The Astana Times

What The Astana Times does

The Astana Times is an English-language digital news publication focused on Kazakhstan and Central Asia, founded in November 2010 by the Regional Non-Profit Organization Guild of Independent Journalists and registered with the Kazakh Ministry of Communications under registration number N 11208-G. The outlet serves international decision makers, the expatriate community in Kazakhstan, and the global public interested in Central Asian political, economic, business, and cultural affairs, operating as the leading English-language news source for the region. Its core product is the astanatimes.com website, built on a WordPress-based content management system, which organizes coverage into sections including Nation, International, Business, Central Asia, Regional Eco Summit, and Opinions.

Supporting products include a YouTube channel (@TheAstanaTimes) featuring news digests, expert interviews, and documentary-style video content; an email newsletter subscription service for direct reader delivery; and a Kazakhstan Region Profiles section for localized coverage. Distribution is exclusively digital and global, spanning the website, YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok, with a team of approximately 15 staff members led by Editor-in-Chief Zhanna Shayakhmetova. The business model is advertising and sponsorships, with all content freely accessible and no paywall. The publication has earned recognition from the OSCE, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations for journalism covering international institutions and climate issues, and maintains ongoing editorial relationships with international organizations and government entities operating in Kazakhstan.

Name

The Astana Times

Legal name

Regional Non-Profit Organization Guild of Independent Journalists

Website

https://astanatimes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Astana Times is a non-profit, English-language digital news publication covering Kazakhstan and Central Asia for international decision makers, expatriates, and global audiences via a WordPress website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms, funded by advertising and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online News Publication

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

Keywords

• English-language news
• Central Asia coverage
• Digital journalism
• News website
• Video news content

Headquarters

HQ city

Sultan

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Sponsorships: The Astana Times operates as a news publication likely generating revenue through advertising on its website and potentially through sponsored content. The publication is published by Regional Non-Profit Organization Guild of Independent Journalists and is registered with the Kazakh Ministry of Communications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Astana Times is an English-language digital news publication that produces and distributes original journalism about Kazakhstan and Central Asia through its website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms. It covers politics, economy, business, culture, sports, international relations, and regional affairs, serving international decision makers, expatriates, and a global public interested in Kazakh and Central Asian affairs. The content is freely accessible to readers and supported by advertising.

Product overview

The Astana Times is a unified digital news platform offering comprehensive English-language coverage of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The core product is the astanatimes.com news website, which serves as the primary publication channel. Supporting this are the Astana Times YouTube Channel for multimedia content, an email subscription service for direct reader delivery, and a Kazakhstan Region Profiles section for localized coverage. The publication is published by the Regional Non-Profit Organization Guild of Independent Journalists and was founded in November 2010.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Astana Times Website A comprehensive English-language digital news publication providing news, opinions, analysis, and multimedia content about Kazakhstan and Central Asia to international decision-makers, expats, and global audiences.
• Astana Times YouTube Channel A YouTube channel featuring interviews with experts on politics and social sector, weekly digest news, and video series about Kazakh language, culture, and special events.
• Email Newsletter Subscription An email subscription service that sends notifications of newly posted stories and new issue publications directly to subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Comprehensive coverage spanning Nation (Astana, Culture, Sports, People, Kazakhstan Regions, State of the Nation), International (Astana International Forum, SCO, World Nomad Games), Business, Central Asia, Regional Eco Summit, and Opinions sections

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025The Astana Times provides coverage of Kazakhstan's participation in UNESCO events and initiatives. The publication covers the country's engagement with UNESCO including cultural diplomacy, AI ethics initiatives, Turkic heritage projects, and national commission activities. Kazakhstan was elected vice president of UNESCO's General Conference and serves on the World Heritage Committee.
• European Investment BankminorOthersThe Astana Times covers EIB financing and partnership developments with Kazakhstan, including loans for transport connectivity and infrastructure projects. EIB agreed to lend up to 150 million euros to Kazakh National Road Company for Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor upgrades.
• Kazakh Ministry of TransportminorOthersThe Astana Times receives information and data from the Kazakh Ministry of Transport regarding cargo volumes, infrastructure developments, and transport corridor statistics.
• Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)minorOthersThe Astana Times covers Kazakhstan's meetings with MSC executives regarding container shipping and Middle Corridor development. MSC is one of the world's largest container shipping lines operating in Kazakhstan.
• Groupe ADPminorOthersThe Astana Times covers Paris airport operator Groupe ADP's involvement in developing Almaty International Airport, including the new terminal construction and long-term master plan implementation.
• Inditex GroupminorOthersThe Astana Times covers Inditex Group's expansion plans in Kazakhstan, including regional logistics hub development at Almaty and Karagandy airports and potential textile manufacturing operations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eurasianet: Non-profit news organization providing English-language coverage of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia. Closest comparable: similar non-profit structure, English-language focus on Central Asia, and reliance on international donor/grant funding rather than paywalls.
• Caspian News: English-language news agency covering the Caspian region including Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Directly comparable in language, geographic focus, and B2B/sponsored content business model targeting international audiences.
• Times of Central Asia: English-language news outlet covering Central Asian politics, business, and culture. Direct competitor for the same niche audience of international decision makers, expats, and globally interested readers in the Kazakhstan/Central Asia English-language news market.

Broad incumbents

• Reuters: Global news agency with growing Central Asia bureau presence. Competes for the same international business and policy audience seeking English-language Kazakhstan/Central Asia news, with substantially larger resources.
• Al Jazeera English: Major international news network with dedicated Central Asia coverage. Larger global reach but overlapping audience of international decision makers and policy analysts interested in Central Asian affairs.
• Foreign Policy: International affairs magazine covering global geopolitics including Central Asia. Serves overlapping policy analyst and diplomatic audiences with English-language analysis of Kazakhstan and the broader region.
• Nikkei Asia: Asia-focused business and economics publication covering emerging themes including Central Asia's critical minerals and Middle Corridor. Overlaps in audience and topic coverage with broader geographic scope.
• The Diplomat: International online magazine covering geopolitics, economics, and society across the Asia-Pacific, including Central Asia. Operates at a wider geographic scope but serves overlapping international decision-maker audience with English-language regional analysis.
• Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: US-funded international broadcaster with extensive Central Asia coverage in local and English languages. Much larger and more established, but covers the same Kazakhstan/Central Asia beat and serves overlapping international audiences.
• BBC News: Global public broadcaster with Central Asia coverage. Reaches the same international decision-maker and expat audience but operates at vastly larger scale and broader geographic remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheAstanaTimes
• Facebookfacebook.com/astanatimes
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_astana_times
• Xx.com/TheAstanaTimes
• TikToktiktok.com/@theastanatimes_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-astana-times

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Astana Times