Based on recent developments, including Kazakhstan’s economic transformation marked by higher investment, manufacturing output and financial reserves, a Kazakhstan-Switzerland agreement paving the way for the first scheduled nonstop passenger flights, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s upcoming first visit to Kazakhstan, Qazinform News Agency presents its weekly review of Kazakhstan coverage in foreign media.
Eureporter: Seven years of Kazakhstan’s transformation: The numbers tell the tale Seven years after Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became president, Kazakhstan’s economy is significantly larger, with higher investment, manufacturing output and financial reserves, Eureporter reports.
GDP rose from $181.7 billion to about $305.9 billion, while GDP per capita increased from roughly $9,800 to $15,000. Manufacturing output reached about KZT30.7 trillion in 2025, with fixed-capital investment rising from KZT12.6 trillion to KZT22.7 trillion. Kazakhstan’s gross international reserves also increased from around $27 billion in 2019 to $66.8 billion in early 2026, while net external debt declined from $51 billion to $35.1 billion.
Social investment has also expanded. More than 1,200 schools have been built since 2019, while the National Fund for Children now covers about 6.9 million children. Aviation Week: Kazakhstan, Switzerland to expand traffic rights Kazakhstan and Switzerland have signed a memorandum of understanding paving the way for the first scheduled nonstop passenger flights between the two countries, Aviation Week reports.
The agreement allows designated airlines to operate up to 28 passenger flights per week, while cargo services will have no restrictions on frequency or capacity. The two sides also initialed a draft air services agreement to modernize the legal framework. No airline has yet committed to launching a route, although Swiss representatives said regular services to Kazakhstan are being considered.
Zurich-Almaty represents the largest potential market, with about 6,400 passengers traveling between the cities in 2025, up 52% year on year. Overall passenger traffic between Kazakhstan and Switzerland increased 38.9% to approximately 26,700 travelers in 2025.