Foreign media on Kazakhstan: AI expansion, oil growth and political transformation

Daily Sabah: Turkish tech firms display products, services at Gitex AI Kazakhstan

Turkish technology firms showcased their products and services at the inaugural Gitex AI Kazakhstan in Almaty, one of the region’s largest tech events, Daily Sabah reports.

The two-day forum gathered 336 startups and tech companies, more than 100 investors and over 200 speakers from 50 countries.

A Turkish pavilion featured firms including Türksat, Opinnate and Geolab.

“We’re trying to establish a presence in the CCA region,” said Serkan Özden. “We’ve started operating intensively in this market this year.”

Opinnate develops network security and firewall monitoring solutions.

Meanwhile, Esra Cındır said the company was pleased with interest from visitors.

“We’ve met with many people, and so far, things are going very well,” she said.

Türksat also presented its digitalization and e-transformation services, aiming to expand partnerships across Central Asia.

Reuters: Kazakhstan's oil and gas condensate output up 16% in April from March, source says

Kazakhstan, which accounts for more than 2% of global oil output, boosted oil and gas condensate production by 16% in April from March as output ramped up at major fields, Reuters reports.

Total production rose to 2.17 million barrels per day in April from 1.87 million bpd in ⁠March. The increase was driven mainly by higher output at Tengiz, the country's largest oilfield, where the source said production jumped 39% to 973,000 bpd. The energy ministry and operators of the major fields did not reply to requests for comment.

Tengiz has recovered from a major power outage reported in January at the ⁠field near the Caspian Sea in western Kazakhstan.

The field is operated by Tengizchevroil, a joint venture in which Chevron owns 50%, Exxon Mobil 25%, KazMunayGaz 20% and Russia’s Lukoil 5%.

Output at ⁠the Kashagan field rose 9% in April to 414,000 bpd, while production at another major field, Karachaganak, increased 6% to ⁠250,600 bpd.

Excluding gas condensate, crude oil production climbed to 1.93 million bpd in April from 1.64 million ⁠bpd in March. That is well above Kazakhstan's OPEC+ quota of 1.579 million bpd for April.

Modern Diplomacy: Who speaks in the Qurultay? The logic of power behind consultation

Kazakhstan is set to hold a landmark parliamentary election in August 2026, as the newly established unicameral “Qurultay Parliament” will be formed entirely through party lists for the first time, Modern Diplomacy reports.

Historically, the Qurultay served as a consultative institution in steppe society, bringing together khans, biys, military leaders and tribal elders to resolve issues through negotiation and consensus.

The new reform aims to strengthen political parties as the main channel for representing public interests and integrating social demands into policymaking.

Eurasianet: Does Kazakhstan’s power-generating capacity match its AI ambitions?

Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with an international consortium to build a Tier IV data center worth up to $1.5 billion as part of its plan to become a regional digital hub, Eurasianet reports.

The memorandum, signed by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development with a consortium led by JMOT04 Ltd., also provides for construction of a 250-megawatt gas-fired power plant estimated at more than $400 million to ensure stable electricity supply.

“Kazakhstan has a unique geographic location, favorable climate, and competitive electricity prices,” said Zhaslan Madiyev. “These factors form a stable foundation for the deployment of international data centers and the development of digital infrastructure.”

The government has not announced a construction timeline or financing details. Officials said the facility’s location is still under consideration, with preference given to areas near gas infrastructure. Analysts expect the project could be located in the Pavlodar region.

The project’s success will largely depend on Kazakhstan’s ability to eliminate its electricity deficit by 2027, as rising demand continues to pressure the country’s energy system.

Wings of China & Rossiya Airlines: Heavenly Horse of the Great Steppe

Images of a rare Akhal-Teke horse belonging to the President of Kazakhstan have appeared in foreign in-flight press. The May 2026 issue of Rossiya Airlines' in-flight magazine featured an article titled "Heavenly Horse of the Great Steppe," dedicated to Akzhan, an Akhal-Teke mare gifted to the President of Kazakhstan. The Head of State named it Akzhan.

A similarly vivid piece describing the “wings of the steppe" was published in the Chinese in-flight magazine "Wings of China." Akzhan’s story is also highlighted in Tengri magazine, published by Air Astana, distributed among passengers of major international routes.

Akzhan, a purebred Akhal-Teke mare, is described as a proud and intelligent horse and a favorite of President Tokayev. International publications emphasize her lineage: Akzhan is a filly of purebred Akhal-Teke horses Ganatly and Tabys. The horse's name, translated from Kazakh, means "Pure Soul."

The Times of Central Asia: From Almaty to Bali: Two cyclists from Kazakhstan on their bicycle journey

A young couple from Almaty has spent several months cycling more than 8,000 kilometers across Asia on a journey from Kazakhstan to the Indonesian island of Bali, The Times of Central Asia reports.

Alina Pak and Maksim Pak have documented their trip across China, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia through daily social media updates that attracted thousands of followers.

“It’s been my dream since childhood,” Maksim said, recalling how the couple planned the route in just a few days before setting off.

The travelers admitted they began the journey with little money, limited equipment and no clear certainty the plan would succeed. Sponsors later helped cover bicycles and gear expenses.

“If it’s not scary, then the goal isn’t big enough,” Alina said.

The couple described the journey as safer than expected, despite one attempted robbery while camping in Vietnam.

“People are very similar everywhere,” Maksim said. “We’re much closer to each other than the news makes it seem.”

Although Bali was the original destination, the couple now plans to continue traveling toward South Korea.

You can read last week’s weekly digest here.