BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23. An additional
23.5 billion tenge (about $52.47 million) has been allocated for
the construction of a second runway at the international airport in
Shymkent, Kazakhstan, the press service of the government said.


Construction of the second runway at Shymkent International
Airport has been underway since October 2025.


The new runway will be 3,900 meters long and 75 meters wide. It
will be equipped with modern lighting systems and comply with
international standards, allowing the airport to receive aircraft
in difficult weather conditions and limited visibility.


The construction is linked to the condition of the airport's
existing runway. Its major overhaul was carried out in 2007, while
another repair is required in 2027. Carrying out the work would
result in a prolonged suspension of airport operations.


In addition, the existing runway needs to be extended in
accordance with a requirement issued by Kazakhstan's Aviation
Administration.


"The implementation of the project will ensure uninterrupted
airport operations during the further development of its
infrastructure, increase its capacity to receive heavy passenger
and cargo aircraft, expand international cargo transportation and
strengthen Shymkent's transit potential," the government press
service said.







The development of aviation infrastructure is in line with
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's task of turning Kazakhstan into a
major aviation hub in Eurasia, developing air hubs and integrating
them into global logistics chains.


Meanwhile, an additional 10 billion tenge (about $22.33 million)
has been allocated for a healthcare facility in Shymkent.


A new 200-bed perinatal center is being built in the Aksai
microdistrict. The medical facility will be designed to handle up
to 7,000 births annually and provide comprehensive medical care for
mothers and newborns.


In addition to obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatology
departments, the center will include neonatal surgery for treating
newborns with complex conditions. It will also have a diagnostic
laboratory, a facility for genetic research, and consultation and
rehabilitation departments.


The dollar conversions are based on an exchange rate of 447.85
tenge per $1.