Central Asian Business Leaders Expand Business Ties in South Africa
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A working business forum was held in Johannesburg with the participation of entrepreneurs from Central Asian countries and Russia. The event was organized by the Davlatov Group of Companies in partnership with the Central Asia Group, with the support of the Embassies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Georgia in the Republic of South Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The event brought together representatives of the business communities of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Russia, operating in various sectors of the economy, including the industrial sector, telecommunications, retail trade, agribusiness, logistics, construction, education, distribution, and the jewelry industry. The South African side was represented by delegates from the business community and expert organizations.
During the forum, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerkin Akhinzhanov, noted the consistent efforts to expand trade, economic, and investment cooperation with countries of Southern Africa, and emphasized the growing potential for interregional cooperation between Central Asian countries and states of the African continent.
Particular attention was given to the development of transport and logistics connectivity between regions, including the significance of the Middle Corridor as a strategic route aimed at enhancing the resilience of global supply chains, diversifying transport flows, and expanding access to new markets.
Following the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the South Africa and Kazakhstan Trading and Culture Association (SAKTCA) and the Central Asia Group (CAG). The document is aimed at developing a sustainable platform for interaction between business communities, as well as strengthening trade, economic, investment, cultural, and educational ties.
As part of the visit, the delegation familiarized itself with the activities of enterprises and infrastructure facilities in the Gauteng and Western Cape provinces, covering key sectors of the South African economy, including mining, agribusiness, and export-oriented logistics. Meetings were also held with representatives of the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce, during which prospects for expanding direct business contacts and further developing economic cooperation between business communities were discussed.
Background: The South Africa and Kazakhstan Trading and Culture Association (SAKTCA), established in 2024, is an organization aimed at promoting and strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of South Africa in the fields of trade, investment, culture, education, tourism, and public initiatives. The Association serves as a platform for interaction between businesses, institutions, and expert communities of both countries.
The Central Asia Group (CAG), established in 2003, is an international consulting company specializing in market entry, risk analysis, and strategic business advisory services in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
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Kazakhstan and Thailand Discussed New Opportunities for Economic Cooperation
Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Thailand, Margulan Baimukhan, held a meeting with Adis Harinsut, Adviser of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand and Chanthapat Panjamanond, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade of the Ministry of Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
Parties discussed the current state and prospects of Kazakhstan-Thailand trade and economic cooperation, as well as measures to further expand bilateral trade, investment, and business ties.
Particular attention was paid to preparations for the first meeting of the Kazakhstan-Thailand Joint Trade Committee, which is tentatively scheduled to take place in September this year. The parties also discussed the need to enhance the work of sectoral cooperation mechanisms, including the Working Group on Agriculture and cooperation in the field of transport and logistics.
Ambassador Baimukhan emphasized the importance of further strengthening the bilateral legal framework, including advancing the Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments and the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation. It was noted that these agreements would contribute to expanding investment cooperation and creating a more favorable environment for business.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the development of international transport corridors and the removal of logistical barriers, including routes passing through China and Central Asia. The Kazakh side expressed interest in more actively utilizing Kazakhstan’s potential as a transport, logistics, and trade hub for facilitating Thai companies’ access to the markets of Central Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Special attention was also paid to prospects for expanding cooperation in agriculture, food security, logistics, digital technologies, and the implementation of joint projects in third-country markets, including African states.
The Thai side expressed its interest in further developing cooperation with Kazakhstan, noting the high potential of the Kazakh market and the positive perception of Thai products among Kazakh consumers.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close cooperation in trade, investment, and logistics, and underscored the importance of sustaining an active dialogue between relevant government agencies and business communities of the two countries in order to realize the full potential of Kazakhstan-Thailand partnership.
Bilateral trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Thailand amounted to USD 255.1 million in 2025. Kazakhstan remains Thailand’s largest trading partner in Central Asia. Significant potential for further growth exists in the areas of agribusiness, food industry, logistics, digital economy, tourism, and investment cooperation.
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Kazakhstan and Hail Agree to Enhance Cooperation in Investment and Agro-Industrial Sectors
Within the framework of the visit to Hail Province, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Madiyar Menilbekov, held a series of high-level meetings with the regional leadership and business community representatives, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the visit, talks were held with the Governor of Hail Province, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The parties highlighted the high level of political and economic relations between the two nations and discussed avenues for deepening interregional cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on the prospects of joint implementation of potential investment and agricultural projects.
At the meeting with the CEO of the Regional Development Authority, Omar bin Abdullah Al-Abduljabbar, the sides reviewed the province’s infrastructure and urban development plans. The interlocutors exchanged views on sharing experience and expertise in logistics, mining, smart city technologies, and tourism.
Furthermore, mechanisms for increasing bilateral trade volume were discussed with the Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ali bin Bandar Alsdairi. The agenda focused on organizing joint investment events, B2B meetings, as well as boosting the export and import of agricultural products.
Following the negotiations with the leadership of Hail Province, agreements were reached to establish working-level contacts for the practical execution of investment partnerships and agro-industrial cooperation.
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Kazakhstan’s Digital Transformation Experience Draws Kuwait’s Interest
Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the State of Kuwait Yerzhan Yelekeyev held a meeting with Acting Director General of the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) of the State of Kuwait, Najat Hussein Ibrahim, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The Ambassador briefed the Kuwaiti side on the digital transformation reforms being implemented in Kazakhstan, highlighting the establishment of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, as well as the country's achievements in building a modern digital ecosystem for public services.
It was noted that Kazakhstan ranks 24th among 193 countries in the UN E-Government Development Index and is among the global leaders in the development of online public services.
The Ambassador also noted that, at the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 2026 has been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan. Within this framework, the country is implementing comprehensive measures aimed at developing artificial intelligence, strengthening digital infrastructure, training IT specialists, and introducing advanced technologies into public administration and the economy.
The Kazakh side also presented the capabilities of the national e-government system, through which citizens and businesses have access to more than one thousand public services in digital format, enabling most services to be obtained remotely and significantly improving the efficiency of interaction with government agencies.
For its part, the Kuwaiti side expressed interest in studying Kazakhstan's experience in digital governance and the implementation of electronic public services, noting the country's significant achievements in this field.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to organize an online meeting between the relevant authorities of the two countries in the near future to discuss practical areas of cooperation, as well as to explore the possibility of mutual visits aimed at exchanging experience and strengthening practical collaboration.
The Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) is the authorized government body of the State of Kuwait responsible for the digital transformation of the public sector, the development of e-government and information technologies, and the implementation of the country's national digital strategy.
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Central Asian Countries Reaffirm Commitment to the Principles of the UN Charter
The Permanent Representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the United Nations took part in the UN80 commemorative event marking the anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
Ahead of the anniversary, President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock invited Member States to reaffirm their commitment to the UN Charter through the signing of a symbolic document reflecting the core values and aspirations set out in its Preamble.
The countries of Central Asia became the first regional group to join the initiative collectively. Their participation underscored the region’s shared commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, multilateralism, international law and mutually beneficial cooperation.
UN Charter Day is observed annually on 26 June, commemorating the signing of the Charter of the United Nations in San Francisco on 26 June 1945.
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Kazakhstan and Serbia Discuss Cooperation within International Organizations in Belgrade
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Serbia Madi Atamkulov met with Damjan Jović, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed topics on the agenda of bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Serbia, as well as synchronized their positions on cooperation between the foreign ministries in a multilateral format.
Ambassador Atamkulov thanked his Serbian colleagues for their traditional support of Kazakhstan’s international initiatives; in turn, State Secretary Jović reaffirmed Belgrade’s commitment to further deepening its partnership with the Republic of Kazakhstan.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their intention to continue regular dialogue and expand cooperation on the international stage.
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Kazakhstan and Türkiye Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthening Cooperation on International Legal Issues
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Consultations on international legal issues between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Türkiye were held in Ankara, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The Kazakh side was represented by Dastan Suleimenov, Director of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, while the Turkish side was represented by Firat Sunel, Director General of the Department of International Law and Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.
The current state and prospects for further improvement of the treaty and legal framework of bilateral relations were discussed.
In addition, the sides discussed legal aspects of cooperation within the framework of international and regional organizations and exchanged views on current issues of international law.
The consultations were held in a constructive atmosphere and confirmed the mutual interest in strengthening cooperation between the legal services of the foreign ministries of the two countries.
By agreement of the sides, the next round of consultations will be held in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
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First Kazakhstan-Spain Forum Opened New Prospects for Partnership
Arman Issetov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Diego Martínez, State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain took part in the first Kazakhstan-Spain Forum was held today in Astana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
Deputy Minister noted the active economic cooperation between the two countries. It was highlighted that many leading Spanish companies have successfully established themselves in the country's market, including Airbus, Maxam, Talgo, Técnicas Reunidas, Glovo, Roca, and Inditex.
Arman Issetov stressed on promising areas of cooperation - from transport and logistics to renewable energy, digital technologies, water resource management, advanced manufacturing, and agribusiness. "Kazakhstan acts as a strategic bridge between Europe and Asia, and Spain brings internationally recognized experience in infrastructure, innovation, sustainable development, tourism, and industrial modernization," the Deputy Minister added.
The event included three panel sessions on the topics "The European Union's Strategy for Central Asia: The Role of Kazakhstan and Spain," "Sustainable Urban Infrastructure, Logistics, and Business Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Spain," and "Tourism and Sports: Best Practices and Current Challenges in Kazakhstan and Spain." The Kazakh side was represented by representatives of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Maqsut Narikbayev University, Kazakhstan Center for Modernization and Development of Housing and Public Utilities, Kazakhstan Football Federation, Kazakh Tourism.
The forum focused on prospects for cooperation in tourism, sports, and education. Following the event, agreements were reached to continue active dialogue to develop the bilateral partnership.
Last year, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Spain amounted to $1.93 billion. From 2005 to 2025, Kazakhstan attracted approximately $345 million in direct investment from Spain. 35 joint ventures operate in Kazakhstan.
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Data Center Valley: Kazakhstan Government, Firebird, and NVIDIA Sign $10 Billion Package of Agreements in Artificial Intelligence
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Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with NVIDIA Vice President Rev Lebaredian and Firebird co-founders Razmig Hovaghimian, Chief Executive Officer, and Alexander Yesayan. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC Kazakhtelecom Bagdat Mussin, and U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie Stufft, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
U.S.-based Firebird specializes in AI infrastructure, data center development, and high-performance computing systems. The company delivers projects across multiple regions worldwide and collaborates with leading technology partners, including NVIDIA, the global leader in artificial intelligence, accelerated computing, and digital infrastructure. NVIDIA technologies power many of the world's leading supercomputers and data centers and serve as the foundation for a significant share of today's generative AI models.
The meeting focused on the development of Kazakhstan’s national AI infrastructure, including the deployment of high-performance computing capacity, construction of advanced data centers, and attraction of international technology partners.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure development are among Kazakhstan’s highest national priorities.
By the decision of the Head of State, 2026 has been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. This week, Kazakhstan adopted the National Strategy for Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Development, ‘Digital Qazaqstan’. One of the flagship projects currently being implemented is the Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz. Our goal is to create a platform capable of hosting global digital infrastructure. We highly value the agreements reached with our partners at Firebird and NVIDIA," said Olzhas Bektenov.
The Prime Minister highlighted the key advantages of the Data Center Valley project, including a large land reserve, investment incentives, and competitive electricity costs. A critical factor for investors is the project’s scalability. While 300 MW of power capacity is already available, the project is designed for phased expansion to 1 GW.
Firebird Co-Founder and CEO Razmig Hovaghimian emphasized Kazakhstan’s strong potential for digital infrastructure development.
I would like to acknowledge the President’s vision in declaring 2026 the Year of AI. When we first visited Kazakhstan, it quickly became clear to us that the country’s ambition, expertise, and talent are truly world-class. Countries that invest today in advanced AI computing infrastructure, talent development, and innovation ecosystems will shape the economic opportunities of tomorrow. Firebird combines expertise in deploying cutting-edge U.S. technologies, deep partnerships across the global AI ecosystem, and the ability to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects securely and at exceptional speed. The launch planned for 2027 will place Kazakhstan among the world’s top ten countries in AI infrastructure. We have an incredible team, extraordinary opportunities ahead, and we are excited to work with the Government of Kazakhstan, NVIDIA, and our partners in the United States to help turn Kazakhstan’s vision into reality," said Razmig Hovaghimian.
NVIDIA Vice President Rev Lebaredian presented key technological approaches and solutions for the implementation of the Data Center Valley project, as well as Kazakhstan’s integration into the global AI ecosystem.
To develop artificial intelligence, we need what we call a five-layer cake. The most important layer is the application layer. This is where we take all the technologies from the lower layers and transform them into solutions for different industries and sectors, creating real value and tangible benefits. But everything begins with energy. If you do not have energy, you cannot build the rest. It is the foundation. Kazakhstan has energy. Because the country has it in abundance and can generate even more, it is an excellent place to start. In fact, Kazakhstan has the potential to participate at every level of this five-layer cake. Based on what I have seen, what I have read, and what I am witnessing during my visit here, the spirit and determination of Kazakhstan are clearly focused on moving forward and leveraging both its natural resources and its human capital to enter the new era of artificial intelligence," said Rev Lebaredian.
Participants noted that global demand for projects of this nature is growing rapidly. According to international analysts, the global AI market is expected to exceed hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years, while demand for computing capacity required to train and operate AI models continues to grow at double-digit rates annually. As a result, countries are increasingly competing not only for technology and talent, but also for the infrastructure that forms the foundation of the next-generation digital economy.
At the instruction of the Head of State, Kazakhstan is systematically building the national infrastructure required to advance artificial intelligence. The Data Center Valley project is set to become one of the key platforms underpinning the country’s emerging AI token economy.
The planned $10 billion investment will enable Kazakhstan to establish a large-scale computing cluster powered by 100,000 state-of-the-art GPU chips, including NVIDIA GB300 and Vera Rubin. According to our estimates, the project will generate at least $3 billion in annual export revenue, create new high-skilled jobs, attract leading global technology companies, and further strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as one of Eurasia’s key digital hubs," said Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Under the directive of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, we are building a world-class data center in Ekibastuz. In essence, Kazakhstan is transforming Ekibastuz coal into digital export revenue. The energy generated from coal is being converted into a high-tech, export-oriented service that will be sold globally to some of the world’s largest companies. This is a joint venture, and our partners at Firebird already have secured service agreements with major global players, which will help generate foreign currency revenues for Kazakhstan," said Bagdat Mussin, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC Kazakhtelecom.
For Kazakhstan, the development of advanced data centers and computing platforms creates opportunities to attract investment, localize digital services, train engineering talent, and establish new export-oriented technology sectors. The availability of domestic high-performance infrastructure will also support scientific research, startup development, cloud services, and AI solutions within the country.
Following the meeting, agreements on artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure cooperation totaling $10 billion were signed, including:
A Strategic Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Firebird, establishing a framework for AI ecosystem development and the creation of Firebird Labs Kazakhstan at Alem.ai.
A Binding Term Sheet between JSC Kazakhtelecom and Firebird outlining the technical and organizational parameters of cooperation within the Data Center Valley project.
The agreements provide the foundation for the next phase of the Data Center Valley initiative, which aims to establish a modern technological platform for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and next-generation digital services. The signed agreements reflect growing interest from global technology companies in Kazakhstan as a destination for AI infrastructure investment and strengthen the country’s position as one of the emerging digital hubs of Central Eurasia.
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