmental degradation, the importance of education in preventing radicalisation, and the need for ethical use of new technologies. <\/p>\n<p>Tokayev suggested drafting a joint document on the role of faith leaders in tackling climate change, and creating an interfaith commission on AI ethics to develop universal principles for the responsible use of emerging technologies. <\/p>\n<p>He also proposed launching a \u201cMovement for Peace\u201d under the congress auspices, with religious leaders serving as its moral core in promoting non-violence and dialogue. <\/p>\n<p>Participants determined that the ninth congress will take place in 2028. Astana will be the host, as it has been since the first congress in 2003. <\/p>\n<p>Throughout eight meetings, Kazakhstan has been bringing together high-level religious leaders, such as Pope Francis, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb. <\/p>\n<p>to promote peace, eradicate extremism and strengthen ties between religions and cultures. <\/p>\n<h2>Safeguarding of religious sites<\/h2>\n<p>As part of the congress this year, the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) held a special session on safeguarding religious sites, chaired by UNAOC High Representative Miguel \u00c1ngel Moratinos. <\/p>\n<p>Speakers advocated for urgent and coordinated action to protect places of worship from vandalism, targeted attacks and neglect. They stressed that protecting religious sites requires legislative actions, technical preservation, community engagement and rapid-response measures. <\/p>\n<p>The wars in Gaza and Ukraine were again highlighted, as they threaten not only lives but also religious heritage. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile we protect the holy places of others, we can hope others will protect our holy places,\u201d noted Rabbi David Antebi Sacca. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1758536323,"updatedAt":1765262624,"publishedAt":1758537164,"firstPublishedAt":1758537164,"lastPublishedAt":1765262624,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_63588eb0-36b2-508d-94ec-8e7e9b66e40e-9477076.jpg","altText":"Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and religious leaders making a photo at the Eighth Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana","caption":"Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and religious leaders making a photo at the Eighth Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Presidential Press Service\u00a0","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":774},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7f3d7b55-0234-53e9-af61-ed84be85fff4-9477076.jpg","altText":"Head of Congress Secretariat Maulen Ashimbayev presiding over the Congress session","caption":"Head of Congress Secretariat Maulen Ashimbayev presiding over the Congress session","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Presidential Press Service ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1280,"height":828},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/70\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_db424d5e-527b-5bea-a943-c6cdce13fc55-9477076.jpg","altText":"Participants of the Eighth Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional 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- S02E01 - KA- ANNIVERSARY_OF_THE_CONSTITUTION - MASTER","daletPyramidId":2592014,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan\u2019s Constitution turns 30 with political reforms","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Kazakhstan marks 30 years of Constitution with reforms on rights, governance and citizen participation","leadin":"Kazakhstan marks three decades of its Constitution, underlining reforms on governance, human rights and citizen participation in decision-making.","summary":"Kazakhstan marks three decades of its Constitution, underlining reforms on governance, human rights and citizen participation in decision-making.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstans-constitution-turns-30-with-political-reforms","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/2025\/09\/19\/kazakhstans-constitution-turns-30-with-political-reforms","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan is marking the 30th anniversary of its Constitution, first adopted by referendum in 1995. The country has revised its Fundamental Law six times, with the most significant reform in 2022 introducing a single seven-year presidential term, strengthening parliament and abolishing the death penalty.\n\nA re-established Constitutional Court now allows citizens to challenge laws. The OSCE has welcomed the Constitution\u2019s \u201cevolutionary character\u201d, while over 11,000 appeals have already been lodged. Direct elections of local mayors have also been expanded, allowing greater citizen involvement in governance.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan is marking the 30th anniversary of its Constitution, first adopted by referendum in 1995. The country has revised its Fundamental Law six times, with the most significant reform in 2022 introducing a single seven-year presidential term, strengthening parliament and abolishing the death penalty.<\/p>\n<p>A re-established Constitutional Court now allows citizens to challenge laws. The OSCE has welcomed the Constitution\u2019s \u201cevolutionary character\u201d, while over 11,000 appeals have already been lodged. Direct elections of local mayors have also been expanded, allowing greater citizen involvement in governance.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1756806535,"updatedAt":1758286818,"publishedAt":1758286811,"firstPublishedAt":1758286811,"lastPublishedAt":1758286817,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/65\/17\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fb78abc7-f967-5de4-89ef-0ea06e42038f-9446517.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":5006,"slug":"anniversary","urlSafeValue":"anniversary","title":"Anniversary","titleRaw":"Anniversary"},{"id":8767,"slug":"constitution","urlSafeValue":"constitution","title":"Constitution","titleRaw":"Constitution"},{"id":9979,"slug":"politics","urlSafeValue":"politics","title":"Politics","titleRaw":"Politics"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"},{"path":"editorial.focuskazakhstan"},{"path":"editorial"}],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x9qrra8"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/23\/65\/18\/02\/ED_PYR_2365182_20250918105311.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":42891423,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/23\/65\/18\/02\/SHD_PYR_2365182_20250918105311.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":66841480,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/23\/65\/18\/02\/FHD_PYR_2365182_20250918105311.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":230730699,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Tomiris Bilyal","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"focus","urlSafeValue":"focus","title":"Focus","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/focus"},"season":"FOCUS KAZAKHSTAN_S02","episode":"S02E01 - 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S02E01 - KA-ASTRONAUT TOKTAR AUBAKIROV - MASTER","daletPyramidId":2650621,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Meet Toktar Aubakirov, Kazakhstan\u2019s first cosmonaut who brought his nation into space history","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Meet Toktar Aubakirov, Kazakhstan\u2019s first cosmonaut and national hero","titleListing2":"Meet Toktar Aubakirov, Kazakhstan\u2019s first cosmonaut who brought his nation into space history","leadin":"Kazakhstan\u2019s first cosmonaut, Toktar Aubakirov, recalls his historic 1991 spaceflight and the pride it sparked across his nation.","summary":"Kazakhstan\u2019s first cosmonaut, Toktar Aubakirov, recalls his historic 1991 spaceflight and the pride it sparked across his nation.","keySentence":"","url":"meet-toktar-aubakirov-kazakhstans-first-cosmonaut-who-brought-his-nation-into-space-histor","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/09\/17\/meet-toktar-aubakirov-kazakhstans-first-cosmonaut-who-brought-his-nation-into-space-histor","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"In October 1991, Toktar Aubakirov became Kazakhstan\u2019s first cosmonaut, flying under the newly created \u201cKazakhstan Garysh\u201d space programme. A former test pilot who pioneered record-breaking flights with MiG-29 and MiG-31 jets, he was chosen by the first President Nursultan Nazarbayev to represent the nation in orbit.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nAubakirov spent eight days in space, conducting groundbreaking medical experiments, including the first blood samples taken during launch and landing. \u201cI fulfilled the mission my people had been waiting for,\u201d he recalls, describing the overwhelming pride that greeted his return.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>In October 1991, Toktar Aubakirov became Kazakhstan\u2019s first cosmonaut, flying under the newly created \u201cKazakhstan Garysh\u201d space programme. A former test pilot who pioneered record-breaking flights with MiG-29 and MiG-31 jets, he was chosen by the first President Nursultan Nazarbayev to represent the nation in orbit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Aubakirov spent eight days in space, conducting groundbreaking medical experiments, including the first blood samples taken during launch and landing. \u201cI fulfilled the mission my people had been waiting for,\u201d he recalls, describing the overwhelming pride that greeted his return.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1757336407,"updatedAt":1758115075,"publishedAt":1758114034,"firstPublishedAt":1758114034,"lastPublishedAt":1758115075,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/62\/75\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_54d64d91-4bdc-53e2-9ec9-03393dc10898-9456275.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12850,"slug":"space","urlSafeValue":"space","title":"Space","titleRaw":"Space"},{"id":9501,"slug":"space-mission","urlSafeValue":"space-mission","title":"Space mission","titleRaw":"Space mission"},{"id":4229,"slug":"history","urlSafeValue":"history","title":"History","titleRaw":"History"},{"id":472,"slug":"kazakhstan","urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","titleRaw":"Kazakhstan"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2840690}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"sponsor.kazakhstan2024"},{"path":"sponsor"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"GIKvwAQdXQI","dailymotionId":"x9qmst6"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/24\/10\/78\/05\/ED_PYR_2410785_20250916103722.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":42956619,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/24\/10\/78\/05\/SHD_PYR_2410785_20250916103722.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":66205691,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/24\/10\/78\/05\/FHD_PYR_2410785_20250916103722.mp4","editor":"","duration":300000,"filesizeBytes":230363945,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Tomiris Bilyal","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"voices-from-central-asia","urlSafeValue":"voices-from-central-asia","title":"Voices from Central Asia","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/voices-from-central-asia"},"season":"VOICES OF CENTRAL ASIA_S02","episode":"S02E01 - KA-ASTRONAUT TOKTAR AUBAKIROV","episodeId":"894","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-series","urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture Series","url":"\/culture\/culture-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":55,"urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture series"},"advertising":1,"advertisingData":{"startDate":1730466509,"endDate":2114341713,"type":"sponsored","slug":"mdq-2024","title":"MDQ 2024","disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":"MDQ","sponsorName":"mdq-2024","sponsorUrl":"https:\/\/mdq.kz","sponsorLogo":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/866\/300x64_cmsv2_c74631ff-d361-585c-9238-73fc14ca3554-866.jpg","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":162,"urlSafeValue":"kazakhstan","title":"Kazakhstan","url":"\/news\/asia\/kazakhstan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2025\/09\/17\/meet-toktar-aubakirov-kazakhstans-first-cosmonaut-who-brought-his-nation-into-space-histor","lastModified":1758115075},{"id":2830223,"cid":9460332,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"KAZAKHSTAN PARLIAMENT SYSTEM","daletPyramidId":2674346,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kazakhstan to change its parliamentary system ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kazakhstan to change its parliamentary system ","titleListing2":"Kazakhstan to change its parliamentary system ","leadin":"The Kazakhstan president proposed to eliminate one of the two chambers. The country will hold a referendum on it in 2027.","summary":"The Kazakhstan president proposed to eliminate one of the two chambers. The country will hold a referendum on it in 2027.","keySentence":"","url":"kazakhstan-to-change-its-parliamentary-system","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/09\/10\/kazakhstan-to-change-its-parliamentary-system","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed to switch from a two-chamber parliament system to a one-chamber system by eliminating the Senate.\n\n\u201cThis reform of the highest representative authority will be a logical continuation of all previous reforms, including the reform of presidential power,\u201d he said.\n\nThe proposition was voiced during Tokayev\u2019s annual state-of-the-nation address, which outlined the main issues and tasks the Kazakh government will have to work on until next September.\n\nThe president suggested that it will take a year to discuss the shift and work out various details, after which the country should hold a nationwide referendum to vote on the proposed changes in 2027.\n\n\u201cI have said more than once that all issues of crucial importance to the state will be resolved only with the consent of the people,\u201d he highlighted.\n\nTokayev added that the new parliament composition should be elected solely based on party lists.\n\nWhat does this mean for the country?\n\nRight now, Kazakhstan\u2019s Parliament has two chambers. The lower one is called the Mazhilis, and the upper one is the Senate.\n\nBoth chambers held snap elections in 2023 following the 2022 national referendum, which decreased the number of lawmakers in each chamber. If the new referendum passes, Kazakhstan will have to hold snap parliamentary elections again.\n\nThe proposed change in the parliamentary system in Kazakhstan will probably expedite the law-making process and might prove to be economical as well. But largely, it means a change in the power dynamics.\n\nIn Kazakhstan, the current order of succession in case of the president's absence or inability to remain in office is: the speaker of the Senate, followed by the chair of the Mazhilis, and then the prime minister. A unicameral parliament will shorten this pool.\n\nPolitical analyst Dosym Satpayev believes that the decision is meant to prepare the ground for the next president.\n\n\u201cTokayev\u2019s current proposal is most likely not aimed at democratising the parliamentary system itself, but rather as preparation for a new transfer of power, where the speaker of the unicameral parliament automatically increases his constitutional status in the list of those who stand next after the president,\u201d he said.\n\nFor some, a concerning part of the announcement was the decision to use the party lists to determine the composition of the parliament, which means no individual candidates.\n\nExperts say that this will virtually place all the power in the hands of one party. A problem here is the overarching dominance of the Amanat party, a party that has consistently won the most votes in all elections.\n\nBoth former president Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Tokayev have been leaders of this party. However, after the 2022 referendum, the president is no longer allowed to be a party member while performing his presidential duties.\n\nNevertheless, a party-list-based election was only a proposition and individual candidates may still retain their electability. This is the kind of kinks the Kazakh government will have to work out in the following year.\n\nWhat else did Tokayev outline?\n\nIn his wide-ranging address, Tokayev announced the creation of a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, underscoring the need to integrate AI across all economic sectors.\n\nHe tasked the government with rethinking investment policies to shift focus from raw materials toward manufacturing, while improving coordination in attracting foreign capital.\n\nThe Committee for the Return of Illegal Assets has been renamed the Committee for the Protection of Investor Rights, which Tokayev credited with recovering 850 billion tenge (\u20ac1.4 billion), reinvested into schools, hospitals, and key infrastructure.\n\nFinancial reforms will also be a priority. By the end of 2025, a new banking law should be adopted to expand competition, attract new players, and develop digital assets.\n\nTokayev called for scaling up the digital tenge and proposed establishing a State Fund of Digital Assets to build a strategic reserve of cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based instruments.\n\nJoint government\u2013National Bank measures will also focus on taming high inflation, which undermines income growth.\n\nKazakhstan also plans a major overhaul of its agricultural sector, emphasising efficiency, innovation and reduced import dependence\n\nTransport and logistics remain central to Kazakhstan\u2019s transit ambitions. With over 1 billion tonnes of cargo moved annually, Tokayev called for integration of the North\u2013South, East\u2013West, and Trans-Caspian corridors, wider use of digital platforms, and stronger container shipping.\n\nThe president ordered the government to grant special status to the newly formed city of Alatau, which is set to become Central Asia's first digital city, utilising smart urban technologies that enable the payment for goods and services with cryptocurrencies.\n\nFinally, Tokayev stressed modernisation of the energy sector, particularly the acceleration of building the second and third nuclear power plants, to ensure long-term sustainability.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed to switch from a two-chamber parliament system to a one-chamber system by eliminating the Senate. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis reform of the highest representative authority will be a logical continuation of all previous reforms, including the reform of presidential power,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>The proposition was voiced during Tokayev\u2019s annual state-of-the-nation address, which outlined the main issues and tasks the Kazakh government will have to work on until next September. <\/p>\n<p>The president suggested that it will take a year to discuss the shift and work out various details, after which the country should hold a nationwide referendum to vote on the proposed changes in 2027. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have said more than once that all issues of crucial importance to the state will be resolved only with the consent of the people,\u201d he highlighted. <\/p>\n<p>Tokayev added that the new parliament composition should be elected solely based on party lists. <\/p>\n<h2>What does this mean for the country?<\/h2>\n<p>Right now, Kazakhstan\u2019s Parliament has two chambers. The lower one is called the Mazhilis, and the upper one is the Senate. <\/p>\n<p>Both chambers held snap elections in 2023 following the 2022 national referendum, which decreased the number of lawmakers in each chamber. If the new referendum passes, Kazakhstan will have to hold snap parliamentary elections again. <\/p>\n<p>The proposed change in the parliamentary system in Kazakhstan will probably expedite the law-making process and might prove to be economical as well. But largely, it means a change in the power dynamics. <\/p>\n<p>In Kazakhstan, the current order of succession in case of the president's absence or inability to remain in office is: the speaker of the Senate, followed by the chair of the Mazhilis, and then the prime minister. A unicameral parliament will shorten this pool.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//46//03//32//808x539_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: A woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the Nationwide Referendum in Astana, 5 June 2022\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/384x256_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/640x427_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/750x500_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/828x552_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/1080x720_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/1200x800_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/1920x1280_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: A woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the Nationwide Referendum in Astana, 5 June 2022<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">NUR.KZ via AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Political analyst Dosym Satpayev believes that the decision is meant to prepare the ground for the next president. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTokayev\u2019s current proposal is most likely not aimed at democratising the parliamentary system itself, but rather as preparation for a new transfer of power, where the speaker of the unicameral parliament automatically increases his constitutional status in the list of those who stand next after the president,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>For some, a concerning part of the announcement was the decision to use the party lists to determine the composition of the parliament, which means no individual candidates. <\/p>\n<p>Experts say that this will virtually place all the power in the hands of one party. A problem here is the overarching dominance of the Amanat party, a party that has consistently won the most votes in all elections. <\/p>\n<p>Both former president Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Tokayev have been leaders of this party. However, after the 2022 referendum, the president is no longer allowed to be a party member while performing his presidential duties. <\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, a party-list-based election was only a proposition and individual candidates may still retain their electability. This is the kind of kinks the Kazakh government will have to work out in the following year. <\/p>\n<h2>What else did Tokayev outline?<\/h2>\n<p>In his wide-ranging address, Tokayev announced the creation of a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, underscoring the need to integrate AI across all economic sectors. <\/p>\n<p>He tasked the government with rethinking investment policies to shift focus from raw materials toward manufacturing, while improving coordination in attracting foreign capital. <\/p>\n<p>The Committee for the Return of Illegal Assets has been renamed the Committee for the Protection of Investor Rights, which Tokayev credited with recovering 850 billion tenge (\u20ac1.4 billion), reinvested into schools, hospitals, and key infrastructure. <\/p>\n<p>Financial reforms will also be a priority. By the end of 2025, a new banking law should be adopted to expand competition, attract new players, and develop digital assets. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//46//03//32//808x539_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: A view of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, with the Presidential Palace in the centre, 12 September 2022\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/384x256_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/640x427_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/750x500_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/828x552_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/1080x720_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/1200x800_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/1920x1280_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: A view of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, with the Presidential Palace in the centre, 12 September 2022<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Tokayev called for scaling up the digital tenge and proposed establishing a State Fund of Digital Assets to build a strategic reserve of cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based instruments. <\/p>\n<p>Joint government\u2013National Bank measures will also focus on taming high inflation, which undermines income growth. <\/p>\n<p>Kazakhstan also plans a major overhaul of its agricultural sector, emphasising efficiency, innovation and reduced import dependence <\/p>\n<p>Transport and logistics remain central to Kazakhstan\u2019s transit ambitions. With over 1 billion tonnes of cargo moved annually, Tokayev called for integration of the North\u2013South, East\u2013West, and Trans-Caspian corridors, wider use of digital platforms, and stronger container shipping. <\/p>\n<p>The president ordered the government to grant special status to the newly formed city of Alatau, which is set to become Central Asia's first digital city, utilising smart urban technologies that enable the payment for goods and services with cryptocurrencies. <\/p>\n<p>Finally, Tokayev stressed modernisation of the energy sector, particularly the acceleration of building the second and third nuclear power plants, to ensure long-term sustainability. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1757511558,"updatedAt":1765262530,"publishedAt":1757513874,"firstPublishedAt":1757513874,"lastPublishedAt":1765262529,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bee7c1f6-6356-5a51-9907-a84f92a0e865-9460332.jpg","altText":"FILE: Kazakhstan\u2019s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev smiles during talks in Belgrade, 19 November 2024","caption":"FILE: Kazakhstan\u2019s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev smiles during talks in Belgrade, 19 November 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bef1abaf-3b60-50f3-ab20-b1fa27eaed18-9460332.jpg","altText":"FILE: A view of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, with the Presidential Palace in the centre, 12 September 2022","caption":"FILE: A view of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, with the Presidential Palace in the centre, 12 September 2022","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/46\/03\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_018e465f-363b-543b-9f55-181235d2208b-9460332.jpg","altText":"FILE: A woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the Nationwide Referendum in Astana, 5 June 2022","caption":"FILE: A woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the Nationwide Referendum in Astana, 5 June 2022","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"NUR.KZ via AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3546,"urlSafeValue":"galiya.khassenkhanova@euronews.com","title":"Galiya 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