Kazakhstan elected as Vice-Chair of the ICESCO Executive Council
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Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Morocco and Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Saulekul Sailaukyzy participated in the 46th session of the ICESCO Executive Council at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The session was conducted in a hybrid format with the participation of 44 representatives from 53 Member States. The working sessions covered activity reports of ICESCO's sectors, divisions, and specialized centers, and featured discussions on the Organization's Draft Strategic Plan 2026-2029, which integrates the Sustainable Development Goals into ICESCO’s institutional framework.
ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim Al-Malik highlighted the Organization’s continued commitment to reform and modernization, noting that the Organization has recently obtained around fifteen accreditations and certifications across various fields. He further pointed out that the forthcoming session will see the development of a strategy that goes beyond phased planning to anticipate post-2030 requirements.
The Kazakh delegation, in turn, took an active part in the discussion of key agenda items, articulating the country’s positions on the advancement of cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture across the Islamic world.
Particular attention was given to the request of Turkmenistan to join the Organization as an Observer State. Elections were also held for the new Chair of the Executive Council, members of the Council Bureau, and the Financial Control Committee.
As an outcome of the session, Kazakhstan was elected as Vice-Chair of the ICESCO Executive Council. This reflects the high level of confidence that the Organization’s Member States place in the Kazakh side, and reaffirms Astana’s active role in advancing multilateral cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture.
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Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan Opened in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
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A ceremonial opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan took place in Rostock, the largest city of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The event was attended by State Secretary for Economy, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Jochen Schulte, the State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior and Construction, Ina-Maria Ulbrich, the Parliamentary State Secretary for Western Pomerania and Eastern Mecklenburg, Heiko Miraß, Lord Mayor of Rostock Eva-Maria Kröger, as well as representatives of local political, business and public circles and the media.
In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Germany, Nurlan Onzhanov, highlighted the high level of strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Germany, emphasizing the growing role of interregional cooperation and business contacts. He expressed confidence that the opening of the Honorary Consulate would become an effective instrument for promoting economic, investment, humanitarian and regional ties, and would also contribute to a stronger presence of Kazakhstani businesses in the region.
For his part, State Secretary for Economy, Infrastructure and Tourism of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Jochen Schulte, noted that the opening of the Honorary Consulate in Rostock marks an important step in further strengthening German-Kazakh relations. According to him, this development reflects the steady growth of partnership between the two countries, fosters interregional cooperation, and expands business ties.
Johann Killinger was appointed Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Rostock and was ceremonially presented with the consular patent. Johann Killinger is the Managing Partner of "Buss Group GmbH" and has also served as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the federal state of Hamburg since 2013. He has made a significant contribution to strengthening Kazakh-German humanitarian, economic and cultural relations at the regional level.
The appointment was made as part of the expansion of Johann Killinger’s consular district to include the federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg, and Schleswig-Holstein. The activities of the Honorary Consul (without the provision of consular services) will cover these federal states.
The guests of the event expressed confidence that the Honorary Consulate will become an important platform for dialogue among representatives of business, academia and culture, and will contribute to strengthening mutual understanding between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Germany.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, an informal exchange took place among the participants, during which prospects for further cooperation were discussed and concrete steps for developing partnerships at the regional level were outlined.
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Regional Ecological Summit Outcomes Discussed at Columbia University
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Columbia University hosted a roundtable discussion focused on identifying practical solutions for reducing plastic waste, advancing the circular economy, and ensuring a balance between Kazakhstan’s environmental commitments and economic priorities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The event was organized by Kazakh students with academic support from Columbia University professor Beizhan Yan, Executive Director of the Petrochemical Association of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gaini Seitenova, and Professor Eldar Kopishev, Head of the Department of Chemistry at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The discussion brought together members of the academic community and international experts.
One of the central topics of the discussion was the outcome of the Regional Ecological Summit (RES 2026), held in Astana on April 22-24, 2026, as well as the Summit’s final declaration, Ecological Solidarity of Central Asia, which reaffirmed the readiness of regional countries to pursue joint action in sustainable development, combating plastic pollution, waste management, and advancing a coordinated environmental agenda on international platforms.
Participants placed particular emphasis on the need to develop a balanced approach that takes into account both environmental objectives and the structure of Kazakhstan’s national economy, where the petrochemical sector remains an important component of industrial and investment development.
Welcome remarks were delivered by Alexis Abramson, Dean of the Columbia Climate School, and Rauan Tleulin, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in New York.
The Regional Ecological Summit in Astana sent an important signal of Central Asia’s readiness for closer environmental cooperation. The RES 2026 Declaration established a shared regional approach to sustainable development, including combating plastic pollution, advancing the circular economy, and promoting practical environmental solutions. It is especially important that these agreements continue not only at the level of political dialogue, but also through practical cooperation among government, academia, and business," said Rauan Tleulin.
During the expert discussion, Professor Beizhan Yan noted that RES 2026 set an important benchmark for moving from declarative environmental commitments to practical implementation. According to him, the outcomes of the Astana Summit confirmed that environmental sustainability must be addressed in close connection with economic stability, technological development, and industrial policy.
Gaini Seitenova emphasized the importance of a systemic approach to plastic waste management in Kazakhstan, including improved regulation, expansion of recycling capacity, and the introduction of technological solutions in the circular economy.
Participants underscored that the practical implementation of the RES 2026 agreements would strengthen regional cooperation and provide new momentum for Central Asia’s transition toward a more sustainable and economically balanced development model.
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Kazakh Foreign Deputy Minister received the Ambassador of Iran
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The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakaev received the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Akbar Jowkar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The diplomats discussed the current state and prospects of Kazakhstan-Iran cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to the implementation of previously reached agreements.
Particular attention was paid to trade, economic, transport and logistics cooperation, as well as to the importance of maintaining regular dialogue at all levels.
The meeting also addressed topical issues on the regional and international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East.
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Kuwait has Expressed Interest in Investing in Infrastructure Projects in Kazakhstan
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Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the State of Kuwait Yerzhan Yelekeyev held a meeting with Isam Al-Sager, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Group Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Kuwait, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects for the development of investment, trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Kuwait.
The Ambassador briefed the Kuwaiti side on Kazakhstan’s current economic performance, noting the country’s steady economic growth. It was emphasized that Kazakhstan demonstrates stable economic growth of around 5-6% annually, while the country’s gross domestic product exceeds USD 300 billion, reflecting its strengthening position among the largest economies in the region.
Particular attention was given to the Alatau City project, one of the largest urban development projects in Kazakhstan, being developed as a modern digital city of accelerated development - a next-generation city with advanced digital infrastructure. It was noted that the project has attracted significant interest from investors from Asia and USA. In this regard, the Kazakh side expressed its interest in attracting investors from the Gulf countries, including Kuwait, taking into account the strong interest of Kuwaiti businesses in projects related to real estate, construction and modern urban infrastructure.
In continuation of this topic, it was noted that a working visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev to the State of Kuwait is scheduled for this autumn. During the visit, investors will be provided with more detailed information on the Alatau City project and opportunities for participation in its implementation.
For their part, representatives of the NBK expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan and confirmed their readiness to support the development of investment cooperation. It was noted that the Bank will consider opportunities to participate in the implementation of investment projects in Kazakhstan.
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Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Participated in Investors Annual Meeting 2026
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Alibek Kuantyrov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, took part at the Investors Annual Meeting 2026, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The event brought together leading institutional investors, asset managers, and government officials to discuss the prospects for the investment climate in Central Asia.
Last year alone, gross FDI inflows reached $20.5 billion. By UNCTAD's count, Kazakhstan is the number one FDI destination in Central Asia.
Alibek Kuantyrov outlined the country's key advantages, including the location of 13 international transit corridors in Kazakhstan and the implementation of advanced digital logistics solutions. He also noted the country's extensive natural resource base, as well as its agriculture potential.
The Government provides comprehensive support for investment projects that includes financial and non-financial incentives. Additionally, a new state support tool - Investment agreement can be directly concluded with the Government," - the Deputy Minister emphasized.
As part of the forum, Alibek Kuantyrov held a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of leading international investment institutions.
BlackRock representatives discussed prospects for expanding the company's presence in Kazakhstan's digital and traditional asset markets.
During a meeting with Timur Akazhanov, General Partner at B Capital, the development of venture and private capital in the region was discussed.
Emanuela Cisini, Partner and Head of Middle East and Asia of Investindustrial, discussed opportunities for creating export-oriented manufacturing and integrating Kazakhstan into global value chains.
The holding of the Investors Annual Meeting 2026 underscores Kazakhstan's consistent policy of integrating into global capital markets and strengthening the country's investment image.
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