Astana, October 3, 2025 – The Europe Today: Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a prestigious award ceremony in Astana to mark the 10th anniversary of the “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media” contest. The event recognized international journalists whose works have significantly contributed to promoting Kazakhstan’s culture, economy, and modern development on the global stage.
Among the distinguished winners was Belgium’s Derya Soysal, honored in the field of economy. Soysal serves as Editor-in-Chief of EUReflect, Partner of The Gulf Observer, and Special Director for Europe and Central Asia at The Gulf Observer. She received her award from the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan at the Foreign Office in Astana.
Speaking to The Astana Times, Soysal expressed her gratitude, stating, “I’m very happy to have this award because it will give me motivation to write many more articles on Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan supports foreign journalists and gives us real motivation to write about the country. It is going to be a major power in Central Asia, and also a bridge between Europe and Asia.”
Other award recipients included Pakistan’s Muhammad Ali Pasha in Digitalization, Uzbekistan’s Akpanbetova Arukhan in Culture and History, the United States’ Matthew Fitzgerald in Sports, and Armenia’s Marianna Mkrtchian in Tourism.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the contest continues to strengthen international media engagement with Kazakhstan, showcasing the country’s achievements and its growing role on the global stage.
