Madrid, 28 April 2026 – As part of a working visit to the Kingdom of Spain, First Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Timur Sultangaziyev held a meeting with the Secretary of State for Health of Spain, Mr. Javier Padilla Bernáldez.The parties discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation in the field of healthcare, with a focus on the development of primary health care (PHC), disease prevention, and the improvement of healthcare management models.Particular attention was given to cooperation within the Global Coalition on PHC. The Kazakh side expressed its appreciation to Spain for joining the Coalition as the 26th member country and invited Spanish colleagues to visit Kazakhstan for an exchange of experience.It was noted that Kazakhstan and Spain are among the leading countries in the development of PHC. In addition to the first WHO PHC demonstration platform in Kazakhstan, similar platforms are currently operating in Spain and Sweden.Practical cooperation in PHC is actively developing, including joint technical sessions and the exchange of expert knowledge.Following the meeting, both sides confirmed their mutual interest in further deepening cooperation and implementing joint initiatives.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-madrid/press/news/details/1211820?lang=kk

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/almobl/press/news/details/1211822?lang=kk

Riyadh, April 29, 2026 – Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia Madiyar Menilbekov held a meeting with the Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz Center for Cultural Communication, Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Foazan.During the meeting, the Ambassador informed the Secretary-General about the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and exchanged views on the outcomes of the 8th Congress held in 2025 in Astana, including the “Astana Peace Declaration 2025”.In turn, A. Al-Foazan presented the activities of the Center, providing detailed information on its main areas of work and ongoing projects.In addition, the negotiations discussed the establishment of partnership between the Center and the International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue in promoting the values of tolerance.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-riyadh/press/news/details/1211816?lang=kk

The Kostanay region has reinforced its position as one of Kazakhstan’s emerging hubs of digital transformation through the large-scale “QOSTANAI TECH” festival, which brought together more than 10,000 participants and effectively turned the city into an open technological platform.The event united representatives of business, science, industry, education, and the IT sector, along with students and young innovators. For several days, Kostanay functioned as a live technological ecosystem where innovation was not only presented but actively demonstrated in real interaction with the public.Opening the festival, Akim of Kostanay Region Kumar Aksakalov emphasized that digitalization and artificial intelligence have become the key drivers of regional economic development. Today, the region ranks fourth in Kazakhstan in manufacturing output, with over 70% of its economy generated by this sector. The industrial landscape already includes 145 operational industrial robots, along with the active implementation of digital management systems and AI-based solutions.The agricultural sector has also undergone significant digital transformation: 100% of arable land, 90% of pastures, and 95% of hayfields have been digitized. As a result, losses have decreased by 40%, productivity has increased by 30%, and operational costs have been reduced by 15%.The international program featured TED-style sessions with leading global and national experts. A highlight was an online address by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rae Kwon Chung, who stressed that the future of education must be grounded not only in knowledge and skills but also in values and sustainable development principles.A defining feature of the festival was its integration into urban space. Public areas across the city were transformed into open innovation zones featuring scientific experiments, engineering demonstrations, robotics showcases, and drone technologies. The Youth Palace was reimagined as an immersive “smart city” environment with interactive digital installations.Strong interest was drawn to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and drone football — a rapidly developing tech sport gaining popularity in Kazakhstan. At the same time, student teams developed AI-based digital solutions and presented prototypes addressing real-sector challenges during a dedicated hackathon.The festival also marked the launch of industrial tourism in the region, offering participants guided visits to major manufacturing sites, including Allur, KIA, and Agromash plants, where they observed full production cycles.“QOSTANAI TECH” ultimately positioned Kostanay not only as an industrial region, but as a growing ecosystem where education, technology, and innovation converge to shape a new economic model for Kazakhstan.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1211810?lang=kk

On 23 April A. Arystanov, Chairman of the Board of the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development “KazAID” spoke at a panel session entitled “Sustainable Financing of the Water Sector in Central Asia: Challenges, Opportunities, and Paths for Cooperation”, organised by the Economic Research Institute as part of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026.In his speech, he emphasised that the issue of the rational use and effective management of water resources in Central Asia requires joint action. During his speech, he also cited successful examples of projects implemented by the Agency under the ‘Dostyk: Diplomacy’ programme, which focused on issues of water diplomacy and transboundary water cooperation. In this way, KazAID contributes to the formation of a sustainable ‘water community’ in the region.A.Arystanov also confirmed KazAID’s readiness to participate in ODA projects on sustainable financing of the water sector, building cooperation with Kazakhstani organisations, the IFAS, and international institutions through South-South and trilateral cooperation frameworks.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kazaid/press/news/details/1211730?lang=kk