A Kazakhstan–Israel business forum held in Astana signaled a shift toward deeper and more practical economic cooperation between the two countries. The event took place during the official visit of Israel’s foreign minister and brought together government officials, development institutions and business leaders from both sides, DKNews.kz reports.
Rather than focusing on formal statements, the forum centered on how Kazakhstan and Israel can move from stable trade figures to joint projects, technology transfer and long-term partnerships.
Trade is growing, but potential is much larger
Opening the forum, Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov stressed that the event was not just another business meeting, but a step toward a new stage of trade and investment cooperation.
Bilateral trade turnover reached USD 162 million over the first 11 months of last year, showing steady growth. However, participants agreed that this figure does not reflect the real potential of economic ties.
According to Kuantyrov, the biggest untapped opportunities lie in the agro-industrial sector, digitalization, innovation and water infrastructure — areas where both countries have clear interests and complementary strengths.
“Kazakhstan and Israel complement each other in many areas — from agricultural technologies and food security to digital solutions and water resource management,” he said, emphasizing Kazakhstan’s readiness to offer Israeli companies a stable and predictable investment environment.
Why Kazakhstan and Israel are a natural match
Israel is globally recognized for its advanced technologies in agriculture, water management, IT and fintech. Kazakhstan, in turn, offers scale, access to regional markets and growing demand for modern solutions as it diversifies its economy.
This combination was a recurring theme at the forum: Kazakhstan provides opportunities for growth and expansion, while Israeli companies bring innovation, know-how and high-value technologies.
Focus on investment and real projects
During the forum, Kazakhstan’s investment potential and priority cooperation areas were presented to Israeli businesses. Manufacturing, agro-industry, high technologies and infrastructure were highlighted as key sectors for joint projects.
Discussions went beyond general interest and addressed concrete issues such as:
- launching joint investment projects,
- transferring technologies,
- entering new regional and international markets,
- cooperation in agrotechnologies, IT, fintech and water management.
Agreements that move cooperation forward
The forum produced tangible results. Three commercial documents were signed, reflecting shared priorities in infrastructure, energy and industrial development.
These included:
- a memorandum on cooperation in modernizing housing, коммунal and water infrastructure with the participation of an Israeli company,
- an investment agreement for the construction of a bitumen plant in Atyrau Region,
- a memorandum on cooperation in renewable energy-based power generation in East Kazakhstan Region.
These projects show that cooperation is moving from discussion to implementation.
Business talks continued behind closed doors
Around 30 Israeli companies took part in the forum, representing sectors ranging from manufacturing and high technologies to agriculture and healthcare. Kazakhstan was represented by central government bodies, development institutions and private businesses.
The forum continued in a B2B format, where companies discussed specific cooperation models, investment volumes and project timelines. For many participants, these meetings were the most important part of the event.
Why this forum matters
The Astana business forum demonstrated that Kazakhstan–Israel relations are evolving beyond simple trade. The focus is shifting toward joint value creation, technology-driven projects and long-term investment partnerships.
For Kazakhstan, this means access to advanced technologies and new growth drivers in non-oil sectors. For Israel, it offers entry into a fast-developing Central Asian market and participation in large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects.
In a changing global economy, such pragmatic, project-oriented cooperation is increasingly what determines which partnerships deliver real results — not on paper, but in the real economy.
