Karaganda, 27 april – A Georgian delegation led by Mr. Simon Guledani, State Representative (Governor) to the municipalities of Gori, Kaspi, Kareli, and Khashuri, paid a working visit to the Karaganda Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan.During the visit, a meeting was held with the Akim of the Karaganda Region, Mr. Yermaganbet Bulekpayev, during which the parties discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in trade, economic, and investment spheres. Following the talks, a Memorandum on establishing sister city relations between Karaganda and Gori was signed, marking an important step in strengthening interregional cooperation between Kazakhstan and Georgia.The Akim noted that the region remains open to mutually beneficial partnership, emphasizing its strong export potential, with products supplied to more than 50 countries worldwide, including Georgia. At the same time, the need to increase trade turnover and intensify business contacts was highlighted. Particular attention was given to developing cooperation in tourism and creating favorable conditions for attracting investment.The Georgian side expressed interest in further deepening cooperation. According to Mr. Guledani, in addition to tourism, significant potential exists in agriculture, food industry, and construction materials production.The Mayor of Gori, Mr. Konstantine Buzaladze, underlined that Karaganda will become Gori’s first sister city in Kazakhstan, expressing gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirming readiness to develop cooperation in economic, tourism, and other areas.The signing of the Memorandum opens new opportunities for expanding interregional ties, strengthening economic cooperation, and enhancing humanitarian exchanges between Kazakhstan and Georgia.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-tbilisi/press/news/details/1209955?lang=kk

                           The State Revenue Committee informs participants in foreign economic activity that, in connection with the full introduction of the new KEDEN information system and in order to unify approaches to issuing customs declarations, starting from May 4, 2026, payment of the customs declaration fee using the transit declaration and the customs escort fee should be made on KBK 106201 «Customs duties paid in accordance with the customs legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan», which were approved by the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On approval of the rates of customs duties levied by State Revenue authorities» dated April 5, 2018 No. 171.              Considering that until now, the payment of the customs declaration fee using the transit declaration was made on KBK 106119 «Advance payments made in accordance with the customs legislation of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan, against the payment of upcoming customs duties, taxes, special, anti-dumping, countervailing duties, as well as to ensure the fulfillment of obligations under payment of customs duties, taxes, special, anti-dumping, countervailing duties» payers are given the opportunity to offset or refund to the settlement account the amounts previously paid on KBK 106119.             To set off or refund the amounts paid on KBK 106119, you must submit a Tax Application to the State Revenue Department at the place of registration for setting off and (or) refunding taxes, payments to the budget, customs duties, penalties, interest and fines through the Taxpayer's Office web application (https://knp.kgd.gov.kz) or on paper through the NAO State Government for Citizens Corporation.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd/press/news/details/1209920?lang=kk

Astana, April 27, 2026 – The fifth round of Kazakhstan-Singapore political consultations was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Kevin Cheok.During the consultations, a substantive exchange of views was held on the current state and prospects of Kazakhstan-Singapore cooperation. The parties reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further strengthening political dialogue, expanding the legal and treaty framework, and intensifying contacts at the highest and high levels.Priority attention was given to enhancing trade, economic, and investment cooperation. It was noted that according to the results of 2025, bilateral trade had reached 954.4 million US dollars, demonstrating steady positive growth. Significant potential was emphasized for deepening partnership in finance, digitalization, smart city development, the green economy, transport and logistics infrastructure, as well as in education and innovation.Deputy Foreign Minister Bakayev particularly highlighted the significance of Kazakhstan’s transit and logistics potential, noting its capacity to provide Singaporean businesses with safe, efficient, and commercially attractive routes to European and global markets.In addition, the parties exchanged assessments on current international and regional agenda issues, as well as cooperation within the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).Following the consultations, both sides confirmed their readiness to continue regular political dialogue and further progressive development of bilateral cooperation.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/1209878?lang=kk

The Regional Ecological Summit has concluded in Astana, bringing together heads of state, public figures, policymakers, and researchers to address environmental issues and sustainable development in Central Asia.From 22 to 24 April, a total of 58 key sessions were held on the sidelines of the Summit, including 21 high-level sessions and 4 country sessions of Central Asian states, with more than 8,000 recorded visits over the three days.The Summit’s Plenary Session featured addresses by the Presidents of Central Asian nations, Armenia, Georgia, and Mongolia, as well as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.Representing the United Nations were Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Mr Li Junhua; Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Ms Inger Andersen; and Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UNECE Ms Tatiana Molcean.Participants included heads of environmental authorities from Central Asian countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Germany, Belarus, Türkiye, Italy, China, Cambodia, Serbia, Mongolia, Croatia, Japan, Afghanistan, the Russian Federation and others, as well as representatives from the sectors of water management, healthcare, agriculture, energy, education, and finance from Central Asia and beyond.Representatives of international organizations such as OSCE, the EU, ECO, ICESCO, SCO, the Organization of Turkic States, CICA, IOFS, ADB, EBRD, WB, the Green Climate Fund, IDB, as well as the secretariats of international conventions and agreements on desertification, biodiversity, chemicals, and waste, took part in discussions and sessions.The key outcome of RES 2026 was the adoption of the Declaration of the Heads of State of Central Asia, “Environmental Solidarity of Central Asia.” The heads of state reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying efforts to develop joint regional positions and solutions within multilateral environmental processes, including negotiations on biodiversity, chemicals management, waste and plastic pollution, air quality improvement, land degradation and desertification, as well as to promote a consolidated position of Central Asian countries on key international platforms.The Declaration also reflects the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to establish an International Water Organization under the UN.In addition, the Declaration supports Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish an International Fund for the Protection of Rare Species and Biodiversity, to develop the Intergovernmental Programme for the conservation of water resources of the Caspian Sea, to designate an International Day of Greening the Planet, and to advance cooperation through the Project Office for Central Asia on Climate Change and Green Energy.The Programme of Action for the implementation of regional environmental initiatives in partnership with the United Nations for 2026-2030 was also endorsed. The Programme includes a Regional Investment Portfolio for Ecology and Climate, a Regional Environmental Performance Review, a Framework Document on Nature-based Solutions, a Partnership Framework Programme on Circular Economy, and the “Green School” Regional Platform. These initiatives were presented during the Summit sessions with the participation of strategic partners, thereby forming a concrete joint action plan between Kazakhstan and countries of the region with the UN system for the next five years. This has laid a solid foundation for the consistent implementation of the agreements reached, confirming the long-term institutional and practical continuation of the Summit’s agenda.A number of investment agreements and memoranda on strategic partnership were adopted at the Summit.A Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation was concluded between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Environment Programme, under which a Regional Environmental Hub will be established in Almaty on the basis of the UNEP Subregional Office for Central Asia.A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the establishment of the Kazakhstan’s Country Investment Platform for the Energy Transition “QaJET” between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. By 2035, it is planned to commission at least 10 GW of renewable energy capacity, attract approximately USD 20 billion in investment, and reduce emissions by more than 20 million tonnes annually.During the first days of the RES 2026 EXPO green technology exhibition, 17 agreements worth over USD 2.3 billion were also signed. The bulk of investments is directed towards renewable energy development, waste management, industrial decarbonization projects, and fertilizer production.At Kazakhstan’s initiative, a consultation process was launched on the sidelines of the Summit on the establishment of an International Water Organization. A consolidated report will be prepared following the consultations, which will serve as guidance for subsequent rounds of negotiations aimed at achieving concrete outcomes at the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi in December 2026.A significant contribution to strengthening the water agenda was provided by a high-level interparliamentary dialogue. With the participation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the preparation of a joint Action Plan between the parliaments of Central Asian countries and the OSCE PA was initiated, aimed at enhancing cooperation on water resource management, harmonizing legislation, and promoting effective mechanisms for transboundary cooperation.The Summit sessions were held across eight key thematic areas.As a result of the thematic sessions, a number of practical agreements were reached. Central Asian countries signed a Regional Declaration on Biodiversity Conservation, reaffirming their readiness for joint protection of ecosystems and rare species, restoration of natural areas, and the development of ecological corridors in Central Asia.At Kazakhstan’s initiative, the “Green Shield of Central Asia” resolution was signed, establishing a regional system of protective forest belts and green barriers against land degradation and dust storms, and identifying sites for afforestation.The participation of the Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions at a high level added special significance to issues related to chemicals management and hazardous waste. A proposal was put forward to establish a Stockholm Convention Regional Centre in Kazakhstan, which will be an important step in strengthening the institutional capacity of Central Asia in chemical safety management, including the establishment of relevant laboratories and the fulfilment of international obligations.The parties also agreed to develop a Roadmap to accelerate the resilience of the agricultural sector and to apply the synergies of the Rio Conventions in practice, with the participation of FAO, IOFS, and international partners. The initiative is aimed at adapting the agricultural sector to climate change, combating land degradation, desertification, and biodiversity loss.At Kazakhstan’s initiative, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.Following a thematic session of the Summit, the agreements “Caspian Sea Action Week 2026” and “Green Aral: Volunteers for Life” were signed, aimed at boosting citizen engagement in environmental volunteering and advancing joint actions to address pressing issues in the Caspian and Aral regions. A youth dialogue was also held with participants from all Central Asian countries, who prepared a Joint Statement addressed to Summit participants on its key thematic areas.A significant outcome in the social sphere was the signing of a joint declaration between Central Asian countries and the WHO Regional Office for Europe on the implementation of the Roadmap “A Healthy Future in the Aral Sea Region,” as well as a number of memoranda on the development of joint research, monitoring, and the implementation of the “One Health” approach, which integrates environmental, public health, and sustainable development considerations.The RES 2026 EXPO international green technology exhibition brought together countries of the region and partners to ensure an effective transition from policy declarations to action.Across 120 pavilions, 247 companies from 30 countries showcased their achievements, providing direct G2B networking opportunities for around 20,000 visitors.Overall, the agreements reached confirm that the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in Astana has become not only a platform for dialogue, but also a point of consolidation of efforts, the launch of practical initiatives, and the formation of a unified, forward-looking environmental agenda for Central Asia.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-pretoria/press/news/details/1209886?lang=kk

Helsinki, April 27, 2026 – Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Finland Azamat Abdraimov met with Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland Ville Tavio.During the meeting, the Kazakh diplomat informed the Finnish side about the ongoing reforms in Kazakhstan aimed at modernizing the economy and improving the investment climate.The parties discussed the current state and prospects of the development of Kazakh-Finnish relations, with a particular focus on expanding trade and economic cooperation and strengthening business ties between the two countries. Mutual interest was noted in further enhancing practical cooperation, including through relevant government bodies.Special attention was paid to the preparation of the upcoming session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is expected to give additional impetus to practical engagement and the implementation of joint initiatives.The parties confirmed their readiness to continue constructive dialogue and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-helsinki/press/news/details/1209893?lang=kk