Kazakhstan expands its railway network and boosts capacity
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Kazakhstan continues to modernize its railway infrastructure, renew rolling stock, and introduce digital solutions in the transport sector, Qazinform News Agency reports.
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy CEO Talgat Aldybergenov said, average wear reduced from 66% in 2023 to 58% in 2025, thanks to measures addressing locomotive shortages.
He added by 2030, 746 new passenger coaches will be delivered, many produced by Stadler. Currently, 86% of cars are air-conditioned.
He emphasized railway lines construction and modernization projects covering about 3,900 km are underway. 752 km of new tracks have already been commissioned, significantly increasing throughput.
900 km of new tracks will be built, and 3,000 km will be modernized.
He highlighted digital solutions helped speed up key processes. Diagnostic time for rolling stock reduced from 2 hours to 8 minutes using the Kinetix system.
Artificial intelligence now coordinates transit, cutting scenario modeling from months to hours.
It should be noted, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy ranked in the top 3% of global transport companies in the S&P Global ESG rating.
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Kazakhstan and ExxonMobil expand cooperation in oil and gas sector
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First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlan Baibazarov held a meeting with Yuri Kim, Senior Director for International Government Relations at ExxonMobil, Qazinform News Agency cites the press service of the Kazakh Government.
During the meeting, the parties reviewed the progress of ongoing joint projects and explored opportunities for expanding cooperation in the oil and gas sector. Discussions focused on key areas of collaboration, including hydrocarbon production, the development of export infrastructure, and the implementation of investment projects.
Special attention was paid to maintaining the stable operation of production facilities, advancing the development of the Tengiz and Kashagan oil fields, and ensuring the effective functioning of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
Yuri Kim congratulated Nurlan Baibazarov on his appointment as First Deputy Prime Minister and expressed confidence in the further development of effective and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The First Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership, ensuring infrastructure reliability, and promoting the sustainable development of the oil and gas sector.
The meeting also emphasized Kazakhstan’s ongoing efforts to improve the investment climate by creating favorable and predictable conditions for investors and expanding opportunities for long-term cooperation.
Following the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing constructive engagement and advancing the identified areas of cooperation.
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Kazakhstan’s grain exports to Afghanistan rise by 2.3 times
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Kazakhstan exported 11.7 million tons of grain and flour in grain equivalent between September 2025 and May 20, 2026, Qazinform News Agency reports citing the Agriculture Ministry.
According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, exports grew by 13.6% compared to the same period of the last year (10.3 million tons).
Exports to Uzbekistan rose by 39.5%, from 3.5 million tons to 4.8 million tons, and to Kyrgyzstan by 1.5 times, from 297,000 tons to 457,000 tons. Grain deliveries to Afghanistan surged by 2.3 times, from 1.3 million tons to 3 million tons, and Turkmenistan by 47.7%, from 130,000 tons to 192,000 tons.
Officials noted that the positive trend reflects strong foreign demand for Kazakh grain, effective measures to improve export logistics and expansion of trade and economic cooperation with international partners.
Noteworthy, in 2025, Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Spain doubled, with grain, legumes, and essential oils making up the bulk of shipments.
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Kazakhstan sows nearly 9 mln ha of crops
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According to operational data from regional akimats, spring fieldwork is continuing across Kazakhstan, with 8.9 million ha of agricultural crops sown so far, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Ministry of Agriculture.
Grain crops make up the largest share of the planted area at 5.5 million ha, followed by oilseed crops with 2.3 million ha and fodder crops with 642,000 ha. Other crops include cotton (166,000 ha), vegetables (102,000 ha), melons and gourds (77,000 ha), potatoes (93,000 ha), and sugar beet (22,000 ha).
The sowing campaign is progressing actively across Kazakhstan’s key grain-producing regions, with 2 million ha already planted in Akmola region and 1.3 million ha each in Kostanay and North Kazakhstan regions.
Strong progress is also being seen in Kazakhstan’s southern and southeastern regions, where spring fieldwork is nearing completion. Sowing operations have reached 98.1% in Zhambyl region, 97.5% in Zhetysu region, and 96.1% in Almaty region.
Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector is backed by a large fleet of machinery, including 133,900 tractors, around 5,600 high-performance seeding complexes, 71,400 seeders, and 188,500 tillage machines, while technical support for farmers is provided through a nationwide network of 70 service centers.
One of the key priorities in preparing and carrying out the sowing campaign remains ensuring access to mineral fertilizers for agricultural producers.
For 2026, the planned fertilizer application volume is set at 2.3 million tons. According to regional authorities, contracts have already been signed for the supply of 1.4 million tons, while 1.2 million tons have already been delivered.
To improve fertilizer affordability for farmers, regional budgets have allocated 56.3 billion tenge in 2026 for fertilizer subsidies.
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Kazakhstan and Pfizer Discussed the Implementation of an Investment Project in the Healthcare Sector
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First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashykbayev held a meeting with Dmitriy Kozenkov, General Director of "Pfizer Kazakhstan" LLP and Head of Pfizer’s subcluster in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Caucasus, and Mongolia (CauCAR). Representatives of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan also took part in the meeting, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed current issues related to the implementation of Pfizer’s investment project in Kazakhstan.
The First Deputy Minister noted that Pfizer is one of Kazakhstan’s key international partners in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. In this regard, the importance of ensuring predictable and favorable conditions for the implementation of investment projects in the medical field was emphasized.
The parties confirmed their interest in continuing constructive cooperation on the development of partnership and ensuring access to modern medical solutions.
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Kazakhstan and the UAE Strengthen Cooperation in Aviation and Investment
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Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates, Rauan Zhumabek, held a meeting with His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Chairman of Dubai Holding and Dubai Airports, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and future prospects for the development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UAE, including collaboration in the fields of aviation, transport, logistics, tourism, investment, and infrastructure development.
The interlocutors noted that bilateral relations continue to demonstrate a high level of strategic partnership and are developing dynamically owing to the active political dialogue and regular high-level engagements between the two countries. The parties underscored the importance of continuing joint efforts aimed at expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation.
The Kazakh diplomat particularly highlighted the significant contribution of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum to the transformation of Dubai into one of the world’s leading aviation, transport, and business hubs. Under his leadership, Emirates Group has become one of the global leaders in the aviation industry, while Dubai International Airport has evolved into the world’s largest international aviation hub.
The parties also exchanged views on further strengthening business ties and expanding cooperation between Kazakh and Emirati companies.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in maintaining a constructive dialogue and further advancing the mutually beneficial partnership between Kazakhstan and the UAE.
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Kazakhstan-Norway mutual trade hits USD 170 mln
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At the second meeting of the Kazakhstan-Norway Business Council, Kazakh Ambassador to Norway Adil Tursunov announced the growing business interest between the two nations, Qazinform News Agency reports.
He emphasized the Kazakhstan-Norway Business Council is held for the first time in Kazakhstan.
The Business Council was established in December 2024 under an agreement concluded between Kazakhstan’s Foreign Trade Chamber and Norway’s Eastern Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The first meeting took place in Oslo in 2025.
For the first time in bilateral history, a specialized institutional platform now unites business circles of both nations.
Mutual trade between the two nations reached 170 million US dollars in 2025.
He highlighted more Norwegian companies are exploring Kazakhstan as a promising market, including Wilhelmsen, Wellpartner, Gexcon, Optimar, and seafood producers.
Kazakhstan’s Embassy in Norway is promoting investment projects in mining, manufacturing, logistics, and renewable energy.
Participation from Kazakh companies has grown significantly: fewer than 10 attended the first council meeting, while many more joined the second, reflecting rising interest in cooperation with Norwegian partners.
Beyond economics, Kazakhstan and Norway share historical, sporting, and humanitarian ties.
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