Kazakhstan and Kuwait are preparing to restart and deepen cooperation in a way that could directly affect the country’s future infrastructure projects. Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Kuwait Yerzhan Yelekeyev held talks with Waleed Al-Bahar, Acting Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, focusing on practical steps rather than formal declarations, DKNews.kz reports.
The meeting centered on how technical assistance can become a launchpad for major investment projects - from energy and roads to water and agriculture.
From dialogue to concrete figures
The key outcome of the talks was a clear signal from the Kuwait Fund: it is ready to allocate up to USD 5 million in 2026 to provide technical assistance to Kazakhstan. This funding is intended for the most critical early stages of large-scale projects, when decisions determine their long-term success.
The support may be used for:
- preparation of feasibility studies
- design and engineering works
- training and capacity-building of specialized personnel
These elements often remain behind the scenes, yet they are essential for ensuring that projects meet international standards and can later attract full-scale financing.
What areas matter most
During the discussions, the parties outlined priority areas that are of particular interest to the Kuwait Fund. These directions also reflect Kazakhstan’s strategic development needs:
- modernization of energy infrastructure, including substations
- construction and upgrading of wastewater treatment facilities
- development of agricultural storage infrastructure
- construction and expansion of road networks
Together, these sectors form the backbone of economic growth, regional connectivity, and quality of life.
Why technical assistance matters
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan emphasized that the use of the Fund’s technical assistance instruments can significantly improve the quality of project preparation, speed up implementation timelines, and ensure compliance with international norms.
In practical terms, this means fewer delays, lower risks, and stronger confidence from future investors and partners.
What comes next
The leadership of the Kuwait Fund confirmed its readiness to resume active cooperation with Kazakhstan and further strengthen bilateral engagement. An important next step could be an official visit by a Kazakh delegation to Kuwait, where specific projects and cooperation formats would be discussed in greater detail.
Both sides agreed to continue substantive coordination through relevant authorities and maintain regular contacts to identify a concrete list of projects that could be supported by the Fund in the near future.
A partner with global experience
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has been operating since 1961 and is widely regarded as one of the leading regional development institutions. Over decades of work, it has approved financing worth tens of billions of US dollars and supported projects in more than 100 countries across Asia, Africa, and beyond.
For Kazakhstan, renewed cooperation with such a partner is not just about funding. It is about access to global expertise, proven standards, and a systematic approach to building infrastructure that works for decades ahead.
Sometimes, the most important changes begin quietly - with meetings like this one, where groundwork is laid long before construction starts.
