The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Israel Marked Independence Day

Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, attended a formal reception hosted by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Israel to mark the 31st Anniversary of the Republic's Independence. The event, held in Tel Aviv, brought together Israeli public figures, government officials, diplomats, and politicians.

Welcoming the guests, Satybaldy Burshakov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Israel, noted that thirty years ago, Israel was among the first nations to establish formal diplomatic relations with the Republic.

“Over the decades, Kazakhstan and Israel have established strong, friendly ties at all levels (...) Today, we observe intensive dynamics in bilateral cooperation, which has yielded significant results in numerous fields: trade, agriculture, medicine, and others. (...) I would like to emphasize that our nations have established not only political, but also cultural dialogue. Spiritual and values-based connections between our peoples strengthen year by year,” stated the Head of the Diplomatic Mission.

“Over the past 31 years, we have come a long way and achieved significant success. We now look to the future with optimism and stand ready to further develop our bilateral cooperation,” Ambassador Burshakov added.

The history of relation-building between the Jewish community and the leadership of the Republic of Kazakhstan dates back to 2002, when a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Eurasian Rabbinical Council and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan.

Throughout these years, EAJC leaders have maintained close contact with the leadership of Kazakhstan, which culminated in a personal meeting. In April 2019, a delegation of international Jewish leaders, led by the President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), Mikhail Mirilashvili, held talks with Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan. During the meeting, the parties noted the active development of the Jewish community in Kazakhstan, which receives the necessary support at the state level. The EAJC leaders then requested President Tokayev to consider supporting Israel within international organizations and expressed gratitude to the Head of State for his consistent condemnation of antisemitism and support for the Jewish community. Additionally, the parties discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the situation of the Jewish community and bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Israel.

A vivid demonstration of this active bilateral dialogue was the holding of the major VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, in which the EAJC delegation took part.

Over the span of 30 years, Kazakhstan and Israel have achieved a high level of cooperation in political, economic, trade, and cultural spheres. The parties cooperate actively within the framework of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. A key area of bilateral work between Israel and the Republic of Kazakhstan is the trade and economic sector. Direct investment from Israel into the economy of Kazakhstan reached $33 million in 2021.