Ljubljana, 9 January 2026 – The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Slovenia, Altay Abibullayev, held a meeting with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia responsible for European affairs, international law, protection of interests and economic diplomacy, Neva Grašič.

During the meeting, the Ambassador provided a detailed briefing on the key messages of the Head of State, as outlined in the interview with the newspaper Türkistan published on 5 January 2026, as well as on the decision to designate 2026 in Kazakhstan as the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence.

The parties engaged in substantive discussions on current issues of bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation, reviewed preparations for the 5th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, and exchanged views on plans to hold the Digital Bridge Forum in Ljubljana. The Forum is envisaged as a practical platform for interaction among relevant government bodies, business communities and expert circles of both countries in the fields of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

The sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in deepening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, including engagement with leading Slovenian companies well established on the Kazakh market, such as Krka and Lek, as well as in expanding broader cooperation in healthcare and medical technologies.

In discussing transit, transport and logistics cooperation, the Ambassador underscored Kazakhstan’s key potential as one of the major transit hubs of the Eurasian space and outlined the measures being undertaken by the Government of Kazakhstan to develop modern transport and logistics infrastructure, including railway and multimodal routes. In this context, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of participation in the development of the Middle Corridor, as well as on the diversification of transport routes linked to the Slovenian seaport Port of Luka Koper, which represents a critical node for enhancing supply chain resilience and expanding logistics opportunities for European countries without direct access to the open sea.

The diplomats also addressed topical aspects of bilateral energy cooperation. The Slovenian side expressed interest in establishing cooperation in the aerospace sector and nanotechnologies, highlighting the importance of scientific and technological collaboration and the exchange of expertise.

With a view to creating solid and long-term legal foundations for Kazakh–Slovenian partnership, the parties reached a principled understanding on further expanding the bilateral legal framework. This includes work on an Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments, a new Agreement on Visa-Free Travel for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports, as well as the organization of consular consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

The meeting confirmed the shared commitment of Kazakhstan and Slovenia to strengthening a forward-looking, pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnership grounded in the principles of reciprocity, trust and long-term cooperation.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-ljubljana/press/news/details/1139148?lang=kk