Kazakhstan actively participated in the annual «A Cup For a Good Cause» Festival in Jeddah

Jeddah, February 16, 2025 – From February 13 to 15, 2025, the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Jeddah, with the support of Kazakh diaspora members in Jeddah, represented our country at the annual cultural festival «A Cup For a Good Cause» held at the «Park Hyatt Jeddah» Hotel.

The event, dedicated to the theme of arts and crafts, was attended by 16 diplomatic missions from foreign countries accredited in Jeddah, as well as more than 100 cultural and social organizations and representatives of small businesses specializing in handmade products.

Notably, the Republic of Kazakhstan was the only participant from the CIS countries at this festival.

Over the course of three days, each participating country aimed to showcase the diversity of its culture and traditions, offering festival guests national dishes, jewelry, and handmade souvenirs.

Thanks to cohesive teamwork, Kazakh diplomats and members of the Kazakh diaspora were able to represent their country with dignity. Festival guests had the opportunity to taste traditional Kazakh dishes – baursak, shi baursak, kurt, meat slices of kazy, katyrlak (fried dough), and, of course, the signature «Kazakhstan» chocolate.

Foreigners and the local public were impressed by the hospitality of Kazakh girls in traditional clothing. The main art display at Kazakhstan’s stand was a thematic panel titled «Kazakh Art & Craft». Additionally, handmade silver jewelry, pointillist paintings, dolls in Kazakh national costumes, headwear, and tableware were presented.

Guests were particularly interested in home textiles – korpe (quilts), pillows, and blankets. Kazakh artisans demonstrated the process of creating and applying Kazakh ornaments, as well as the technique of embroidery known as kuralak-korpe.

The high level of interest in Kazakh culture and traditions was confirmed by the personal visit to the Kazakh pavilion by the festival’s Honorary Guest, the Deputy Governor of the Medina Region, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Khaled Al-Faisal Al Saud. The distinguished guest went beyond the formal visit, sampling Kazakh delicacies and engaging in conversation with the artisans.

Prince Saud bin Khaled Al Saud mentioned that he had previously served for several years as Vice-Chairman of the Kazakhstan-Saudi Arabia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural-Humanitarian Cooperation. He also wished success in strengthening cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Kingdom.

The three-day cultural event concluded with an awards ceremony for festival participants, who received commemorative gifts and diplomas. The Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh diaspora were honored with a special commemorative gift for their «Active Participation and Promotion of the Culture and Traditions of Their Country».

The event organizers, the Jeddah First Women’s Charity Association, and the Chairperson of the Association, Dr. Hala Ali Hassan ash-Shaer, expressed their gratitude to Kazakhstan’s representatives for their dignified demonstration of national culture and traditions, and expressed their willingness to continue cultural cooperation.

In his turn, Mr.Ruslan Kospanov, Consul General of Kazakhstan in Jeddah, noted that Kazakhstan's success at the festival was made possible by the active participation of the Kazakh diaspora in Jeddah and their coordinated teamwork.

Thus, Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its reputation on the international stage as a peaceful country that respects the diversity of national traditions and supports mutual cultural enrichment.