Kazakhstan and Israel are signaling a new phase in their bilateral relations. In Astana, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev held talks with Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar, who arrived in the Kazakh capital on an official visit. The trip is notable both as Sa’ar’s first visit to Kazakhstan and as the first official visit by an Israeli foreign minister to the country in the past 16 years, DKNews.kz reports.
The talks reflected a clear intention by both sides to move beyond political dialogue toward deeper, more practical cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
From diplomacy to technology and tourism
During the meeting, the ministers discussed the current state and future prospects of political dialogue, as well as trade, economic and investment ties. Cooperation in tourism, science, education and healthcare was also on the agenda, with a particular focus on exchanging expertise and best practices.
Special attention was paid to technology transfer and expanding practical cooperation between relevant government agencies and business communities of the two countries. Officials stressed that innovation-driven projects and private-sector engagement will play a key role in the next stage of bilateral relations.
Political consultations and the Middle East agenda
As part of the visit, the 12th round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of Kazakhstan and Israel was held. Discussions covered international and regional developments, including initiatives aimed at promoting peaceful settlement and strengthening confidence in the Middle East.
In this context, the sides exchanged views on Kazakhstan’s participation in the Gaza Board of Peace and on cooperation within the framework of the Abraham Accords. Kazakhstan reaffirmed its interest in dialogue-based approaches and confidence-building mechanisms in the region.
“A shared interest in a new level of partnership”
Minister Yermek Kosherbayev подчеркнул that Kazakhstan and Israel have built a solid foundation since establishing diplomatic relations in April 1992.
“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we have built comprehensive cooperation based on mutual respect and trust, achieving significant progress in political, economic and cultural interaction. Your visit to Astana confirms our shared interest in elevating our partnership to a new level,” Kosherbayev said.
He also noted that the current stage of bilateral cooperation is marked by an intensification of dialogue, with an important role played by the leaders of both states.
High added value projects and digital leadership
Highlighting the strong legal framework underpinning bilateral ties, the Kazakh foreign minister pointed to significant potential for expanding trade, investment and technological cooperation. Kazakhstan expressed particular interest in joint projects with high added value in areas such as:
- agrotechnologies and the food industry
- healthcare, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies
- infrastructure and logistics
- energy efficiency and renewable energy
Kosherbayev also emphasized Kazakhstan’s strong position in digital development, noting that the country ranks among global leaders according to the UN Online Services Index and the World Bank’s GovTech Maturity Index. He invited Israeli companies to actively engage in joint digital and technological initiatives.
Visa-free travel and diplomatic cooperation
Following the 12th round of political consultations, several key documents were signed. These included Memoranda of Cooperation on diplomatic training and public diplomacy, as well as a Memorandum of Intent to conclude an agreement on visa exemption for holders of national passports.
If implemented, the visa-free regime could significantly boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges between Kazakhstan and Israel.
Business forum and practical interest
The visit also featured a Kazakhstan–Israel business forum with participation from business circles of both countries. Meetings were held in B2B and B2G formats, focusing on concrete opportunities for cooperation.
Priority areas discussed included high-tech agriculture, water resource management and digital technologies - sectors where Israeli expertise and Kazakhstan’s scale and regional potential could complement each other.
Relations in numbers and perspective
Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Israel were established on 10 April 1992. The Embassy of Israel opened in Kazakhstan in August 1992, while Kazakhstan’s Embassy in Israel began operating in May 1996.
Economic ties continue to develop steadily. Trade turnover between the two countries for January–November 2025 amounted to 162.4 million US dollars, including exports of 92.1 million US dollars and imports of 70.3 million US dollars.
Experts note that Gideon Sa’ar’s visit sends a clear political signal: both countries are ready to transform long-standing diplomatic relations into a more dynamic partnership driven by technology, business and people-to-people contacts.
