The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Slovenia, Altay Abibullayev, held talks with Neva Grašič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia responsible for European affairs, international law, protection of national interests and economic diplomacy. The meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation across a wide range of strategic areas, DKNews.kz reports.
During the talks, the Ambassador briefed the Slovenian side on the key messages of the Head of State outlined in the interview with the Türkistan newspaper published on 5 January 2026. He also highlighted Kazakhstan’s decision to declare 2026 the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, underscoring the country’s commitment to technological transformation and innovation-driven growth.
Digital transformation at the center of the agenda
The sides held substantive discussions on current issues of trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as on preparations for the 5th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Particular attention was paid to plans to host the Digital Bridge Forum in Ljubljana. The forum is envisioned as a practical platform bringing together government agencies, business representatives and experts from both countries to deepen cooperation in digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Pharmaceuticals and healthcare cooperation
Both sides reaffirmed their strong interest in further deepening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, including engagement with leading Slovenian companies well established on the Kazakh market, such as Krka and Lek. Opportunities to expand broader cooperation in healthcare and medical technologies were also discussed.
Kazakhstan’s transit role and the Middle Corridor
In the context of transport, transit and logistics cooperation, Ambassador Abibullayev emphasized Kazakhstan’s strategic role as one of the key transit hubs in the Eurasian space. He outlined ongoing efforts by the Government of Kazakhstan to develop modern transport and logistics infrastructure, including railway and multimodal routes.
Special emphasis was placed on participation in the development of the Middle Corridor, as well as on diversifying transport routes linked to Slovenia’s seaport Luka Koper. The port was highlighted as a critical logistics node for enhancing supply chain resilience and expanding transport options for European countries without direct access to the open sea.
Energy, aerospace and advanced technologies
The diplomats also addressed topical aspects of bilateral energy cooperation. In addition, the Slovenian side expressed interest in establishing cooperation in the aerospace sector and nanotechnologies, stressing the importance of scientific and technological collaboration and the exchange of expertise.
Strengthening the legal framework
With a view to building a solid and long-term legal foundation for Kazakh–Slovenian relations, the sides reached a principled understanding on expanding the bilateral legal framework. This includes work on:
- an Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments;
- a new Agreement on Visa-Free Travel for holders of diplomatic and service passports;
- the organization of consular consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries.
A forward-looking partnership
The meeting confirmed the shared commitment of Kazakhstan and Slovenia to strengthening a pragmatic, forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnership, based on trust, reciprocity and long-term cooperation across key economic, technological and strategic sectors.
