AGP Executive Report

Women’s Rights: Central Asian researchers say legal equality has yet to remove everyday barriers to women’s careers, including assumptions about motherhood and caregiving. Food & Lifestyle: South Korean chain Mom’s Touch plans to open more than 50 outlets in Kazakhstan over the next decade, starting in 2027 with local partner Shin-Line Group. Literary Exchange: A Beijing forum brought together scholars from China and Central Asia to explore shared literary traditions, including the epics Manas and Jangar. Republic Day: Shymkent marked the holiday with a flag-raising ceremony, honoring the 1990 sovereignty declaration that paved the way to independence. Kazakh Arts Abroad: Kazakh performers brought folk music, dance and traditional instruments to an audience in Ashgabat, celebrating cultural ties between the neighboring countries.

Republic Day: Shymkent marked Kazakhstan’s national holiday by raising the flag on a 100-metre pole, with officials and young people joining the ceremony. The day commemorates the 1990 Declaration of State Sovereignty. Young Innovators: Kazakh schoolchildren placed fifth at two international drone competitions in the US, with 12-year-old Alikhan Nsanbayev reaching the final at the world championship. Kazakh Culture Abroad: Dimash Qudaibergen’s German fan club brought supporters together ahead of his concert, with dombra music, folk songs and the Qara Jorğa dance. Kazakh artists also performed folk music and dance in Ashgabat, celebrating cultural ties with Turkmenistan. Arts and Heritage: An Almaty exhibition explored women’s memory, ancestral knowledge and protective amulets, while director Daulet Zhumabayev’s action film Kesu pairs Kazakh and South Korean performers in a story spanning both countries.

Young Talent: Kazakh schoolchildren placed fifth at two international drone competitions, including 12-year-old Alikhan Nsanbayev, who made the 12-pilot final at the world championship. Republic Day Weekend: Astana and Almaty are marking the holiday with folk festivals, concerts, ballet and exhibitions. Kazakh Culture Abroad: Dimash Qudaibergen’s German fan club held a pre-concert gathering with traditional song, dombra and Qara Jorğa dancing. Kazakh artists also brought folk music and dance to Ashgabat in a celebration of cultural ties. Art & Heritage: Almaty’s HIMOYA exhibition explores women’s memory, ancestral knowledge and protective traditions through works by more than 20 artists. Kazakh Cinema: Director Daulet Zhumabayev’s new action film Kesu, starring Kazakh and South Korean actors, is seeking an audience in South Korea after its Kazakhstan release.

Dimash’s Dears: Fans in Germany gathered before the singer’s concert, joining his team for folk music, dombra and the traditional Qara Jorğa dance. Kazakh Culture Abroad: Artists from Aktobe brought folk songs, dance and traditional instruments to Ashgabat in a celebration of Kazakh-Turkmen ties. Republic Day: Astana and Almaty’s holiday weekend offers an ethno festival, folk dance, concerts, ballet and exhibitions. Kazakh students overseas also marked the occasion with a flash mob. Art & Memory: Almaty’s HIMOYA exhibition explores women’s experiences, ancestral knowledge and protective traditions; the UN’s GLOCAL exhibition in Astana spotlights 30 people turning global goals into local action. On Screen: Director Daulet Zhumabayev’s action film Kesu, featuring Kazakh and South Korean actors, is now in cinemas. Para Games: Kazakhstan finished ninth with 50 medals, including 13 in para judo.

Astana Exhibition: “GLOCAL: Global Goals. Local Lives” at the National Museum profiles 30 people turning ideas such as inclusion and sustainability into local action. Among them are Afghan-born graduates Zeenat, now working with the Red Crescent, and medical student Armin Talebi. Kazakh Cinema: Director Daulet Zhumabayev’s action film Kesu, released in Kazakhstan on Oct. 15, pairs Kazakh and South Korean actors; he hopes to take the film to South Korean theatres. Republic Day Weekend: Astana and Almaty have concerts, theatre and exhibitions on offer, including an Ethno Festival with kokpar, traditional games, crafts and local food at Astana’s BalQaragai recreation area on Oct. 24. Women’s Memory: Almaty’s Tselinny Center presents HIMOYA: Matrilineal Energies, Oracular Kin, an exhibition exploring ancestral knowledge, protective rituals and women’s experiences. It runs through April 4.

Republic Day Weekend: Astana and Almaty mark the Oct. 25 holiday with folk performances, concerts, theatre and exhibitions. Highlights include an ethno festival with kokpar and traditional crafts, plus Astana Ballet’s “Heritage of the Great Steppe.” Kazakh Cinema: Director Daulet Zhumabayev discusses Kesu, his action film pairing Kazakh and South Korean actors. Released in Kazakhstan on Oct. 15, it follows a taekwondo practitioner searching for a missing mentor in Seoul. Women’s Memory: Almaty’s Tselinny center is showing HIMOYA: Matrilineal Energies, Oracular Kin, an exhibition exploring women’s experiences, ancestral knowledge and protective traditions. It runs through April 4. Language and Heritage: Kazakhstan’s Arabic Language Month has wrapped up with workshops, academic events and a linguistic games tournament, bringing together local and international universities.**

Cultural Ties: Kazakhstan and Switzerland opened a cultural and business center in Schaffhausen, alongside $46 million in cooperation memorandums. The center aims to promote Kazakh culture as well as trade. Music: Kazakh composer Shamshi Kaldayakov’s songs were performed in Spanish for the first time in Madrid, launching a concert series that will continue in Paris and New York. Film: Kazakh film Kanikei won three awards at the Women Directors Film Forum in Osh, which brought filmmakers together for screenings and workshops. Books: A book on writer Abish Kekilbayev was presented in Azerbaijani at the Baku International Book Fair, extending his literary legacy to new readers. Education: Investors from the UAE, India and Egypt plan to build 20 inclusive schools across Kazakhstan in a $1 billion project, though locations and timelines are not yet set.

Inclusive Education: UAE investors plan to spend $1 billion on 20 schools across Kazakhstan, designed for all children, including those with special needs. Sites, timelines and student capacity are still to be announced. Kazakh Music Abroad: Songs by composer Shamshi Kaldayakov were performed in Spanish for the first time at a Madrid concert, part of a centenary project introducing his work to audiences in Madrid, Paris and New York. Women’s Cinema: Kazakh film Kanikei took three awards at the International Film Forum of Women Directors in Osh, which featured 24 films and workshops with filmmakers from across the region. Literary Heritage: An Azerbaijani edition of Korifey, a book on Kazakh writer Abish Kekilbayev, was presented at the Baku International Book Fair to promote literary ties between Turkic communities. Dimash on Tour: Polish media praised Dimash Qudaibergen’s new world tour, highlighting its blend of global genres and Kazakh musical traditions.

Music on the World Stage: Dimash Qudaibergen has opened his DIMENSIONS World Tour, winning praise in Polish media for blending operatic pop, Kazakh musical traditions and audience connection. Faith and Education: Kazakhstan and Egypt are looking to deepen cooperation in religious education and interfaith dialogue, highlighting the restored Sultan Baybars Mosque in Cairo and Almaty’s Nur-Mubarak university. Women’s Heritage: Almaty’s Tselinny center is hosting “Himoya,” an exhibition by 21 artists exploring women’s memory, ancestral knowledge and cultural traditions through contemporary art. Sport for All: Kazakhstan plans to introduce free archery classes in schools, with a proposed academy in Astana as part of a pathway for young athletes. Kazakh Theatre Abroad: Kostanay Regional Kazakh Drama Theatre will perform at Lahore’s international theatre festival on October 26.

Women’s Heritage: Almaty’s Tselinny Center is showing “Himoya,” an international exhibition exploring women’s memory, ancestral knowledge and cultural traditions. It runs through April 4. School Sports: Kazakhstan plans to introduce free archery classes in schools, with a national academy also planned in Astana. Para Sport: Kazakh judoka Zhurkamyrza Shukurbekov won gold at the Asian Para Games. Faith and Diplomacy: Kazakhstan is seeking closer ties with Egypt in religious education and interfaith dialogue, following talks in Cairo with Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam. Orthodox Church: Former priest Yakov Vorontsov, who opposed Russia’s war on Ukraine, was sentenced in Almaty to four years in prison on a drug-possession charge, renewing debate over the church’s ties to Moscow.

Turkic Youth and Sport: Kazakhstan joined ministers from other Turkic states in Bishkek on Oct. 21 to discuss youth policy and joint sports projects. Cultural Heritage: Kazakhstan became an observer in the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, where members are exploring how AI can help preserve historic sites and collections. Books and Language: New editions of Atatürk’s Nutuk are planned in Kazakh and seven other languages, with audio, sign-language and Braille formats. At the Baku International Book Fair, upcoming presentations include works on Kazakh literature and poet Olzhas Suleimenov. Education: Kazakhstan’s higher education minister says AI should handle routine tasks while universities nurture students’ curiosity, judgment and independent thinking. Wildlife: Two Przewalski’s horse foals were born in Kazakhstan in August—the first recorded in the country in about 200 years—as part of a reintroduction effort in Altyn Dala.

AI and Education: Kazakhstan’s higher education minister says universities should use AI without losing sight of curiosity, independent thinking and human judgment. Books and Heritage: A Baku book fair running Oct. 21–26 will feature new works on Kazakh literature and Olzhas Suleimenov, alongside publications on Turkic history. Cultural Preservation: Kazakhstan has joined the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia as an observer, as members explore AI and other tools to protect historic sites and collections. Wildlife Return: Two Przewalski’s horse foals were born in Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala reserve—the first births of the species in the country’s wild steppe in about 200 years.

Wildlife Return: Two Przewalski’s horse foals, Botai and Tumar, were born at Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala reserve—the first in the country in about 200 years. Their arrival marks a major step in returning the endangered species to its historic steppe range. Heritage & Technology: Kazakhstan has joined the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia as an observer. At the alliance’s Hangzhou meeting, members highlighted AI’s role in protecting heritage; Kazakhstan is seeking Silk Road research, restoration training and digital tools to monitor historic sites. Turkic History: A 400-page book on the Qurultay, drawing on historical manuscripts, was presented in Ankara. Published in Kazakh, Turkish, Russian and English, it explores the tradition’s role in regional political life.

Cultural Heritage: Kazakhstan has joined the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia as an observer, opening the door to joint Silk Road research, restoration training and digital tools to protect historic sites. Kazakh Arts Abroad: The HasSak ensemble brought Kazakh musical heritage to the Smithsonian, while traditional melodies rang out at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. Kazakh Cinema Days also opened in Hungary, celebrating the country’s culture and history. On the Global Stage: Dimash Qudaibergen appeared in the GRAMMYs’ “Global Mixtape” series, giving the singer another international spotlight.

Cultural Heritage: Kazakhstan has gained observer status in the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, opening opportunities for specialist training, digital monitoring of heritage sites and joint Silk Road research. Women and Tradition: A Kazakh deputy joined Turkic parliamentarians in Bishkek to discuss how women can strengthen cultural ties through language and shared traditions. Regional Arts: Kazakh artist Shugila Eshen is among the honorees at the Golden Globes’ first Silk Road Tribute Gala, set for Tashkent on Oct. 23–24. Ancient History: A sanctuary at Bayte-3 in Mangystau, with stone sculptures and a cross-shaped layout, offers clues to nomadic beliefs about nature, the heavens and time. Gender Equality: A new analysis warns Central Asia could take 202 years to reach parity; Kazakhstan has closed just 12.3% of its political empowerment gap.

Cultural Heritage: Kazakhstan has gained observer status in the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, opening the door to joint research, specialist training and digital monitoring of Silk Road sites. Culture & Tourism: Kazakhstan and Cambodia signed agreements on culture, arts and tourism during Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s first visit to Astana. Women’s Rights: A new analysis warns that Central Asia could take 202 years to reach gender parity; Kazakhstan’s score has barely shifted since 2006, with women still underrepresented in politics. Ancient History: A sanctuary in Mangystau is shedding light on nomadic beliefs, with archaeologists finding stone sculptures and a distinctive structure aligned to the cardinal directions. Reading Culture: Kazakhstan’s PARAQTA platform has attracted more than 8,400 users, who have logged nearly one million pages over the past year. Kazakh Music Abroad: HasSak performed Kazakh musical heritage at the Smithsonian, while traditional melodies were heard at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate; Dimash Qudaibergen also featured in the GRAMMYs’ “Global Mixtape” series.