Nicosia considers the official visit of President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides to Kazakhstan to be of exceptional importance, as beyond purely political contacts at the highest level, it will mark the launch of direct air service between the two countries and the opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Astana.
It should be noted that Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country by area and the largest landlocked country in the world, with a population of over 20 million and the Turkic-speaking Kazakh people as the dominant ethnic group.
Government sources indicate that President Christodoulides’ visit, the first by a Cypriot President to the country, is an opportunity to highlight the importance the Republic of Cyprus attaches to substantially strengthening bilateral relations and takes on particular significance, given Kazakhstan’s relations with Turkey.
According to a Presidency briefing, on the morning of Wednesday, June 3, the President of the Republic will hold a one-on-one meeting with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, followed by expanded talks between the delegations of the two countries. Subsequently, the President of Kazakhstan will award the President of the Republic the state decoration ‘Order of Friendship,’ a sign of the importance that the Kazakh side also attaches to the Cypriot President’s visit and to the deepening of relations between the two countries.
The strategic decision by both countries to upgrade their relations is also reflected in the decision to establish embassies in Astana and Nicosia, it is added. The President of the Republic will officiate at the opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Astana. ‘The opening of an embassy in the capital of Kazakhstan strengthens Cyprus’s presence in the broader Central Asian region, an area of strategic importance for the interests of the Republic of Cyprus,’ it is noted.
The Cypriot delegation led by the President of the Republic, as well as the trade/business mission, will travel to Kazakhstan on Tuesday on Air Astana’s first direct flight. The launch of the direct Cyprus-Kazakhstan air link is of particular significance, as Larnaca is among the few European cities (London, Frankfurt, Milan, Podgorica) that have air links with Kazakhstan, it is noted.
Furthermore, it is stated that in the presence of the two Presidents, Memoranda of Understanding will be signed between the two countries in the fields of Higher Education, research, culture, sports, information and communication technologies, cybersecurity, and e-governance.
The delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry Michael Damianos, Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy Nikodimos Damianou, and Deputy Government Spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou.
The President of the Republic is accompanied by a trade/business delegation. A Memorandum of Understanding will also be signed between the Cyprus and Kazakhstan Chambers of Commerce. The President of the Republic will attend and address the Cyprus-Kazakhstan Business Forum at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), and subsequently, the Alem A.I. International Artificial Intelligence Center
The delegation led by President Christodoulides to Kazakhstan follows the President of the Republic’s recent official visit to India, a development that adds value to Nicosia’s strategic pursuit of synergies in the wider region, as noted.
Focus on investments
According to the same briefing, the visit also offers an opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the investment sector, which constitutes the most important pillar of bilateral economic relations.
Specifically, it is noted that since 2005, Cypriot investments in Kazakhstan have exceeded $4 billion, while investments by Kazakh entities in Cyprus amount to approximately $1.8 billion. At the same time, more than 320 companies with Cypriot interests operate in Kazakhstan, while Kazakh companies also have a presence in the Republic of Cyprus.
In this context, Cyprus is promoted as a safe business environment fully aligned with the European acquis and as a reliable gateway to the EU single market, while Kazakhstan is strengthening its role as a regional economic hub in Central Asia.
Nicosia is also placing emphasis on strengthening cooperation in the areas of investment funds, renewable energy, and infrastructure, as well as on collaboration with the Astana International Financial Centre, which the President of the Republic will visit.