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

Agriculture

Italian Agricultural Group Considers Launching Industrial Hemp Project in Kazakhstan

The Italian agricultural organization Unione Coltivatori Italiani (UCI) is exploring a project to cultivate and process industrial hemp in Kazakhstan for applications in the textile, construction, and pharmaceutical industries. The initiative was announced by the national investment promotion agency Kazakh Invest. During a recent meeting in Astana, Kazakh Invest Deputy Chairmen Azamat Kozhanov and Madiyar Sultanbek held talks with UCI President Mario Serpillo. The Italian delegation shared its experience in sustainable agriculture and closed-loop production systems using hemp, including the manufacture of fibers, oil, and biomaterials. A Phased Rollout with International Standards According to the statement, the project will begin with pilot plots of up to 100 hectares in various regions of Kazakhstan, where agricultural technologies will be tested. If successful, the initiative will be scaled up. Only industrial hemp varieties compliant with international standards for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, no more than 0.3%, will be used. This ensures the hemp has no psychoactive effects and qualifies as a technical raw material. Kazakhstan first proposed cultivating industrial hemp in 2016, but the idea failed to materialize. In spring 2025, however, a renewed effort gained legislative support. A bill legalizing the cultivation of non-narcotic hemp under strict state control was introduced and passed in June, allowing production for industrial use only. Modern Technologies and Regulatory Oversight The proposed project will employ advanced agricultural technologies to produce textiles, biocomposites, and pharmaceutical products. The Italian side emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance, including certification, licensing, and cooperation with research institutions in fields such as medicine, cosmetology, sustainable agriculture, and construction materials. Founded in the 1920s, UCI is one of Italy’s oldest agricultural organizations and has a long-standing commitment to sustainable development. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture previously announced plans to use domestically grown industrial hemp to produce high-security paper for identity documents. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, this development indicates the potential for multiple hemp cultivation and processing projects to emerge across the country.

9 months ago

Logistics

Kazakhstan Begins Construction of Major International Logistics Hub in Kostanay

Kazakhstan has officially begun construction of a major transport and logistics complex in the northern city of Kostanay, aiming to establish a critical transit hub linking China, Central Asia, and Europe. The new “Tobyl” Logistics Hub is set to enhance the country's role in regional and global supply chains. Designed to integrate into international transport corridors, including routes to China, Central Asia, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Europe, the facility is scheduled to be operational by 2027. It is expected to significantly boost transit capacity along the “Northern Kazakhstan, Southern Urals” corridor and facilitate freight movement toward the People's Republic of China. In the first half of 2025, Kazakhstan’s transit freight volume reached 16.8 million tons, marking a 4% year-on-year increase. Strategic Investment for Economic Growth “The complex will reduce logistics costs for businesses, support export-oriented manufacturing, attract investment into processing industries, and stimulate the creation of new industrial enterprises,” said Aydyn Alimov, Director of the new logistics center. “We believe Tobyl will become a business magnet and a driver of regional industrial growth.” The hub will feature advanced infrastructure, including terminals, warehouses, customs clearance facilities, IT zones, and service areas operating under a “one-stop-shop” model. A digital cargo tracking system will provide real-time logistics monitoring. The project is being developed with the participation of JSC Kedentransservice, Kazakhstan’s largest logistics operator, and is backed by the state-owned Industrial Development Fund. Covering an area of 133.6 hectares, the Tobyl complex represents an investment of 64 billion KZT (approximately $122 million). It is designed to process up to 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), or more than 11 million tons of cargo annually, and will create 500 new jobs in logistics, IT, and service sectors. A Catalyst for Regional and National Development “We are not just building a logistics hub, we are laying the foundation for a new economic geography,” said Deputy Prime Minister Yermek Kosherbayev at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Tobyl will become an intellectual platform where logistics, digitalization, education, and industry converge. This is not just a regional but a national project, a catalyst for growth across the country.” According to the government, the Tobyl hub will also promote sustainable exports from the Kostanay region and foster deeper industrial cooperation within the Eurasian space. Kostanay is already Kazakhstan’s leading automotive manufacturing hub. In 2024, local automaker Allur produced 90,515 vehicles, comprising passenger cars, trucks, and buses, out of a national total of 134,000. In 2025, a new KIA plant with an annual capacity of 70,000 vehicles is expected to launch, along with facilities for producing automotive components and spare parts. Earlier this month, Kazakhstan and China signed an updated strategic agreement to strengthen railway links and increase cargo throughput along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor.

9 months ago

Sports

Kazakhstan to Host Third Future Games in 2026

Kazakhstan will host the third edition of the international Games of the Future tournament in the summer of 2026, combining traditional sports with their digital counterparts in a unique “phygital” format. The event will take place in Astana from July 18 to August 1, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev announced at a recent briefing. The Games of the Future is an annual global competition where athletes compete in both physical and digital disciplines, with overall scores determined by performance in both categories. The inaugural tournament was held in Kazan, Russia, in early 2024. The second edition is scheduled for December 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, while Kazakhstan will host the third installment in 2026. Over 1,500 athletes from nearly 100 countries are expected to participate in the event, which will feature 13 phygital disciplines. Competitions will be held at several of Astana’s premier sports venues, including the Qazaqstan Sports Complex, Barys Ice Arena, Saryarka Velodrome, Zhekkpe-Zhek Martial Arts Palace, Alaou Ice Palace, Beeline Arena Tennis Center, and the Inclusive Sports Center. The tournament is being organized by the government of Kazakhstan in partnership with Phygital International, a global organization representing 98 member countries. Diverse Disciplines and Substantial Prize Pool Disciplines confirmed for the 2026 tournament include: Phygital Football (soccer), Phygital Fighting (martial arts), Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, Phygital Hockey, Phygital Shooter (tactical combat), Phygital Battle Royale (multiplayer battles), two MOBA disciplines (team esports games), Phygital Drone Racing, Battle Bots (robot battles), Phygital Boxing, and Cybathletics (competitions involving technology-enhanced athletes). The total prize fund will amount to $10 million. According to Alibek Khasenov, president of Kazsportinvest JSC, “The funds will be distributed among the 13 disciplines, some will receive more, some less. All funding, including organizational costs and prize money, will be provided exclusively through sponsorship.” Khasenov noted that several Kazakhstani companies have already shown interest in sponsoring the event. The first edition of the tournament in Kazan reportedly garnered over 3.5 billion views across digital platforms. Rescheduled Due to Flood Recovery Efforts Originally, Kazakhstan was set to host the second Games of the Future in 2025. However, in the aftermath of unprecedented spring floods in 2024, the government reprioritized spending to address recovery efforts. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, this led to the postponement of several high-cost and image-driven events, including the Future Games, which have now been rescheduled for 2026.

9 months ago

Economy

Kazakhstan’s Economy Posts Fastest Growth in 14 Years

Kazakhstan’s economy expanded by 6.2% in the first half of 2025, marking the country’s fastest growth rate since 2011. The data was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin during a government meeting. Zhumangarin noted that a similar level of growth was last recorded in the first half of 2011, when GDP increased by 7.1%, eventually reaching 7.5% for the full year. Since then, annual growth rates have rarely surpassed 6%. By comparison, the economy grew 4.8% in 2024. “The current figure is 0.2 percentage points higher than the growth recorded in the first five months of this year and is the highest in the last 14 years. For context, growth during the same period in 2024 was just 3.2%,” Zhumangarin said. He cited the real sector (+8%) and the services sector (+5.2%) as the primary drivers. Key Growth Sectors Transport (+22.7%) and construction (+18.4%) led the surge, driven in part by a 35.2% increase in grain and flour exports, which totaled 11.8 million tons. The mining industry also posted steady gains, with oil production rising 11.6% and coal production up 11.7%, contributing to overall mining growth of 8.4%. Manufacturing expanded by 5.5%, buoyed by strong performances in machinery (+11.1%), food production (+10%), oil refining (+9.6%), metal products (+14.6%), construction materials (+8.6%), and chemicals (+7%). Agricultural output rose by 3.7%. Trade and Investment Outlook From January to May 2025, Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover reached $53.5 billion. Exports stood at $29.8 billion, including $10.2 billion in high value-added products. Imports rose by 2.2% to $23.8 billion, resulting in a positive trade balance of $6 billion. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reaffirmed the government’s ambition to double Kazakhstan’s GDP by 2029, a goal originally set in 2023. “Last year, our GDP was $286 billion. This year, we expect to surpass the $300 billion mark. If current growth rates hold, we are capable of reaching $450 billion by 2029,” Bektenov stated at a press briefing. He emphasized that the government is investing in industrial development, economic diversification, and high value-added production to ensure that the majority of national revenue and profits remain within Kazakhstan. Diverging Forecasts Earlier this year, the Eurasian Development Bank forecast Kazakhstan’s GDP growth at 5.5% for 2025, with similar rates expected for 2026 and 2027. However, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently downgraded its 2025 forecast from 5.2% to 4.9%, citing potential risks to oil output.

9 months ago

OPEC

Kazakhstan Reaffirms OPEC+ Commitment While Seeking to Renegotiate Investor Contracts

Kazakhstan has confirmed it will remain a part of the OPEC+ agreement on oil production cuts, despite persistently exceeding its allocated quotas. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday, while also revealing that the government is initiating negotiations to revise production sharing agreements (PSAs) with foreign investors operating in the country’s largest oil and gas fields. The OPEC+ agreement, an alliance between OPEC members and non-OPEC oil-producing countries, including Kazakhstan, aims to coordinate output to stabilize global energy markets. Under the current deal, signed in December 2023, member states voluntarily committed to cutting combined oil production by 2.17 million barrels per day through the end of 2026. However, Kazakhstan has consistently exceeded its quota in recent months. According to the Ministry of Energy, oil exports in June 2025 reached 1.86 million barrels per day, 80,000 more than in May and nearly 500,000 barrels above the country’s voluntary limit. The surge is primarily attributed to the expansion of the Tengiz oil field, one of Kazakhstan’s largest energy projects. The $49 billion Future Growth Project is already operational and is expected to boost annual output by 12 million tons, or roughly 260,000 barrels per day, an increase of nearly 40%. Acknowledging the challenges of meeting OPEC+ targets, Bektenov emphasized Kazakhstan’s continued commitment to the deal: “We are not considering withdrawing from the OPEC+ agreement, as we believe it is useful and contributes to stability in the oil market,” Bektenov stated. “We will strive to fulfill our obligations, but with national interests in mind.” At the same time, Bektenov underscored the government’s limited control over production levels at key fields such as Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan, where foreign investors hold substantial stakes. “We cannot demand that our partners reduce production, as they have made significant investments and are counting on a return,” he said. To address this issue, Kazakhstan has begun discussions with investors to revise existing PSAs, aiming to secure a greater share of national revenues from energy production. “There is a view that the country’s interests are not fully reflected in the existing agreements. We are starting a dialogue on new agreements for a new period,” Bektenov said. “At the same time, we will act carefully to maintain the investment climate.” This dual strategy, upholding international commitments while seeking more favorable terms, illustrates Kazakhstan’s intent to balance global cooperation with national economic priorities. PSAs for the country’s three main oil fields are due to expire in the coming decades: Tengiz in 2033, Karachaganak in 2037, and Kashagan in 2041. Together, these fields account for approximately two-thirds of Kazakhstan’s total oil output, 67 million out of 90 million tons annually. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government in January to begin seeking revisions to the PSA terms well ahead of their expiration.

9 months ago