Direct flight may link Nur-Sultan and Tel Aviv
Talgat Lastayev, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, met with Ambassador of the State of Israel Liat Vekselman to discuss the launch of the direct flight linking Kazakhstan and Israel.
Talgat Lastayev, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, met with Ambassador of the State of Israel Liat Vekselman to discuss the launch of the direct flight linking Kazakhstan and Israel, the committee informs.
At the moment, airlines of both countries are entitled to operate seven regular passenger flights and two regular cargo flights between Kazakhstan and Israel.
In order to further develop relations and increase the tourist flow between Kazakhstan and Israel, Ambassador Vekselman proposed to launch the direct air service between the two countries by providing the fifth freedom to China’s Hainan Airlines operating direct passenger flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai.
Wrapping up the meeting, the sides agreed to continue their work on the establishment of direct air service between the two countries.
Source: Kazinform News Agency
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Panel Discussion on "80 Years of the UN and Kazakhstan’s Role: the Future of Multilateralism" was Held in Astana
Images | Kazakh MFA
A panel discussion dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the United Nations was held at the Presidential Center. The event was attended by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Akan Rakhmetullin, and the Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, Steven O'Malley. The panelists included the Ambassador of Brazil to Kazakhstan, Marcel Fortuna Biato, Director of the Research Institute "Public Opinion," Botagoz Rakisheva, the Ambassador of Turkiye to Kazakhstan, Mustafa Kapudji, and the Head of the International Security Department of the KISI, Dauren Aben. Among the attendees were heads of diplomatic missions, international organizations, and media representatives, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During the discussion, participants addressed relevant issues on the international agenda, which are in focus for the UN’s anniversary year, as well as Kazakhstan’s contribution to the development of multilateral diplomacy and the country’s efforts to promote peacebuilding initiatives, including nuclear disarmament, strengthening regional security, and supporting an inclusive global order.
In his speech, Rakhmetullin emphasized the strategic role of the UN in addressing global challenges and noted that, in this context, Kazakhstan continues to actively contribute to international cooperation and supports a multipolar approach in solving the problems faced by the global community.
As President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has stated, ‘there is no alternative to this universal organization.’ The 80th anniversary of the UN is not just a celebration, but also an important milestone for reflecting on the role of multilateralism in today’s world. We are confident that only through joint efforts and international cooperation can we effectively address global challenges," said the Kazakh diplomat.
As we mark the UN’s 80th anniversary, we must reaffirm our shared commitment to international cooperation and ensure that global governance structures remain effective and adaptable. Kazakhstan has consistently demonstrated leadership in fostering peace and stability, and this discussion provides an opportunity to shape a collective vision for the future," noted O'Malley.
The event allowed participants to discuss pressing issues related to global security and sustainable development in the context of a multipolar world. During the discussion, participants explored changes in the international system, driven by the accelerating pace of globalization and the development of new technologies. The issue of adapting the UN to new challenges and the importance of further strengthening the role of the organization in maintaining peace and global security was also addressed.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakhstan and Oman: New Horizons of Cooperation
Images | Kazakh MFA
Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi, who arrived in Astana on an official visit, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
This marks the first official visit by Oman’s top diplomat to Kazakhstan, opening new opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, the ministers engaged in discussions on a broad range of issues pertaining to political, economic, and cultural cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on the prospects for collaboration in key sectors such as energy, transport, logistics, finance, and agriculture.
Both sides highlighted the importance of enhancing transit routes, acknowledging the strategic potential of Kazakhstan and Oman as regional logistics hubs. In this context, the important coordinating role of the Kazakhstan-Oman Intergovernmental Commission, the first meeting of which is scheduled for the second half of 2025, was noted.
Oman is a key partner for Kazakhstan in the Middle East. Our nations share significant opportunities to deepen and expand cooperation," stated Minister Nurtleu.
In turn, Minister Al-Busaidi, emphasizing the role of Astana as a leading economic partner of Oman in Central Asia, confirmed the firm commitment to bring the bilateral cooperation to a new level and proposed to consider the possibility of establishing direct flights between the countries.
In this vein, Oman’s initiative to establish a Private Equity Fund for Kazakhstan and neighboring countries to realize the potential of trade and economic interaction was noted and supported.
Ministers agreed that strengthening economic ties also creates opportunities for expanding cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Thus, last year the number of Kazakh citizens who visited Oman increased by 37% and reached 21 thousand people.
In this regard, the Kazakh side welcomed the decision of the Government of Oman to extend visa-free regime for the citizens of Kazakhstan up to 30 days, which will contribute to the increase of tourist flow and simplification of mutual travel, opening additional prospects for cooperation in various areas.
The two sides also exchanged views on pressing regional and global issues and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening engagement between foreign ministries.
Following the meeting, a Roadmap for Cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Oman was signed, defining promising areas for further collaboration.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
New Horizons of Cooperation: Kazakhstan and Nigeria Discuss Investments and Technology
Images | Kazakh MFA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov held meetings with senior officials from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and other key government agencies. These discussions as part of the official visit of the Kazakh delegation are aimed to enhance economic and political cooperation between the two nations, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During talks with Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, the two sides explored opportunities for strengthening collaboration on international platforms, including the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and other multilateral formats. The discussions also covered economic cooperation, with an emphasis on boosting direct engagement between the business communities of both countries.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan underscored the importance of strengthening ties with Nigeria, noting that the meeting between the presidents of Kazakhstan and Nigeria in Abu Dhabi in January 2025 set an ambitious pace for cooperation and outlined promising areas of engagement. "To enhance trade relations, we propose establishing direct connections between the business sectors of Kazakhstan and Nigeria, organizing trade missions, and addressing bilateral trade challenges together. Strengthening these ties will create new opportunities for business partnerships and deepen economic cooperation between our countries", said Kuantyrov.
In his meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, the discussions focused on exploration, extraction, transportation, and refining of oil and petroleum products. Kazakhstan and Nigeria expressed interest in exploring potential deliveries of Kazakh oil for processing at Nigerian refineries. Minister Lokpobiri reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong interest in the partnership, highlighting that, despite being one of the world’s largest oil producers, Nigeria requires additional crude supplies to meet domestic demand and expand petroleum product exports.
The Kazakh delegation also held talks with Nigeria’s Minister of Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, discussing potential collaboration in the natural gas sector, including supply agreements, gas processing technologies, and the involvement of Kazakh companies in developing Nigeria’s gas infrastructure. Minister Ekpo emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to transitioning to cleaner energy solutions, reducing carbon emissions, and building a sustainable economy.
During a meeting with Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Nura Abba Rimi, investment opportunities in the mining sector were reviewed, particularly in exploration and processing of mineral resources. The Kazakh delegation expressed interest in leveraging innovative processing technologies and establishing joint production facilities.
Additionally, Kazakhstan presented a list of over 300 product categories for export to Nigeria, while also expressing interest in direct imports of cocoa beans from Nigeria. Potential trade corridors for transporting goods between the two countries were discussed, with three possible routes currently under evaluation in cooperation with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport.
The visit also included a meeting with the Managing Director of NEXIM Nigeria, the country’s leading export-import financing institution. The discussions concluded with an agreement to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between NEXIM Nigeria and Kazakhstan’s Export Credit Agency, paving the way for future financial cooperation.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Issues of Cooperation with Spain were Discussed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan
Images | Kazakh MFA
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akan Rakhmetullin met with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of Kazakhstan Luis Francisco Martinez, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During the conversation the parties discussed the state and prospects of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the political, trade, investment, and cultural spheres, as well as contacts in multilateral formats.
First Deputy Minister Rakhmetullin noted that Spain is a reliable strategic partner of Kazakhstan in the EU and expressed wishes for the fruitful results of the upcoming meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission and the Kazakhstan-Spain Business Council in March 2025 in Madrid.
The Spanish diplomat confirmed the intention to strengthen cooperation across the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.