AGP Executive Report

Aviation & Tourism: Air Astana will add new direct routes from Kazakhstan in December—Almaty to Langkawi (starting Dec. 25, three times weekly) and Astana to Bangkok (starting Dec. 11, twice weekly)—boosting travel links across Asia. Defense & Industry: Airbus is set to deliver Kazakhstan’s second A400M airlifter soon, expanding transport and humanitarian cargo capacity for the Kazakh Air Defense Forces. Tech & Economy: President Tokayev used the Kazakhstan–Bavaria Technology Forum in Munich to push deeper cooperation in advanced manufacturing, critical materials, microelectronics, agriculture and logistics, pitching “Made in Kazakhstan” with Bavarian tech and German quality. Transport Connectivity: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the UAE will explore a new CASA railway corridor linking Central Asia to Pakistan’s seaports, with joint studies on the route’s potential. Public Health: Posthumous organ donation consents in Kazakhstan rose nearly 68% year-on-year, but refusals still dominate and waiting lists remain long. Sports (Kazakhstan at the Asian Games): Yulia Putintseva won bronze in women’s singles after a semifinal loss to Zhang Shuai, while Kazakhstan’s tennis doubles campaign continues.

Kazakhstan-Germany push in Munich: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met Bavaria leaders and Germany’s top officials, backing deeper ties as more than 30 deals worth $2 billion were signed, with talks spanning critical minerals, energy modernization, digitalization, and transport links. Semiconductor and AI cooperation: Tokayev proposed a Kazakhstan–Bavaria semiconductor partnership and highlighted “Made in Kazakhstan” ambitions using Bavarian tech, while Kazakhstan’s AI skills push lifted it to 55th in an AI-Human Skills Synergy Index. Copper deep-processing plans: Kazakhstan and Aurubis discussed new copper scrap and complex raw-material processing projects, including potential joint action plans. Regional rail connectivity: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE signed an MoU to study the CASA railway corridor, including technical and financial feasibility work. Energy and industry investment: Linde is set to invest up to $500 million, including an air separation plant with Qarmet, as oil prices hover above $100. Education expansion in Turkistan: Woosong University Kazakhstan broke ground on a new campus building, with hundreds of students enrolled. Legal/justice angle: Russia and five CIS states agreed to exchange information on extremists, including Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General. Sports (Kazakhstan-linked): Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabyrkhan reached the boxing final after a semifinal win over Carlo Paalam, while Kazakhstan’s Yasmina Toxanbayeva’s footwear dispute at race walk elevated another athlete to gold. Public safety: Kazakhstan shut down 20 fraud call centers operating from Ukraine.

Kazakhstan–Germany Deal Push: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Berlin visit produced a Joint Declaration to deepen cooperation on trade, energy, critical raw materials, transport, tech, education and the environment, with a 2026–2028 roadmap aimed at joint production, stronger supply chains and more oil and gas deliveries to Europe. Energy Markets: OPEC+ core producers, including Kazakhstan, are expected to keep oil output targets steady for November at a Sunday meeting, as Gulf members continue pumping below quotas amid disruption. Regional Security Drills: CSTO’s “Interaction 2026” exercise in Russia is planning a joint operation to localize a border armed conflict, with planning focused on stabilizing a border area in Chelyabinsk Oblast. Sports—Kazakhstan at the Asian Games: Kazakhstan’s Natalya Bogdanova reached the women’s 75kg boxing final but lost to India’s Lovlina Borgohain in the semifinal; in boxing, Carlo Paalam beat Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabyrkhan to reach gold contention. Finance & Development: The Islamic Development Bank urged MDBs to move from policy talk to joint delivery of climate-resilient infrastructure, citing Kazakhstan’s water security program as an example.

Kazakhstan-Germany diplomacy: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin, stressing mutual trust and calling Germany a key strategic partner in Europe; the leaders also adopted a joint push for swift, comprehensive peace in Ukraine under UN Charter principles. Energy and industry ties: Tokayev said Kazakhstan plans to boost oil supplies to Germany as Berlin seeks alternatives to Russian crude, while talks also covered rail modernization and deeper industrial cooperation, including critical minerals and logistics along the Middle Corridor. Cybersecurity push: At the C5+1 conference in Astana, the US allocated $5 million for Central Asia’s digital sector and cybersecurity, focusing on training, incident response, and protection of critical infrastructure. Public sector modernization: The Astana Civil Service Hub promoted Kazakhstan’s e-HR model (e-Qyzmet) at an international seminar, highlighting more transparent, data-driven civil service recruitment. Sports spotlight: Kazakhstan’s U21s narrowly lost 4-3 to Ireland in a wild Euro qualifier; meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s athletes and teams continued their Asian Games campaigns, including wrestling draw details and medal updates.

Kazakhstan–Germany Water Hub: Kazakhstan and Germany are set to create a “Water Hub” to scale water-tech cooperation, digital tools and joint innovation after a Berlin roundtable. Cybersecurity Push: Astana hosted Central Asia’s biggest cybersecurity conference, focused on cyber resilience, fraud prevention and practical defense, with KazHackStan drawing 100+ experts. Agriculture Upgrade: Harvest is progressing despite drought, with 83% of grain area cut and yields holding up; the government also plans 15 more vegetable storage facilities and six deep grain processing projects. Food Trade: Grain shipments to Afghanistan jumped 4.4 times, while exports to Central Asia and China also rose. Finance & Infrastructure: World Bank support tops $8bn across 50+ Kazakhstan projects; EDB committed $100m to Almaty International Airport development. Immigration Reform: Kazakhstan proposes expanding permanent residence eligibility for foreign expats from 51 to 174 professions. Sports Spotlight: Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina is set to face Sabalenka’s former rival in tennis coverage, while Kazakhstan athletes continue medal runs at the Asian Games.

Kazakhstan-Germany Ties: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Germany for talks with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, aiming to deepen the strategic partnership and meet business and research leaders in Berlin and Munich. Tech Connectivity: Starlink Mobile launched in Kazakhstan via Beeline, bringing satellite-to-phone service for compatible devices when cellular coverage fails, with activation through the Janymda app. Earthquake Watch: A third quake hit Kazakhstan’s Almaty region on Sept. 28, after two earlier tremors, with residents in nearby areas urged to stay alert and report damage. Regional Security: Kazakhstan and India sent troops for the joint counter-terror drill KAZIND-2026, focused on improving capabilities for joint operations. Sports—Kazakhstan in the Spotlight: At the Asian Games, Kazakhstan’s Adelina Zems won silver in women’s 400m hurdles, while Kazakhstan’s athletes also featured across medal events as competition continued in Nagoya. Maritime Attention: A luxury superyacht reportedly owned by Kazakh billionaire Bulat Utemuratov was spotted off the Isle of Wight.

Earthquake Watch: A second, stronger tremor hit Almaty on Sept. 28, triggering mobile emergency alerts and urging residents to stay in open areas while officials verify intensity and damage. Foreign Policy: Kazakhstan’s FM Mukhtar Tleuberdi urged Ukraine to stop drone attacks on Kazakh vessels in the Black Sea, warning they disrupt civilian shipping and oil exports. UNGA Diplomacy: Tleuberdi told the UN General Assembly that Afghanistan’s long-term stability depends on Central Asia security and sustainable development, backing coordinated engagement with the UN at the center. Energy & Industry: Kazakhstan’s jet fuel output is rising—591,000 tons in eight months, with plans to reach 825,000 tons this year and 1.5 million by 2031. Business & Trade: KIOGE 2026 in Almaty (Sept. 30–Oct. 2) will host about 500 energy companies from 30 countries. Sports (Kazakhstan): Kazakhstan won bronze in artistic swimming at the Asian Games; Yasmina Toxanbayeva’s marathon race walk gold was annulled over a shoe-rule technicality.

Military Reform Push: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered a 10-day plan to overhaul Kazakhstan’s armed forces, saying the army is “stuck in the last century” and demanding a new command system and “new-model army.” Defense Shake-Up: Tokayev dismissed Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov after 14 servicemen died in a Caspian Sea naval exercise, and appointed Aidos Myrzakhmetov as the new defense minister. Sports—Kazakhstan at the Asian Games: Norah Jeruto won silver in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, while Kazakhstan’s Ayanat Zhumagali took silver in weightlifting; meanwhile, a gold for Toxanbayeva is under review after a shoes protest, meaning it may not yet count in the medal tally. Regional Diplomacy & Trade: Kazakhstan’s role in launching the U.S. C5+1 format is highlighted ahead of a mid-October Samarkand meeting with over 100 American companies, aiming to link politics with investment, energy, transport and critical minerals. Energy Tech Cooperation: Russia’s TNF 2026 in Tyumen expanded as an international platform, with Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas and QazaqGaz among foreign participants.

Defense Shake-Up: President Tokayev dismissed Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov after 14 servicemen died in Caspian Sea exercises, appointing Aidos Myrzakhmetov in his place and ordering a full audit of the ministry. National Mourning & Accountability: A commission was set up after the Mangystau tragedy; posthumous state decorations were awarded to the fallen, while five defence officials were detained as investigations continue. Diplomacy & Education: Kazakhstan is looking to revive higher-education ties with Malaysia, aiming for student mobility, research cooperation, and more Malaysian university branch campuses in Kazakhstan. Sports—Kazakhstan at the Asian Games: Kazakhstan’s beach volleyball duo reached the Round of 16, while Kazakhstan’s athletes also featured in Asian Games results including race-walk gold for Yasmina Toxanbayeva. Regional Spotlight: Kazakhstan and Switzerland signed a deal paving the way for up to 28 weekly passenger flights, with cargo services unrestricted.

Defence Oversight: President Tokayev has ordered a full inspection of Kazakhstan’s Defence Ministry, with a new commission led by Security Council deputy chair Aida Balayeva due to report in seven days, after the Caspian Sea naval drill tragedy. Caspian Sea Tragedy: Fourteen Kazakh servicemen died and three were rescued after a training accident in bad weather; five defence officials were detained, and a criminal probe is underway. Regional Security Drills: CSTO contingents including Kazakhstan have arrived in Russia for exercises “Interaction-2026,” “Search-2026,” and “Echelon-2026,” focused on joint operations, reconnaissance and logistics. Labour & Skills: Astana highlighted working professions ahead of Labour Day and showcased employment and training programmes, including digital job-matching pilots and dual vocational education. Weather Watch: Kazhydromet warns of strong winds, dust storms in the south, fog, and widespread frost, with extreme fire risk flagged for several regions. Education Cooperation: Kazakhstan and Malaysia are reviving higher-education ties, targeting AI, nuclear science, agriculture and critical minerals, plus annual forums and student mobility. Sports—Asian Games: Kazakhstan sits among the top medal nations at the Asian Games, with the latest tally placing it around 8 gold and 35 total medals.

Education Diplomacy: Kazakhstan’s Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir urged Malaysia and Kazakhstan to build a “comprehensive knowledge partnership,” built on student mobility, research, digital education and cultural ties, during a visit to Astana. UN Role: Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi told UN leaders Kazakhstan is a “bridge-builder” in a multipolar world, highlighting UN cooperation via the Almaty-based regional centre for Central Asia and Afghanistan. Regional Security: Kazakhstan’s Tileuberdi called for pragmatic, coordinated engagement with Afghanistan, saying humanitarian aid alone won’t end poverty and displacement cycles. Caspian Focus: Kazakhstan joined a 2026-2027 joint programme with Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan to protect the Caspian Sea, targeting pollution and shared monitoring. Defense & Families: Kazakhstan’s Defense Minister visited families of servicemen who died in Mangistau combat training, pledging ongoing support. Sports—Kazakhstan at the Asian Games: Kazakhstan won bronze in women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team (1754) and took canoe sprint bronze via Sukhanova’s 500m finish; Kazakhstan also earned bronze in men’s kayak 500m (Kholmogorov).

Caspian Sea Tragedy: Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry says the death toll from the Mangystau naval drill has reached 14, with five senior officers detained and a criminal probe launched over alleged negligence and safety failures. International Condolences: The UAE and other foreign leaders expressed solidarity with Kazakhstan and sympathy to victims’ families after the incident. Sports at the Asian Games: Kazakhstan’s Polina Ivanova shared bronze in women’s pole vault (4.15m) after Baranica Elangovan made history for India; Kazakhstan also advanced in beach volleyball after a loss to India’s pair. Regional Connectivity & Trade: A Kazakhstan-China logistics push aims to cut border clearance from weeks to about a day, boosting trade through improved customs systems. Tech & Investment: Kazakhstan’s China forum highlighted new localization plans, including robotics and vehicle production, with major deals signed. Weather & Safety: Kazakhstan’s met service warns of fog and high fire risk across multiple regions ahead of Sep 26.

Caspian Sea Tragedy: Kazakhstan’s Defence Ministry says the search is over after the bodies of the last two servicemen—Sergeant Mansur Gumarov and sailor Miras Turdybekuly—were found, bringing deaths from the September 24 naval drills in Mangystau to 14 (17 swept out; 3 rescued). National Mourning: Flags were lowered across Kazakhstan and entertainment was cancelled as President Tokayev declared September 25 a nationwide day of mourning; criminal cases and a government commission are investigating the circumstances. Regional Health Talks: In Bishkek, Central Asian states met on immunization to prevent new measles outbreaks, stressing sustained vaccination coverage amid high mobility and cross-border trade. Weather Watch: Kazakhstan braces for frosts of 1–3°C in parts of the north and east, with rain and thunderstorms expected in eastern, central, southern and southeastern regions. Sports (Kazakhstan in focus): At the Asian Games, Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkibekova knocked out India’s Sakshi Chaudhary in women’s boxing, and Kazakhstan’s Islam Satpayev won bronze in men’s 50m rifle 3 positions.

Caspian Sea Tragedy: Kazakhstan’s navy drills in the Mangystau region turned deadly as 17 servicemen were swept into the Caspian Sea; the death toll has now reached 12, with three rescued and two still missing, while President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared Sept. 25 a national day of mourning. Investigation & Accountability: A government commission has been set up by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, and the Prosecutor General’s Office opened a criminal case as a Defence Ministry commission headed by Dauren Kosanov moves to the site; families are being asked to receive support. Diplomacy at UN: Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi met counterparts from Canada, Jordan, Armenia and Switzerland and OSCE and ICRC leaders during the UN General Assembly high-level week, focusing on bilateral cooperation, political dialogue and regional security. Religion on Trial: A Taldykorgan court is set to resume the trial of nine men accused of involvement in the banned Tabligh Jamaat, with hidden-camera “special measures” cited by prosecutors. Business & Trade: Kazakhstan and Japan discussed deeper economic cooperation ahead of a December 2026 joint commission meeting in Astana, with AI, green transformation and supply-chain resilience on the agenda.

People’s Council Launch: President Tokayev opened the Kazakhstan Khalyk Kenesi in Astana, calling it a constitutional platform to channel regional interests and citizens’ views, with members tasked to keep reforms moving. Local Elections: Tokayev said early elections to local representative bodies (maslikhats) will be the “final stage” of public administration reform, with the Central Election Commission to set the dates after a decree. Economic Snapshot: Tokayev told citizens Kazakhstan’s GDP grew 29% over seven years to $306bn, with housing, schools, healthcare and roads expanding alongside a push to position the country as a “middle power.” Skills Drive: He warned Kazakhstan will need 2.9 million specialists by 2035 and highlighted dual education, qualification recognition centers and Astana’s Joltap workforce model. Middle Corridor Push: Kazakhstan and China reaffirmed support for the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor, aiming for safer, faster logistics and coordinated tariffs and standards. Energy & Industry: Uzbekistan plans a 1 GW data center complex in Karakalpakstan powered by renewables; Kazakhstan also discussed grid optimization and major infrastructure investment. Sports: Kazakhstan’s Zhibek Kulambayeva helped set up a Billie Jean King Cup clash, while Kazakhstan’s Rybakina took a two-week break after an Achilles injury.

Billie Jean King Cup: Spain beat Kazakhstan 2-1 in Shenzhen, reaching the semifinals for the first time in 18 years after a decisive doubles win where Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo saved 18 break points; Spain next faces Czechia. Sports—Asian Games: Kazakhstan’s athletes were in the spotlight across events, including Kazakhstan’s absence from Spain’s BJK Cup lineup due to Elena Rybakina not playing, while Kazakhstan also featured in Asian Games schedules and results. Infrastructure & finance: Kazakhstan’s parliament approved a framework partnership with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, aiming to draw about $6 billion over five years for transport, energy, healthcare and green projects. Regional energy talks: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan continued negotiations on the Kambar-Ata HPP-1 project, discussing implementation, financing and obligations, with some issues still unresolved. Environment & cities: A new eco-park opened in Astana under the presidential green push, backed by private investment and designed to boost jobs and tourism. Weather alert: Kazakhstan’s met service warned of strong winds, possible dust storms, fog, and high fire danger in multiple regions ahead of Sep 24.