Astana International Forum 2025: Consolidating Kazakhstan’s Role as a Global Dialogue Hub
5 June 2025
By: Dr. Asadullah Karimov, Director General for South Africa and Kazakhstan Trading and Cultural Association, Pretoria, South Africa
The Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025 concluded with wide-ranging discussions on global economic transformation, climate challenges, food security, and technological innovation, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s position as a bridge-builder between regions and a key voice for multilateral cooperation. Bringing together heads of state, policymakers, business leaders, and experts, the Forum offered practical roadmaps for strengthening international dialogue at a time of global uncertainty.
This year’s agenda emphasized sustainable development and resilience. Panels addressed issues from the transition to green energy and the digital economy to the modernization of multilateral institutions. Notably, participants underscored the growing role of Central Asia as a dynamic region shaping solutions on energy connectivity, transport corridors, and food security. Kazakhstan’s own reform trajectory and its experience in balancing diverse partnerships were highlighted as an example of pragmatic global engagement.
Kazakhstan and Africa: New Horizons of Partnership
Among the most dynamic sessions was “Kazakhstan and Africa: New Frontiers of Cooperation”, which explored opportunities for deeper ties between Central Asia and Africa. Moderated by Lassina Zerbo, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and former Executive Secretary of the CTBTO, the panel featured senior political leaders, business figures, and traditional authorities from across Africa.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alibek Kuantyrov stressed that Africa represents a strategic partner for Kazakhstan, not a distant or aid-dependent region. He highlighted that trade between Kazakhstan and African states grew by 15 percent in 2024, reaching 783 million US dollars. Particular attention was drawn to African investment in Kazakhstan, such as Egypt’s EIPICO pharmaceutical project worth 33 million US dollars, demonstrating confidence in Kazakhstan as a platform for long-term, high-tech investment. Discussions also touched on collaboration in agriculture, food security, logistics, and digital technologies—areas where Kazakhstan seeks to align its capabilities with Africa’s growing needs.
Global Takeaways
The Forum’s outcome was a reaffirmation of the importance of dialogue in building practical, multilateral solutions. Kazakhstan positioned itself as both a convener and a contributor, ready to facilitate connectivity between regions, share expertise in sustainable development, and attract investment into mutually beneficial projects. The event’s strong participation from diverse continents underlined Astana’s role as a neutral hub for open discussion and forward-looking cooperation.
The Astana International Forum 2025 demonstrated that in a rapidly shifting global order, inclusive dialogue and pragmatic partnerships remain essential. For Kazakhstan, it was another step in advancing its vision of a more interconnected, resilient, and multipolar world.