Astana, May 29 — In an exclusive interview during the Astana International Forum, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alibek Kuantyrov, outlined the country’s growing role as a reliable international partner, emphasizing its investment partnerships, technological advancements, and geopolitical neutrality.
Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Kuantyrov underscored Kazakhstan’s active engagement with foreign investors, especially from the Gulf, Asia, and Europe. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains a particularly prominent investor, with 16 major projects currently in various stages of development. Türkiye, China, and the USA are important investors for Kazakhstan.
“We have already realized four major projects with the UAE, seven are currently being implemented, and five more are under discussion,” he said. “These range from renewable energy to agriculture and water management.”
Among the most notable collaborations is a 1-gigawatt renewable energy plant led by UAE-based Masdar, valued at over $1.4 billion. “This project was formalized at COP29 in Baku and construction will begin in 2025,” Kuantyrov confirmed.
But the UAE is far from Kazakhstan’s only partner. The Deputy Minister highlighted strategic cooperation with China, especially in industrial and agricultural development. “We expect meaningful agreements during the upcoming China–Central Asia Summit,” he noted, citing partnerships with Chinese firms like Dalan and Fufeng in grain and corn processing, as well as work on clean coal technologies.
Kazakhstan’s commitment to a multi-vector foreign policy continues to allow it to engage with diverse partners—from the European Union to Iran and Israel, including Türkiye and Azerbaijan—without aligning exclusively with any geopolitical bloc.
While he avoided commenting directly on sensitive international issues, Kuantyrov reiterated the nation’s principled stance: “We support peaceful resolutions and diplomacy. We are not part of any conflict. Our strength lies in being a stable, neutral partner.”
Kazakhstan is also embracing digital innovation as part of its investment promotion strategy. The country has launched a national digital investment platform, featuring AI-based chatbots capable of guiding foreign investors in real time, in any language.
“This use of AI helps us become more responsive,” he said. “We are building a supercomputer capable of analyzing trillions of data points per second. This will improve decision-making in key sectors like transit, logistics, and agriculture.”
Kuantyrov also highlighted Kazakhstan’s growing reputation as a platform for international dialogue—from hosting the Syria peace process to now facilitating conversations on energy security and climate cooperation.
“We provide space for meaningful dialogue—be it on energy security, climate change, or peace negotiations. That’s part of our global responsibility,” he said.
Touching on future cooperation with the European Union, he pointed to joint efforts on critical raw materials, the Middle Corridor, and green transition initiatives. He also welcomed expanding ties with Saudi Arabia, especially in renewable energy and the IT sector.“Kazakhstan today is an island of stability in a turbulent region,” Kuantyrov concluded. “That makes us a dependable partner for investment, dialogue, and innovation.”
