Kazakhstan and Slovenia are taking their partnership beyond capitals and into the regions.
During a working visit to Slovenia’s second-largest city, Maribor, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Slovenia Altay Abibullayev met with Maribor Mayor Aleksander Saša Arsenovič to discuss how to transform diplomatic goodwill into concrete cooperation between cities and regions, DKNews.kz reports.
The meeting focused on strengthening municipal ties and expanding collaboration in the economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. But beyond formal statements, both sides made it clear: the future of Kazakh-Slovenian relations may increasingly be built at the regional level.
Maribor and Kyzylorda: A Strategic Partnership in the Making
At the center of discussions was an agreement in principle to establish interregional cooperation between the city of Maribor and Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region. The goal is ambitious — to create an institutional foundation for long-term partnership in areas such as:
- Economics and trade
- Urban infrastructure development
- Water resource management
- Education and cultural exchange
- Sustainable development
Mayor Arsenovič was introduced in detail to the socio-economic profile and investment potential of the Kyzylorda region — a strategically important area in southern Kazakhstan known for its agricultural production, growing industrial base and logistics potential.
For Kazakhstan, regional diplomacy is becoming a key tool in diversifying international partnerships. For Slovenia, cooperation with Central Asia offers new gateways to emerging markets.
Business Dialogue Takes Center Stage
The visit was not limited to official meetings. Ambassador Abibullayev also held talks with representatives of the Štajerska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, engaging directly with business leaders from the Štajerska region.
The discussions covered a wide spectrum of practical issues:
- Agricultural processing and food production
- Trade and export opportunities
- Environmental technologies
- Investment attraction
- Tourism development
- Entry of Slovenian companies into Kazakhstan and wider Central Asian markets
The Ambassador presented Kazakhstan’s current economic reforms and state support measures for investors, highlighting priority sectors such as industry, logistics, agriculture, renewable energy and innovative technologies.
A key message of the visit was clear: direct dialogue between business communities is essential for turning political agreements into real projects.
Why This Matters
While Kazakhstan and Slovenia may seem geographically distant, both countries share a strategic interest in expanding economic connectivity across Europe and Central Asia. For Slovenia — an EU member state with strong industrial and technological expertise — Kazakhstan represents access to a fast-growing region with significant natural resources and transit potential.
For Kazakhstan, partnerships with European regional centers like Maribor allow for targeted cooperation that goes beyond large-scale diplomacy and focuses on practical solutions — from smart infrastructure to sustainable water management.
From Protocol to Practical Partnership
The regional visit, organized with the support of the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Maribor, underscored a mutual commitment to deepening ties not only at the national level but also between regions and cities.
In an era when economic resilience and diversified partnerships matter more than ever, initiatives like the Maribor–Kyzylorda cooperation may become a model for pragmatic, mutually beneficial international engagement.
What began as a diplomatic meeting could soon evolve into joint projects, business exchanges and cultural programs — strengthening not just bilateral relations, but real connections between communities.
