Week in Brief: 10 key developments shaping Kazakhstan this week
This week in Astana and beyond, Kazinform News Agency presents a roundup of the top headlines that shaped the past seven days in Kazakhstan.
1. Kazakhstan aspires to become active member of the global AI ecosystem – Tokayev
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan's ambition to integrate into the global AI ecosystem, during his participation in an expert meeting for discussing the artificial intelligence development issues. Addressing the participants, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that AI is one of the key driving forces for modern progress capable of drastically changing economy.
2. Annual inflation accelerates to 8.6% in December in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s annual inflation reached 8.6% in December. According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, annual inflation accelerated in 10 regions, eased in nine regions and remained unchanged in one region. The highest on-year growth in prices was recorded in the Kazakh capital Astana.
3. Water Volume increases in North Aral Sea, reaches 27mln m³
The North Aral Sea witnessed a remarkable recovery with water volume hitting 27 billion cubic meters as a result of first stage of the Aral Sea preservation project. The project focuses on three areas: increasing the volumes and efficiency of water accumulation in the North Aral Sea, improvement of water resources management, fishery and eco-tourism development, and improvement of the region’s ecological situation.
4. East Kazakhstan to build 5 small hydropower plants before 2030
Five hydropower plants producing total 74.3MW, including in Katon-Karagay district (1.4MW), on the Bukhtarma river in Altay district (50MW), two hydropower plants in Zaisan district (4.5MW and 2.4MW) as well as in Markakol district (16MW) are slated for construction in the region before 2030.
5. Egyptian Vulture named bird of 2025 in Kazakhstan
The Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) and the Union for the Protection of Birds of Kazakhstan voted for the Bird of Year with the Egyptian vulture outpacing bramble finch (Fringilla montifringilla). These species are found in Mangyshlak, Karatau, Kyrgyz and Talas Alatau Range, Chu Ili Range, Zailiiski Alatau and Dzhungarian Alatau mountain range.
6. Endangered Persian Leopard spotted in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau region
An endangered Persian leopard was seen in the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve in Mangistau region. The Persian leopard pushed to the brink of extinction was captured on trail cameras installed as part of the international Persian leopard monitoring and conservation project.
7. Kazakh team in Top-3 of XXI International Zhautykov Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
A team of the Republican Physics and Mathematics School from Almaty, together with Vorobevy Gory Lyceum (Moscow) and Tubitak Science School of Türkiye took third place and earned bronze medals at the XXI International Zhautykov Mathematics, Physics and Informatics Olympiad in Astana.
8. Almaty retains title of most visited city in Kazakhstan by international tourists
The Top 3 popular destinations in Kazakhstan in 2024 remained unchanged compared to 2023. The analysis included data from 525 tourist accommodations in Kazakhstan registered in the eQonaq data system. Almaty region saw a rise in international arrivals, while Shymkent city and Aktobe region reported a decrease.
9. Rybakina secures another win at Australian Open-2025 despite medical timeouts
World No 7 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan held her third round match at the Australian Open 2025. Rybakina faced Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska (World No 33). The game ended 6:4 in favor of the Kazakh athlete.
10. Nikita Akimov wins 3rd gold for Kazakhstan at 2025 World Winter University Games
Biathlete Nikita Akimov, trainee of the East Kazakhstan Regional School of High Sports Mastery, has won another gold medal for the Kazakh team in the Men’s 10km Sprint at the 2025 FISU World Winter University Games in Torino.
You can read about the travel trends that will redefine 2025 here.
