Our People > Dmitry Pokidaev

Dmitry Pokidaev

Journalist

Dmitry Pokidaev is a journalist based in Astana, Kazakhstan, with experience at some of the country's top media outlets. Before his career in journalism, Pokidaev worked as an academic, teaching Russian language and literature.

Articles

Cryptocurrency Licensing

Kraken Cryptocurrency Exchange Receives Preliminary Approval in Kazakhstan

Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange based in the United States, has received preliminary approval to operate in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The company plans to launch a trading platform in Kazakhstan and hold digital assets on customers' behalf. However, trading through Kraken's local subsidiary is not yet available because the company has not obtained its final license. The local subsidiary, Payward Kazakhstan, would give customers access to Kraken's global trading network, allowing them to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with traders in other countries. The preliminary approval was issued by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA). Kraken has not yet announced a launch date or the terms of service for customers in Kazakhstan. The expansion was also discussed at AI & Digital Bridge 2026, an artificial intelligence and technology forum in Astana, where Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with the company's co-chief executive, Dave Ripley. The Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development signed a memorandum of cooperation with the company covering digital finance and blockchain technology. The memorandum itself does not authorize cryptocurrency transactions. Kraken, founded in 2011, allows individual investors and financial institutions to trade cryptocurrencies. The exchange is operated by the international Payward group. The approval comes as Kazakhstan tightens oversight of cryptocurrency trading platforms. On October 20, AFSA announced that the AIFC Court had issued restrictions against six cryptocurrency platforms, including Coinbase and HTX, formerly Huobi Global. The court orders, issued in September, prohibit the companies from offering or advertising digital asset services within the AIFC without the required licenses. They also provide for restrictions on access to the platforms through mobile app stores. AFSA warns that an international exchange's reputation does not, by itself, mean it is authorized to operate in Kazakhstan. The regulator recommends checking a platform's license in its official register, as customers using unlicensed platforms may not receive the legal protections available to customers of regulated exchanges. Kraken would join other international exchanges, including Binance and Bybit, which already hold licenses to operate within the AIFC. In September, the government approved a plan to develop the digital asset industry. It also said that the country's national cryptocurrency reserve had reached $700 million, although the National Bank of Kazakhstan said that only about $200 million of the portfolio had been invested at that stage.

1 day ago

GDP Forecasts

Kazakhstan GDP Forecast Rises to Nearly $398 Billion

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Kazakhstan’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) at nearly $398 billion in 2026. The figure places the country 47th in a global ranking published by Visual Capitalist, based on the IMF’s October forecasts. The fund expects Kazakhstan’s economy to grow by 4.4% this year after adjusting for inflation, compared with global growth of 3.1%. An earlier ranking, published in January, placed Kazakhstan 50th, with projected GDP of about $320 billion for 2026. The tenge, Kazakhstan’s currency, gained approximately 18% against the dollar over the year to October 28. A stronger tenge increases the dollar value of Kazakhstan’s economy, even without an equivalent increase in actual production. Kazakhstan remains Central Asia’s largest economy by nominal GDP. Uzbekistan, the region’s second-largest economy, is projected to have a GDP of $178.17 billion in 2026. Turkmenistan’s projected GDP is about $83 billion, Kyrgyzstan’s is $26.69 billion, and Tajikistan’s is $21.11 billion. Kazakhstan’s nominal GDP per person is projected to exceed $19,000 in 2026. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of National Economy estimates that the economy grew by 4.2% in January–September 2026, with the non-resource sector expanding by 5.4%. Construction output increased by 11.5%, while manufacturing, transportation, and trade also grew. Oil production, meanwhile, fell by 8.3%. According to the ministry’s October 13 report, manufacturing accounted for 14.1% of GDP in the first half of the year. Machinery production grew by 22.8% in January–September, while chemicals and pharmaceuticals also recorded strong growth. The IMF expects Kazakhstan’s real economic growth to accelerate to 4.9% in 2027.

1 day ago

Cycling

Kazakh Cyclists Sweep UCI Asia Tour Podium for First Time

Kazakhstan’s cyclists have claimed all three podium positions in the final individual Asia Tour rankings for the first time. Yevgeniy Fedorov of XDS Astana Team finished the 2026 season first, followed by teammate Nicolas Vinokurov in second and Alexey Lutsenko of Switzerland’s NSN Cycling Team in third. XDS is short for Xidesheng, a Chinese bicycle manufacturer and Astana’s title sponsor, while NSN stands for Never Say Never, the sports and entertainment company that co-owns Lutsenko’s team. Fedorov earned 666.33 points, while Vinokurov finished with 576.33. Another XDS Astana Team rider, China's Haoyu Su, placed fourth with 445.33 points. This means riders from the team occupied three of the top four positions in the rankings. The Asia Tour is a series of road races across Asia overseen by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the international governing body for competitive cycling. Its individual and national rankings also count points earned by Asian riders in UCI races elsewhere in the world. Kazakhstan’s riders have held the top position in the individual Asia Tour standings since 2018. Over nine seasons, Lutsenko has won the rankings seven times and Fedorov twice. Kazakhstan previously placed two riders in the top three on several occasions. Kazakhstan also finished the season first in the UCI Asia Tour national rankings, accumulating 2,339.99 points. Its lead over Mongolia and Japan, which finished second and third, exceeded 1,200 points. Kazakhstan has finished first in these standings every year since 2017. Iran was the last country to finish ahead of Kazakhstan, in 2016. XDS Astana Development Team, the Kazakh cycling club's development squad, finished third in the Asia Tour team rankings, behind China's Li Ning Star and Thailand's Roojai Insurance Winspace. This is the best result in the development team's history. In the UCI world team rankings, the main XDS Astana Team finished the season in sixth place, while XDS Astana Development Team ranked fourth among continental teams. For Alexey Lutsenko, this was the final season of his professional career. He discussed his retirement plans after winning the men's road race at the Asian Games in Japan on September 23, claiming a national-record sixth Asian Games gold medal.

3 days ago

interest rates

National Bank of Kazakhstan Cuts Base Rate to 15.75%

The National Bank of Kazakhstan cut its base interest rate from 16.25% to 15.75% on October 23, marking its fourth consecutive reduction since June 2026. The central bank has indicated that it may keep the rate unchanged through the end of the year, despite a continued slowdown in inflation.Annual inflation declined to 9.3% in September from 9.8% in August, while households’ inflation expectations fell from 12.1% to 11.8%. According to the National Bank, a stronger tenge and relatively tight monetary policy helped slow price increases. Food inflation declined to 8.5%, while non-food inflation fell to 11%. The base rate had remained at 18% since October 2025. It was lowered to 17% in June 2026, 16.75% in July, and 16.25% in September. The cuts have lowered the base rate by 2.25 percentage points. The base rate influences bank lending costs and deposit yields. Lowering it creates conditions for a gradual reduction in borrowing costs for businesses and households, although commercial banks set their own interest rates based on borrowers’ credit risks and funding costs. Nevertheless, borrowing costs remain high, reflecting the challenges facing Kazakhstan’s economy. Inflation is still almost twice the central bank’s 5% target, meaning prices continue to rise rapidly, even as the pace of increase slows. Meanwhile, strong economic growth has brought limited relief to households: official figures show that real per capita incomes increased by just 0.7% year-on-year in the second quarter. National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov said that further rate cuts will require a more sustained slowdown in inflation. The central bank identifies rising global energy and food prices, high government spending, and potential increases in regulated utility tariffs among the main risks. Annual inflation could rise slightly toward the end of the year because current prices will be compared with those recorded when Kazakhstan restricted utility tariff increases, from October 2025 to March 2026. However, the National Bank intends to focus primarily on how tariff changes affect other prices rather than responding to the tariff increases themselves. Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product grew by 4.2% in January–September 2026, driven mainly by construction, manufacturing, and transportation. Fixed capital investment increased by 7%, while investment in the non-resource sector, excluding budget funds, rose by 25%. Strong investment activity supports domestic demand while also complicating efforts to bring inflation under control. The National Bank aims to reduce inflation to 6.5–8.5% in 2027 and reach its 5% target in 2028. The next base rate decision is scheduled for December 4.

3 days ago

Logistics

Kazakhstan and China Plan Cross-Border Driverless Truck Trials

Driverless trucks could eventually carry freight between Kazakhstan and China, with the two countries planning to test them on international routes. The Kazakhstan Road Research Institute (KazdorNII) and Chinese technology company China TransInfo Group signed an agreement in Astana on October 16 to develop the trials and establish a joint center for autonomous transport. The partners plan to establish a testing ground and introduce systems that can weigh trucks while they are moving. They are also considering a joint center to coordinate transport operations and share data. KazdorNII will work to adapt the Chinese company's technologies to Kazakhstan's roads and technical requirements. At the NEW SILK WAY transport forum in Astana, China TransInfo Group signed a separate memorandum with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport on cooperation in autonomous vehicle technologies. Kazakhstan has already conducted a similar trial with Russia. In May 2026, two Russian-made KamAZ trucks traveled in opposite directions between Astana and Moscow, crossing the international border. However, only parts of the roughly 3,000-kilometer journey were completed autonomously. Kazakhstan and China also launched the Smart Customs project at the Bakhty–Pokitu border crossing in 2025, with plans to use driverless electric shuttles to transport cargo between the two countries. The new initiative envisages testing autonomous trucks on an international road route rather than limiting their operation to border infrastructure. Separately, Kazakhstan plans to begin producing Chinese SITRAK autonomous semi-trucks by 2028, as The Times of Central Asia previously reported.

6 days ago

Rare Earth Metals

Kazakhstan Opens $15 Million Rare Metals Research Center with South Korea

Kazakhstan is seeking to turn more of its mineral wealth into high-value materials for electric vehicles, electronics, and other advanced industries with the opening of a Korean-backed rare-metals research center in Almaty. The center, which opened on October 21, is supported by a five-year funding program worth approximately $15 million. Based at the Institute of Metallurgy and Ore Beneficiation at Satbayev University, the center will develop technologies for processing and refining rare metals. The project is being developed under South Korea's official development assistance program, with the participation of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) and the Korea National Institute of Rare Metals (KORAM). South Korea has outlined a five-year funding plan worth 19.8 billion won (approximately $15 million) for the Almaty center between 2026 and 2030, including 2 billion won ($1.5 million) for 2026. Kazakhstan has substantial mineral resources, but extracting metals and producing finished materials require different technologies. The most challenging stages involve separating individual elements, purifying them, and producing materials suitable for industrial use. These are the processes the new center will focus on. The research is expected to be tested in cooperation with Kazakh mining and metallurgical companies. According to Satbayev University Rector Meiram Begentayev, research priorities should be determined by the needs of industry. “We expect our industrial partners to take an active role in the center's work. Their specific production challenges will help identify priority areas for research, while joint testing will allow us to prepare scientific developments for implementation in industrial production,” Begentayev said. At the steering committee's first meeting, participants discussed laboratory equipment, specialist training, and cooperation with industrial enterprises. The Almaty center was established as Kazakhstan seeks to develop its own capacity to process critical minerals. The country is holding talks with foreign partners interested in raw materials for batteries, electronics, and energy equipment. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on plans for the Almaty center in July. Kazakhstan has also proposed cooperation with Belgium on rare-earth metals processing. Authorities also plan to establish an internationally accredited laboratory in Astana to analyze mineral samples.

1 week ago

Futsal

Kazakhstan Joins Race to Host UEFA Futsal Euro 2030

Kazakhstan is among a record seven countries to have expressed interest in hosting UEFA Futsal Euro 2030. If UEFA selects Kazakhstan, it would mark the first time the senior European futsal championship has been held in Central Asia. The host will be selected in September 2027. Futsal is a five-a-side form of indoor football played on a hard court with a smaller, less bouncy ball. According to UEFA, the other prospective hosts are Croatia, Finland, France, Georgia, Poland, and Spain. Final bid dossiers must be submitted by June 8, 2027. UEFA also allows the tournament to be co-hosted by multiple countries. Kazakhstan joined UEFA in 2002, switching from the Asian Football Confederation. Among the current prospective hosts, only Spain and Croatia have previously staged the senior UEFA Futsal Euro. Kazakhstan has experience organizing international futsal competitions. Almaty hosted the final stage of UEFA's premier club futsal competition in 2011, 2017, and 2019. In 2027, Astana is scheduled to host the UEFA European Under-19 Futsal Championship. Kazakhstan's national futsal team won bronze at Euro 2016 in Serbia and reached the semifinals again in 2018. Central Asia has already hosted futsal's biggest global tournament: the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup took place in Uzbekistan.

1 week ago

Middle Corridor

Japanese Firms Test Middle Corridor Freight Route as Tokyo Funds Aktau Port Upgrade

Japan is assessing greater use of the Middle Corridor following trial shipments by Japanese companies, as Tokyo funds customs upgrades at Kazakhstan’s port of Aktau worth up to $4.5 million. The results of the trials were presented at an October 19 conference in Tokyo, which focused on Japan’s transport links with Central Asia and the Caucasus. The trials assessed delivery times and costs, alongside customs procedures and logistics services. Japan’s funding provides for the installation of a stationary X-ray inspection system for large cargo at Aktau, where containers are shipped across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan. The grant, agreed in January, is valued at up to 719 million yen (approximately $4.5 million). The equipment is expected to reduce inspection times by two-thirds. Kei Takagi, Japan’s State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, linked Tokyo’s interest in the Middle Corridor to efforts to diversify international transport routes and strengthen trade with Central Asia and the Caucasus. For Japanese exporters, the Middle Corridor could provide an alternative way to reach markets across Central Asia and onward to Europe. Japanese cargo must first reach the corridor by sea, through China or another point connecting to the overland transport network. The route’s attractiveness therefore depends on transshipment costs and reliable connections, including efficient customs clearance. In 2025, the Middle Corridor handled 4.12 million metric tons of freight, down from 4.48 million tons in 2024 but approximately five times the volume recorded seven years earlier. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, transit times along the corridor have fallen from 28–32 days to 13–17 days. The ministry’s estimate is for the corridor, rather than a quoted delivery time from Japan. Beyond freight transport, conference participants discussed digital infrastructure across the Caspian Sea. The Kazakh side highlighted the October 15 inauguration of a 380-kilometer fiber-optic cable linking Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. The cable across the Caspian seabed is intended to carry international internet traffic between Central Asia and the South Caucasus, with adjustments to the line continuing through the end of 2026. Direct air connections were also discussed. Air Astana plans to launch scheduled flights between Almaty and Tokyo’s Narita Airport in December 2026.

1 week ago

Fencing

Kazakhstan Fencing: Men’s Team Tops World Épée Rankings for the First Time

Kazakhstan's men's épée fencing team has topped the International Fencing Federation (FIE) world rankings for the first time in the country's history. The team climbed to No. 1 after winning the first World Cup event of the 2026/27 season in Casablanca, Morocco, on October 18, defeating France in the semifinals and Russia in the final. According to Kazakhstan's National Olympic Committee, the team had 354 points in the updated FIE rankings. France is second with 310 points, followed by Switzerland with 296, Italy with 286, and Ukraine with 280. Before the start of the season, Kazakhstan had been ranked third, behind Switzerland and France. Before the Casablanca victory, the Kazakh team had won four major international titles in the past 12 months. In November 2025, the épée fencers won gold at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In June 2026, they became Asian champions in New Delhi, India, and a month later claimed gold at the World Championships in Hong Kong. In September, Kazakhstan won the team event at the Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan. The Kazakh fencers opened with victories over Turkey, 45–20, and Hong Kong, 45–28. They then defeated Egypt in the quarterfinals before beating France, one of the traditional powers in international fencing, 45–39 in the semifinals. In the final, Kazakhstan faced Russia. The Kazakh team maintained a narrow lead throughout the match and secured a 45–40 victory. European teams, including France, Italy, Hungary, and Switzerland, have dominated men's team épée for decades. Among Asian nations, Japan and South Korea had previously reached the top of the world rankings. Kazakhstan has now joined them. Mirbulat Abuov, president of the Fencing Federation of Kazakhstan, praised the team's strength in depth. “What makes this achievement particularly valuable is that we competed in Casablanca with a reshuffled lineup. Kirill Prokhodov, Vadim Sharlaimov, Alexander Fedotov, and Kirill Pavlov took to the piste. Three of them belong to Generation Z, while two of the four reigning world champions missed the tournament. It was with this lineup that we defeated France, a 23-time world champion in men's team épée. This victory confirms that our country has not only strong leaders but also young athletes capable of defeating the world's best teams,” Abuov said.

1 week ago

Civil Aviation

Kazakhstan ICAO Develop Civil Aviation Master Plan Through 2050

Kazakhstan is working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop a master plan for the country's aviation industry through 2050. The country aims to expand its international route network and increase air cargo traffic by capitalizing on its location between Europe and Asia. Saltanat Tompiyeva, chair of Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee, announced the plan at the New Silk Way 2026 transport and logistics forum in Astana. In the first nine months of 2026, Kazakh airlines carried 12.4 million passengers, while the country's airports handled 136,500 tons of cargo. Kazakhstan's international route network covers 31 countries and 137 destinations. Since the beginning of the year, 24 new routes having been launched from Kazakhstan, including flights connecting Almaty with Chongqing and Warsaw, and Astana with Ulaanbaatar. According to Tompiyeva, the master plan will establish a long-term development framework for the aviation sector. To support domestic cargo carriers, Kazakhstan has introduced import incentives for certain categories of aircraft and intends to expand their access to international markets. Several airport development projects were also presented at the forum. Astana International Airport plans to build a second runway and expand its cargo infrastructure by 2035. There are also plans to build a second airport in Astana. In September, authorities signed a framework agreement with Singapore's Changi Airports International to cooperate on building the new airport and developing the existing one. Meanwhile, Aktau has plans for an aviation and logistics hub with projected investment of $400 million to $500 million and Karaganda Airport is developing the QarGo Hub project and aims to increase cargo throughput to 61,000 tons in 2026. The city is also home to Alatau Air Cargo, an airline established as KTZ Air Cargo in late 2025 and renamed in June 2026, which is preparing to launch cargo flights. SCAT Airlines also presented 12 investment projects to develop its hub in Shymkent, including airport infrastructure expansion and the establishment of aircraft maintenance facilities. Kazakhstan also plans to double its fleet of aircraft operated by Kazakh airlines by 2030.

1 week ago

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