General Information
19 August 1992 - the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Portuguese Republic established diplomatic relations.
2015 – Portugal opened its Embassy in Kazakhstan.
2019 - Kazakhstan opened its Embassy in Portugal.
Since September 2019, Daulet Batrashev has been the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Portuguese Republic.
From June 2022 to December 2023, Maria de Fatima Velez de Andrade Mendes held position of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Portuguese Republic to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Contacts at the Highest Levels:
President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbayev visited Portugal in November 2010 during the NATO Summit.
President of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev met with President M.Souza during the 74th and 78th (September 2023) sessions of UNGA.
- Portuguese Foreign Ministers Luis Amado and Paulo Portas visited Kazakhstan three times (2010, 2012, and 2014).
- Minister of Foreign Affairs E.Idrisov and Deputy Prime Minister-Minister-Minister of Foreign Affairs M.Tleuberdi visited Portugal in May 2013 and February 2023, respectively.
- Visits of Deputy Prime Minister A.Zhumagaliev (2017), Akim of Astana B.Sultanov (2019), and Minister of Information and Public Development D.Abayev (2019) also occurred.
Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
- April 2009, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev visited Portugal.
- Delegation of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by I.Adyrbekov, visited Portugal in March 2012.
- Parliamentary friendship groups operate in the Assembly of the Republic (parliament of Portugal) and the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Trade and Economic Cooperation
In recent years, the indicators of mutual trade show a steady growth.
Bilateral trade turnover in 2023 reached $50.5 mln. (export – $4.9 mln., import – $45.6 mln.), 65% increase from the previous 2022 year ($30,6 mln., export – $83.6 thousand, import – $30.5 mln.).
Gross direct investment inflows from Portugal to Kazakhstan totaled $254.4 million from 2005 to the third quarter of 2023.
Over twenty legal entities, branches, and representative offices with Portuguese capital are registered in Kazakhstan.
Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation
Concerts, film festivals, and academic collaborations reflect the vibrant cultural ties between the two nations.
In March 2018, the People's Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.Musakhodjaeva performed a concert in Lisbon.
In July 2019, the TURKSOY Youth Chamber Choir took part in the International Festival of Choral Music in Lisbon.
In 2019-2020, Kazakhstani students studied on Master's degree within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement between Kazakh National Art University and Lusophone University of Humanities and Technology.
In 2023 concerts of the State Chamber Ensemble of Kazakhstan Forte-Trio took place in Porto, Braga and Lisbon.
Films by Kazakhstani directors regularly take part in the BRAGACINE International Independent Film Festival: in 2022, the feature film "Kazakh Khanate: The Diamond Sword" won the Grand Prix and was awarded the main prize in the category "Best Director's Work", and the film "Jauzhurek Mynbala" took part in the festival in 2023.
In 2023, “Kazakhstan - Like Never Before” tourism promotion video won 2 main prizes "Destination - Countries" and "Advertising Campaign" at the 16th ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival in Portugal.
For strengthening academic collaboration, there are several bilateral agreements:
- In 2011, agreement signed between KazNU named after Al-Farabi, the Engineering Institute of Lisbon, and the University of Lisbon in order to promote internships, educational programs, and research activities.
- In 2019, KazNUI entered into agreement with New Lisbon University for exchange of students and teachers within the framework of academic mobility. Additionally, a similar agreement signed with the International University of Tourism and Hospitality of Lisbon.
- in 2020, the International University of Tourism and Hospitality of Turkestan and the University of Algarve, as well as the University of Minho signed agreements furthering their academic ties.
- In 2022, the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan and the Institute of Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This memorandum focuses on training diplomatic staff, collaborative research, and the exchange of information and documents.