This week in Astana and beyond, Qazinform News Agency presents a roundup of the top headlines that shaped the past seven days in Kazakhstan. 1. Tokayev: Artificial intelligence must become a key tool for industrial modernization President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the third meeting of the Council for Artificial Intelligence Development, focusing on the digital transformation of Kazakhstan’s industrial sector.
He said AI should help raise labor productivity, modernize industry, and expand the production of high value-added goods. 2. Kazakhstan and Germany sign over 30 commercial agreements worth $2B President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to deepen the two countries’ strategic partnership following talks in Germany.
More than 30 commercial agreements worth around $2 billion were signed, covering long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation. 3. Tokayev and Merz discuss industrial, logistics and digital cooperation President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in industry, critical minerals, logistics, digital technologies, education, and science.
Tokayev also invited Merz to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan. 4. Linde eyes investing up to $500 million in new projects in Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed Linde’s plans for new projects in Kazakhstan, with potential investments of up to $500 million.
The sides discussed cooperation in petrochemicals, carbon capture, hydrogen infrastructure, and a new air separation plant in Temirtau. 5. Mikhail Shaidorov rises to No. 2 in ISU world rankings Kazakh figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov rose to a career-high second place in the ISU world rankings with 4,193 points.
American Ilia Malinin remains the leader, while Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama ranks third. 6. Starlink Mobile communication service launched in Kazakhstan