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Dimash Kudaibergen

Kazakh Singer Dimash Kudaibergen Named UN Global Goodwill Ambassador

On December 8, during the annual session of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Council in Geneva, world-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen was officially appointed a Global Goodwill Ambassador. The announcement, highlighted on the artist’s official website, reflects his “long-standing commitment to supporting people in crisis situations.” Kudaibergen had previously served as the IOM’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador since 2024, using his global platform to raise awareness about the challenges facing migrants, promote their integration, and participate in various humanitarian efforts. His engagement with the IOM deepened in 2025. The artist took part in the organization's Ramadan campaign, voiced strong opposition to human trafficking, and met with IOM Director General Amy Pope to reaffirm his support for ongoing humanitarian programs. Throughout his global “Stranger” tour, Kudaibergen championed messages of inclusivity and sustainability, performing in cities including New York, Mexico City, Barcelona, London, and Berlin. More than 100,000 attendees around the world heard his call to support the IOM’s mission. His performance of the iconic composition “S.O.S d’un terrien en détresse” at the Council meeting became an emotional highlight of the session. “Dimash uses his voice not only to touch the hearts of his listeners, but also to help people affected by crises to be heard and seen,” said Pope, praising the artist’s impact. Addressing member state delegations, Kudaibergen said, “Receiving the title of Global Goodwill Ambassador is an incredible honor. I accept it with great humility and a strong sense of responsibility.” The IOM, established in 1951, is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and joined the United Nations system in 2016. Over the years, other UN Goodwill Ambassadors have included Angelina Jolie, Shakira, David Beckham, and Lionel Messi. Dimash Kudaibergen is a People's Artist of Kazakhstan (2023) and Kyrgyzstan (2025). Known for his extraordinary vocal range spanning seven octaves and seven semitones (G0 to D8), he blends pop, opera, and traditional Kazakh musical elements in his performances.

Transport

Kazakhstan Prepares Road Infrastructure for Driverless Transport

Kazakhstan is developing a system of digital passports for its inter-city highways as part of broader efforts to prepare the country’s infrastructure for the eventual integration of autonomous vehicles. The initiative was announced by Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev during a recent government meeting. “Digital road passports are being developed, which will allow for the introduction of driverless cars in the future,” Sauranbayev said. “Road diagnostics are carried out annually using artificial intelligence technologies. In particular, the installation of automated measuring stations is continuing, up to 220 units, to preserve the road surface. To date, 71 units of such equipment have been put into operation.” Sauranbayev highlighted a related pilot project, “Smart Customs,” launched this summer at the Kazakhstan-China border crossing between Bakhty (Kazakhstan) and Pokitu (China). The initiative enables cargo to cross the border in unmanned trucks, a move expected to increase cargo throughput and speed up customs procedures. According to Sauranbayev, digital tools are expected to increase road capacity by 20% and reduce border crossing times to around 10 minutes. Speaking at a later briefing, Sauranbayev clarified that the driverless truck pilot, currently limited to select border crossings, is intended to be expanded across Kazakhstan’s entire external border by 2027. This includes crossings with EAEU member states such as Russia and Kyrgyzstan. “We have such a program. I think it will be very significant for Kazakhstan’s transit potential,” he said. Sauranbayev added that the use of unmanned trucks will help reduce logistics costs, as autonomous vehicles can operate continuously, potentially tripling delivery speeds. “Driverless taxis are already in use globally, and the transition to autonomous freight transport is only a matter of time,” he noted. “That is why, when we build roads, we are already integrating the necessary sensors to allow driverless vehicles to travel freely across Kazakhstan.” Simultaneously, the government is upgrading internal border checkpoints. Work on 37 facilities is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. So far this year, 13,000 kilometers of road have undergone construction or repairs, part of a national network that spans approximately 95,000 kilometers. To alleviate pressure on the state budget, Kazakhstan is expanding its toll road network. The KazToll system has collected $156.5 million to date. The Ministry of Transport reported a 20.7% year-on-year increase in transport services in the first ten months of 2025. Road transport accounted for 288 million tons of cargo, up 1.7% from the same period last year. Transit traffic rose 5% to 29.4 million tons. Currently, transport companies from 42 countries operate transit routes through Kazakhstan. “Automated load measurement stations on highways have increased both the detection of violations and budget revenues tenfold,” Sauranbayev added. “As a result of integration with the General Prosecutor’s Office, more than 10,000 fine payment orders were issued in the first five months of this year.” In 2024, Kazakhstan launched two major infrastructure projects: the Trans-Kazakhstan railway corridor and the Center-West highway, which will connect Astana to the country’s western regions.

Creative Industries

Kyrgyzstan’s Creative Industries Park: Inside the Country’s Latest Artistic “Miracle”

Kyrgyz cinema in the 1960s to 1970s was sometimes referred to as the ‘Kyrgyz Miracle’, for the number of great pieces that were made during this time. This is still symbolic today, as the country is now in another ‘miracle’ era for the creative industries, which is setting an example not just for the Central Asia region, but globally. In 2023 Daniyar Amanaliev, Co-Founder of an art studio named ololo and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Creative Industries Park, told Deutsche Welle: “We have a very small country. When you start a business here, it's very difficult to start making money because the market is so small. And our innovators are people who are involved in creative businesses. Almost all of these companies have intangible products that cannot be stopped at customs or sealed in a warehouse. Everything is in people's heads, on computers, in the cloud, and this is exactly the kind of business model that can thrive in the Kyrgyz Republic”. This story starts with Ololo, a small art studio in Bishkek founded in 2016 by Daniar Amanaliev, Ainura Amanalieva, Atai Sadybakasov, and Victoria Yurtaeva. The initial idea was to change the lifestyle of Kyrgyz citizens, enriching their lives with different forms of art, and let them pursue the dreams of their youth. The studio provided a wide range of art classes with no age restrictions. The company soon switched its business model to operating creative hubs. Yurtaeva soon left the project. Fast forward nine years and in 2025 Ololo is the largest chain of creative hubs in Central Asia, with nine locations in Kyrgyzstan and an upcoming launch of their tenth location in Kazakhstan. In October 2021 Ololo was crucial to the launch of the Association of Creative Industries of the Kyrgyz Republic, together with eight other companies from the creative industries. Starting as a modest group, the association is now among the most active associations in the country, with over 50 member companies representing over 20 creative industries. In April 2022 the country’s President Sadyr Japarov signed an Order on the development of the creative industries. He even visited the very first Create4 creative industries festival later that year. Kyrgyzstan’s Creative Industries Park (CIP) came into being in summer 2022. Almost a year later, the relevant amendments to the national Tax Code were approved. In June 2023 a government order regulating the operations of the Creative Industries Park was adopted. And, finally, the register of industries exempt from taxes under the Creative Industries Park were defined in December of 2023. While it may seem easy from the outside, the Association of Creative Industries had to deal with significant pushback from various government agencies and officials, who did not believe in the potential of the creative industries. It took almost three years to complete the process and only in 2024, three years after the association was founded, did the Creative Industries Park become operational. In February 2024 a Supervisory Board was appointed. CIP’s Management was...

Media

Kazakh Journalists Set to Ring in 2026 at the “JingleBendz” Media Party

On 12 December, Almaty will host the New Year’s edition of the professional media party “Day J,” titled JingleBendz 2025. The annual event brings together journalists, editors, public relations specialists, and media executives, and is regarded as one of the leading informal networking platforms in Kazakhstan’s communications industry. According to the organizers, the evening will include informal awards for journalists and PR professionals. Since the project’s launch 11 years ago, more than 140 representatives of the media sector have received accolades. This year, participants will also receive special gifts, including a separate award presented by the event’s general sponsor, Yandex Qazaqstan. The party is supported by several project partners, including Oriflame, KAZ Minerals, RG Brands, and First Brewery, all of which will provide prizes and New Year gifts. Kazakhstan’s major media outlets are backing the event, among them The Times of Central Asia, Tribune, BesMedia, Kapital, Kursiv, Shishkin_like, BlueScreen, Profit, Finratings, CheckPoint, Newtimes.kz, and Aleminform.kz. The Times of Central Asia editorial team will attend JingleBendz 2025 and report on the event’s key moments.

Tourism

“Winter Begins in Karakol”: Kyrgyzstan Launches Ski Season with Cultural Events

The winter tourist season has officially opened in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, long considered one of Central Asia’s top destinations for active winter tourism. The city is traditionally the first in the country to open its ski slopes, and this year’s launch was not merely technical, but a full-scale event aimed at boosting both domestic and international tourism. A festive program was held at the ski base, featuring music and dance performances, as well as the launch of the “Jaryk Fest” festival. Local artisans hosted master classes in felt-making, showcasing clothing and souvenir production. This crafts section played an important role in positioning the region as a cultural as well as an adventure destination. [caption id="attachment_40525" align="aligncenter" width="402"] @TCA[/caption] “Jaryk Fest is a celebration of light, snow, and vivid emotions. It’s timed to coincide with the opening of the winter season across Kyrgyzstan. We even have a slogan: ‘Winter begins in Karakol,’” said Ulukbek Almakebek, manager of the Karakol ski resort, in an interview with The Times of Central Asia. According to the organizers, the resort continues to draw tourists from Russia and Kazakhstan, but recent years have seen a notable rise in visitors from Europe and Southeast Asia, a trend that Kyrgyzstan is actively encouraging by expanding its winter tourism offerings. Skiers highlight Karakol’s unique terrain as one of its main attractions. Many of the trails pass through dense coniferous forests, creating picturesque and varied descents not found at other regional resorts. Erdenet Kasymov, director of the Kyrgyzstan Tourism Department, noted that winter tourism is rapidly diversifying. In addition to traditional skiing and hot springs, European tourists are increasingly opting for mountain hiking and horseback riding. [caption id="attachment_40526" align="aligncenter" width="396"] @TCA[/caption] “Tourists from South Korea and India are particularly drawn to snowshoeing in deep snow. It’s a relatively new form of recreation, but one that’s quickly gaining popularity,” Kasymov said. One emerging trend is winter yachting on Issyk-Kul Lake. Because the lake does not freeze in winter, it offers an extended season and opportunities for new types of recreation. Two modern yachts have already been acquired for the region, and work is ongoing to restore older vessels and build docks and piers. This approach aligns with a vision outlined by President Sadyr Japarov, a native of the Issyk-Kul region, who has previously called for moving beyond the traditional separation of “winter” and “summer” tourism. According to Japarov, Kyrgyzstan is building a model of year-round tourism designed to take advantage of the country’s diverse natural offerings.

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup: Uzbekistan to Face Portugal and Colombia in Group K

Among the highlights for Uzbekistan at next year’s FIFA World Cup will be facing Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo in his last campaign in the event, to be held in Mexico, Canada and the United States. Uzbekistan, which has qualified for the World Cup for the first time and is ranked 50th in the FIFA rankings, is in the four-team group K, one of 12 groups in the draw that was announced on Friday in Washington D.C. Group K includes sixth-ranked Portugal; Colombia, which is 13th in the FIFA standings; and a fourth team that is yet to be decided. Either Jamaica, Democratic Republic of Congo or New Caledonia will take that last spot after facing each other in playoffs. A total of 48 teams are competing in the World Cup next year, up from 32 in previous contests. Ronaldo, 40, has said next year’s World Cup will be his last one. In Qatar in 2022, he became the first player to score at five World Cups. He currently plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Uzbekistan’s team is led by coach Fabio Cannavaro, a former defender who was captain of Italy’s winning team in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Cannavaro replaced Timur Kapadze, an Uzbekistani former pro football player who led Uzbekistan’s national team to its first-ever qualification for the World Cup with a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi in June. “Everything” can happen in the World Cup, a smiling Cannavaro said after the draw was announced. “We are so happy because we are here,” the coach said, adding that he hoped the team would fight “until the end.”