Kazakhstan Delegation Took Part in the Extraordinary Session of the OIC Ministerial Meeting

On the margins of the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu met with the Foreign Ministers of Türkiye Hakan Fidan, Malaysia Mohamad Haji Hasan, Indonesia Sugiono, Pakistan Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Oman Badr Al-Busaidi, Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Bahrain Abdullatif Alzayani, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

During the meetings the sides discussed topical issues of further development of bilateral relations in political, trade, economic, and investment spheres, as well as the schedule of joint events for the current year.

Special attention was paid to the development of transit-transport, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

In addition, the ministers discussed the global agenda and agreed to continue active work within the framework of international organizations.

The outcome of the meetings confirmed the parties’ mutual interest in strengthening partnership and joint search for solutions to current challenges.

 

The business forum "Kazakhstan-Malaysia Discover the Heart of Eurasia" was held in the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. The event was organized by the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Penang State with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Malaysia, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

The event was attended by representatives of the state Government, as well as business, higher education institutions and media representatives. On Kazakhstan’s counterpart, presentations on investment and tourism opportunities were made by representatives of Kazakh Invest NC JSC, Kazakh Tourism NC JSC and Almaty Development Company under the Akimat of Almaty.

Kazakh Ambassador to Malaysia Bulat Sugurbayev noted that Kazakhstan considers Malaysia as a "strategic bridge" to Southeast Asia and is interested in strengthening cooperation at both the federal and regional levels. "Penang is Malaysia’s leading economic center with a well-developed electronics industry, logistics, creative economy and tourism. Kazakhstan, in turn, has a successful experience in the digitalization of the economy and fintech. Combined with direct flights and visa-free travel between our countries, this creates excellent conditions for business partnership," he stressed.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Penang State, Wong Hong Wei, stressed the state’s interest in developing comprehensive cooperation with Kazakhstan and expressed confidence that Penang has great prospects for cooperation with Kazakhstan in the fields of IT, fintech and the development of smart cities. He also noted the interest of Malaysian industrial enterprises and, in particular, the metallurgical and steel sector in expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan.

Louis Ng, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Penang, emphasized the active growth of Kazakhstan’s economy, which provides new opportunities for expanding Malaysian business both in the country and further entering the markets of Central Asia.

Anes Zadabek, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Almaty Development Company, presented in the forum to participants the investment and tourism potential of Almaty, whose economy generates about 20% of Kazakhstan’s GDP.

Diana Ablyakimova, a foreign representative of Kazakh Invest, emphasized the extensive base of minerals and critically important mineral resources necessary for the development of the electronic industry. She noted that thanks to transparent conditions that include the best international practices, Malaysian companies have the opportunity to participate in investing in the economy of Kazakhstan.

Alisher Tursyn, Director of the Department of Kazakh Tourism, presented investment opportunities in tourism to the forum participants; Muhammad Hafizuddin Ishaq, representative of the office of the Malaysian Corporation for the Development of Foreign Trade (MATRADE) in Almaty, reviewed the economy of Kazakhstan and spoke about trade opportunities; Kazakh diplomat Amir Aldazhanov informed about the measures taken by the Government of Kazakhstan to position our country as a regional educational hub.

Following the presentation, there was a lively discussion of the prospects of the Kazakh market, taking into account its geostrategic position and resource base, as well as measures taken by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan to continuously improve the business climate. A significant part of the participants of the business forum expressed their intention to visit Kazakhstan, in connection with which the Honorary Consulate is working on the formation of a delegation for a business trip to Kazakhstan.

 

The capital of the Republic of Korea hosted the kick-off ceremony of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) for 2025. The event brought together over 50 participants, including diplomats, representatives of international organizations, and experts in sustainable urban development and technologies, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

In his speech, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurgali Arystanov, representing Almaty as the Executive Vice President City of WeGO, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the field of smart and sustainable cities. He noted that Almaty is becoming a regional financial, logistics, and transport hub. Thanks to this status, new offices of international organizations are opening in the city, and the number of international flights is growing. In particular, in September 2024, WeGO opened its Central Asia Regional Office in Almaty, which successfully hosted WeGO’s Executive Committee Meeting. Furthermore, the United Nations General Assembly recently unanimously adopted the resolution on the establishment of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.

Regular direct flights are operated between Almaty and Seoul by Air Astana and Asiana Airlines. Additionally, starting from April 7, 2025, Eastar Jet will launch two new direct flights from Seoul to Almaty, making travel between the two countries even more convenient and accessible.

It should be noted that the role of cities in international diplomacy is rapidly increasing. Kazakhstan, as one of the founders of WeGO (Astana, 2010) and an active participant (Almaty, member since 2021), is ready to continue its cooperation within organization in areas such as digital transformation, innovation, and the use of artificial intelligence in the development of smart cities.

 

Within the framework of an official visit to the Republic of Cyprus, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Constantinos Kombos, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

The parties discussed the main issues of bilateral cooperation in political, trade and economic, investment, cultural, and humanitarian areas.

It was noted that regular meetings between the heads of foreign ministries of the two countries have given a significant impetus to the progressive development of relations between the two countries, as well as the strengthening of the relevant legal framework.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister emphasized that the trade turnover between the countries last year increased 5 times compared to 2023, and the volume of Cypriot investments in 2024 amounted to 227 million US dollars. It was proposed to intensify business contacts in order to expand investment cooperation and further increase the volume of mutual trade.

In turn, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Cyprus noted that Kazakhstan is a reliable partner of Nicosia in Central Asia. The interaction between the two countries within the framework of various international platforms, including the UN and the OSCE, was highly appreciated.

The parties reached an agreement to consider the possibility of establishing an Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, to increase the activities of the Cyprus-Kazakhstan Business Association, and to work on the opening of direct flights between countries.

Following the talks, ministers confirmed their readiness for close and fruitful cooperation and the development of new initiatives in priority areas, including in the framework of the forthcoming presidency of Cyprus in the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026.

During the visit, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan met with the President of the Cyprus-Kazakhstan Business Association Costas Markides, with whom they discussed topical issues of economic cooperation, attracting Cypriot investments in Kazakhstan, as well as the prospects for the implementation of joint projects in various areas.

It was noted that the deepening of partnership between the business communities of the two countries would be an important factor in the further growth of mutual trade and expansion of investment cooperation.

In 2024, Kazakhstan-Cyprus trade turnover amounted to 7.1 million US dollars (exports - 6.2 million dollars, imports - 949 thousand dollars), which is 5 times more than in 2023. In the period from 2005 to the second quarter of 2024, the volume of Cypriot investments in the economy of Kazakhstan exceeded 4.8 billion dollars. The inflow of direct investments from Cyprus for 2024 amounted to 227.6 million dollars. There are 367 companies with Cypriot capital registered in Kazakhstan.

 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko received the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, Dr. Volker Frobarth on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission in our country, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

At the beginning of the meeting, Roman Vassilenko presented Dr. Frobarth with a Certificate of Honor from Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu for his contribution to strengthening our country’s cooperation with the OSCE.

The Deputy Foreign Minister thanked Volker Frobarth and his colleagues for their active work in Kazakhstan in all three dimensions of the Organization’s activities: military-political, economic-environmental and humanitarian.

In particular, he commended the Programme Office’s extensive work in implementing projects jointly with government agencies on issues such as improving border security management, countering transnational threats and cybercrime, promoting digitalization, and implementing the 2011 OSCE Vienna Document, which provides for a mechanism for military inspections.

In the second dimension, he complimented the Office’s contribution to the development of the country’s Environmental Code, the revision and updating of the new Water Code, further assistance to water resources management and environmental protection, as well as increasing resilience to natural disaster risks.

In the human dimension, the personal participation of the head of the Office in the scholarly and advisory councils of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts was noted.

Together with the Office, projects were implemented within the framework of the Human Rights and Rule of Law Action Plan, approved by the Decree of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, aimed at improving the judicial system, supporting the activities of the Constitutional Court, as well as combating violence against women and human trafficking.

In addition, Roman Vassilenko praised the contribution of the Office to the preparation of the transcription and printing of the Constitution of Kazakhstan in Braille to ensure its wider accessibility.

Volker Frobarth thanked the Kazakh side for its comprehensive support and noted that he was leaving the country with warm feelings, hoping he would continue to maintain contact with Kazakhstan in the future.

 

At the invitation of the Cypriot side, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu arrived to the Republic of Cyprus with the first official visit, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister was received by the President Nikos Christodoulides. During the meeting, the high level of bilateral cooperation achieved recently and the mood for its further strengthening were noted.

President Christodoulides, being the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, visited Kazakhstan in 2019, thus giving a serious impetus to the development of political dialogue and intensification of trade and economic ties.

Kazakhstan, along with India, was identified by the Cypriot side as a priority state in the Asian direction.

In turn, Minister Nurtleu conveyed to the leader of Cyprus warm greetings and best wishes from the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and noted that Cyprus is a reliable partner of our country in the European Union and the Mediterranean. It was also emphasized that Cyprus has invested 4.8 billion dollars in the economy of Kazakhstan since 2005.

The interlocutors welcomed the mutual opening of embassies in the capitals of both countries, which was an important step to create new partnership opportunities in various fields.

The sides also noted the prospects for further development of cooperation in trade, transport, digitalization and tourism. In addition, they exchanged views on topical issues of global and regional security.

During the stay of the Kazakh delegation in Cyprus, Minister Nurtleu is scheduled to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos and business communities of Cyprus.

 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov received the concurrent Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to the Republic of Kazakhstan Eduardo Escobar, who is in Astana on a working visit, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

Kuantyrov emphasized the importance of maintaining a regular political dialogue between Astana and Santiago, as well as the activation of the mechanism of political consultations.

During the talks, the sides discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, paying special attention to strengthening trade and economic ties.

The Deputy Minister welcomed the signing of an investment agreement between Chilean company "ME Electmetal" and Kazakhstan’s "KAZ Minerals", which marked a new stage in the partnership between the two countries. The parties noted that the agreement will be an important step in the development of joint projects, ensuring the inflow of advanced technologies and strengthening the sustainable development of the economies of the two countries.

As part of the discussion of multilateral interaction, the interlocutors noted the importance of active cooperation in international organizations such as the UN, OECD and others.

Deputy Minister Kuantyrov thanked the Ambassador for his contribution to the development of Kazakh-Chilean relations and expressed confidence in further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue joint work on the development of bilateral relations in various areas.

 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev received copies of credentials from the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand Piyapin Niyomrerks, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

Deputy Minister Bakayev congratulated the Thai diplomat on her appointment and expressed confidence that her work would contribute to the further development of friendly relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation in political, economic, and cultural spheres.

Additionally, the participants agreed to continue close collaboration in multilateral formats, particularly within the UN, CICA and other international organizations.

Ambassador Niyomrerks confirmed her commitment to further strengthen the partnership between Kazakhstan and Thailand.

In conclusion, the parties agreed to maintain contacts and continue cooperation in all spheres of mutual interest.