As part of the state visit of Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said to Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan-Oman Business Forum was held with the participation of representatives of leading companies and business communities of the two countries.
Addressing the Forum, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that the high-level talks, held in an atmosphere of trust and deep mutual understanding, were open, frank and truly meaningful.
The Head of State emphasized that further development of trade, economic and investment ties between Kazakhstan and Oman requires strengthening the relevant legal and institutional framework. In this context, the President highlighted the importance of the Bilateral Investment Treaty, which is designed to provide investors with more predictable, transparent and secure conditions for project implementation.
Particular attention in his speech was devoted to developing direct ties between the business communities of the two countries.
“I strongly believe that the establishment of the Kazakhstan-Oman Business Council will create a practical platform for active engagement between business communities,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
The Head of State noted that the shared goals of Kazakhstan and Oman are backed by effective financial mechanisms.
“We welcome the signing of the agreement to launch a Joint investment structure between Samruk-Kazyna and the Oman Investment Authority. This important endeavor will pave the way for mobilizing financing and attracting further investment. Likewise, we see significant potential for cooperation with the newly established International Financial Centre of Oman. Direct engagement between our financial institutions can open up new opportunities and avenues for mutual investment,” he said.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev elaborated on the existing experience of implementing joint projects in key sectors of the economy.
“We are proud of our successful longstanding partnership in energy and mining, which already yields positive results. Combining our strengths in these vital fields will allow us to create new joint ventures that ensure long-term prosperity for both countries,” the President said.
The speech also highlighted the significant potential for cooperation in transport and logistics.
“We regard Oman as an important transit and logistics partner for Kazakhstan, given its strategic geographic location, advanced port infrastructure and access to Middle Eastern and Africa markets. Kazakhstan, in turn, offers substantial natural resources, a growing industrial base, and a strategic position along emerging transport routes linking Asia and Europe and real connectivity plans,” the Head of State emphasized.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also called for strengthening cooperation in agriculture and food security.
“My country, with its vast agricultural land, is ready to become a reliable partner in ensuring the long-term food security in the entire Gulf region,” the President stated.
In conclusion, the Head of State identified the key task at this stage as giving concrete substance to the agreements reached at the political level and making economic engagement a key pillar of the Kazakhstan-Oman partnership.
“I call on the business communities of Kazakhstan and Oman to make full use of the Business Council to forge partnerships, develop viable projects and expand mutual investment. With the active participation of our business communities, we can take our economic relations to a new level,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev concluded.
AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov, Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna Nurlan Zhakupov, and President of the Oman Investment Authority Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi also addressed the Forum.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, who is paying a state visit to Kazakhstan, visited the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and familiarized themselves with its activities.
AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov briefed the distinguished guests on the Centre’s performance, with particular focus on the opportunities it can offer for further developing investment and economic ties between Kazakhstan and Oman.
During the presentation, it was noted that the total volume of investment attracted to Kazakhstan since the launch of the AIFC has exceeded 28 billion US dollars. More than 6,600 companies from 90 countries have been registered with the Centre.
The leaders of the two countries were briefed on the distinctive features of the AIFC jurisdiction, which is based on the principles of English common law, as well as the activities of the Astana Financial Services Authority, the AIFC Court and the International Arbitration Centre.
Particular attention was paid to the AIFC’s opportunities in the field of Islamic finance. The guests were also presented with AIDA (AIFC Intelligent Digital Assistant), an intelligent assistant providing advisory support 24/7.
In his remarks, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the historic significance of the Sultan of Oman’s visit, describing it as a genuine breakthrough in bilateral relations.
“Oman is a strategically important and time-tested partner of Kazakhstan in the Arab world. For more than three decades, our cooperation has been developing in a spirit of trust, mutual understanding and support. Today, as we welcome Your Majesty to Astana, we are elevating our relations to a historically significant level. This is the first state visit by a Sultan of Oman to Kazakhstan and Central Asia. I regard this visit as a sign of sincere respect for my country and as a symbol of the shared aspiration of our two countries to develop trade and cooperation across all areas of mutual interest, from traditional sectors such as oil and gas to emerging fields such as transport and logistics, digitalization and artificial intelligence, as well as the exchange of information on opportunities to establish trade ties and agricultural products. We are pleased to have such a strategic partner as Oman and will do everything possible to remain a reliable partner for your country,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
The Head of State noted Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said’s steadfast personal commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
“Your Majesty, you are a great statesman. Your far-sighted approach to governance and many years of service to your people command the deepest respect. The people of Kazakhstan hold you in the highest regard and take pride in being able to call Oman not only a partner, but also a friendly and brotherly state. By investing in human capital, embracing innovation and building a future-oriented economy, you demonstrate how strategic vision can transform a state and ensure its sustainable prosperity. Oman Vision 2040 reflects your strategic course towards building a diversified, competitive and sustainable economy while preserving the country’s national identity, values and traditions. As a true leader, a champion of peace and an embodiment of wisdom, you continue to inspire many people around the world and leaders at the highest level,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
The President went on to highlight Oman’s role in strengthening regional stability, promoting interfaith dialogue and advancing humanitarian initiatives.
“Your ability to build bridges between different sides and promote mutual understanding has helped secure Oman’s unique place in regional and international affairs. We highly value this approach. Your country is rightly regarded as one of the most effective, fair and impartial international mediators. Your historic visit will forever remain an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Oman. It is a great honor for me to present you, Your Majesty, with the Order of Altyn Qyran in recognition of your invaluable contribution to strengthening the bonds of friendship between our peoples,” the Head of State said.
In turn, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman awarded President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the Sultanate of Oman’s highest state decoration, the Order of Al Said.
During the talks, the Head of State welcomed the Sultan of Oman to Kazakhstan, noting that this was his first visit to Central Asia as Sultan.
“We regard Oman as a time-tested and reliable partner of Kazakhstan in the Arab world. Next year, we will proudly mark a significant milestone – the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Oman. Over this period, we have laid a solid foundation for transitioning to a new and dynamic stage of partnership, built on longstanding ties of friendship, mutual support and solidarity. The recent productive visit to Astana by a high-level Omani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said was a clear testament to the growing synergy between our countries,” the President of Kazakhstan said.
The Head of State expressed confidence that the agreements reached would bring substantial benefits to the two brotherly peoples and elevate the strategic partnership to a new level.
“Following the talks, we will sign a significant package of bilateral agreements covering various areas of economic cooperation, including energy, transport and logistics, agriculture, information technology and digitalization, healthcare, as well as other sectors. In addition, we will adopt a new Joint Statement outlining the priority areas of our partnership,” the President said.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev positively assessed the implementation of a number of joint projects, including the development of the Dunga oil field, enterprises of Solidcore Resources’ operations in the Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan regions, a Joint investment fund with the Oman Investment Authority, as well as the development of hotel and resort infrastructure.
For his part, Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said thanked Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the warm welcome and successful talks, noting the steady development of comprehensive Kazakh-Omani cooperation.
“Oman attaches great importance to its engagement with Kazakhstan. We welcome the momentum that bilateral cooperation has gained in recent years. High-level exchanges of visits, the work of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission have established a solid foundation that will enable us to take our cooperation to a more ambitious level,” the Sultan of Oman said.
According to Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Oman sees significant opportunities for growth, investment and cooperation with Kazakhstan across a range of sectors, including energy and mining, agriculture and food security, transport and logistics, financial services, tourism, technology and artificial intelligence.
“We welcome the implementation of projects bringing together our sovereign investment institutions, private sectors and specialized government entities. Connectivity is another area of major importance. Kazakhstan occupies a strategic position along major global trade corridors connecting Asia and Europe, while Oman provides direct maritime access to key markets across the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, Asia and Africa. Building on these complementary advantages opens up significant opportunities for growth and offers great value to both countries. Therefore, we look forward to advancing cooperation in transport and logistics, including the development of a trade corridor through Omani ports, as well as strengthening air connectivity between our countries,” the Sultan of Oman noted.
Haitham bin Tariq Al Said invited President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Oman at his convenience.
An official welcoming ceremony for Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, who arrived in our country on a state visit, was held at the Palace of Independence.
During the ceremony, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said introduced the members of their respective official delegations. The Commander of the Guard of Honor delivered a ceremonial report, followed by the national anthems of Kazakhstan and Oman performed by the Presidential Orchestra.
The two heads of state then proceeded to the fireplace hall for a meeting in a narrow setting.
Welcoming the distinguished guest, President Tokayev described the first visit by the Sultan of Oman to Kazakhstan as a historic event.
“Your Majesty, it is my great honor and pleasure to welcome you on a state visit to Kazakhstan, the first-ever visit by a Sultan of Oman to our country. I am convinced that this visit is of historic significance, as it opens a new chapter in multifaceted cooperation between our countries, which needs to be intensified and brought to a new level. As we have already noted, there is enormous potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries that needs to be unlocked and fully realized,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The President underscored that he would make every effort to ensure that Kazakhstan becomes a reliable partner for Oman.
“Oman enjoys great respect in Kazakhstan. Today, many of our citizens visit your beautiful country. At the same time, there are also Kazakh people that have not yet visited Muscat and other cities in Oman. Naturally, with the launch of additional direct commercial flights between our countries, our citizens will visit your country much more frequently. I have also been informed that, as part of your visit, an important agreement concerning the Dunga oil field was signed. I believe this is further evidence of our mutual interest and readiness to move forward, as well as a symbol of our shared progress,” noted President Tokayev.
In turn, the Sultan of Oman expressed gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan for the hospitality extended to him.
“Over the past three decades, our relations have indeed advanced significantly and grown stronger. Our visit today is aimed at consolidating the achievements we have made and bringing our bilateral relations to a new level. During the visit, we will sign several agreements and MoU. I am sure that, with your guidance, we will be able to build very strong relations in the economic, political, cultural and humanitarian spheres. We would like to see more and more citizens of Oman visit Kazakhstan, as well as more citizens of Kazakhstan travel to Oman. Allow me once again to thank you, Mr. President, for your hospitality. I also hope to see you in Muscat in the very near future,” stressed Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.
5 October 2026
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said of Oman at Astana Airport, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a State Visit.
From the moment the Sultan of Oman’s aircraft crossed the state border of the Republic of Kazakhstan until its arrival at the capital’s airport, it was escorted by fighter jets of the Kazakhstan Air Force.
A guard of honour and the Presidential Orchestra were lined up on the tarmac to welcome the distinguished guest.
A brief conversation between the leaders of the two countries then took place in the airport’s arrival hall.
The Head of State welcomed the visit of the Sultan of Oman, emphasizing its historic significance for the further development of bilateral relations.
“Oman is well known as a successful state that has achieved significant results in economic development and plays a highly active and constructive role as an international mediator. Your country enjoys well-deserved authority not only in its region but far beyond it, including in Kazakhstan. I am convinced that the partnership between our countries has significant potential, which we need to fully unlock and effectively realize,” the President said.
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said thanked Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the warm welcome and expressed confidence that the forthcoming talks would be substantive and successful.
The programme of the visit includes high-level talks, the signing of a number of important documents, as well as the participation of the two Heads of State in the Kazakhstan–Oman Business Forum.
Astana, August 31, 2026 – The second round of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Oman took place in Astana.
The consultations were co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Issagaliyev and Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Khalifa Al Harthy.
The sides discussed the current state and prospects of Kazakhstan-Oman relations, reaffirming their mutual interest in further strengthening the trust-based political dialogue.
Particular attention was paid to expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation. The importance of continuing mutually beneficial partnership in the energy and mining and metallurgical sectors was emphasized. The sides discussed joint projects in food production, transport and logistics, artificial intelligence and new technologies.
The sides exchanged views on current issues of the regional and global agenda, as well as cooperation within the UN, OIC, CICA and IOFS. They also discussed prospects for interregional cooperation within the “Central Asia – Gulf Cooperation Council” format.
Following the meeting, the sides agreed on a schedule of upcoming events at the highest and high levels.
Overview
On 3 June 2026, the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, approved in the first reading the draft law “On Amnesty in Connection with the Adoption of the New Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan” and accompanying legislative amendments.
The proposed legislation introduces the first large-scale administrative amnesty in Kazakhstan’s history and is directly linked to the adoption of the new Constitution in 2026 and the country’s broader programme of political and institutional reforms.
While Kazakhstan has periodically conducted criminal amnesties, administrative amnesty has never previously been applied, despite the legal possibility existing under the Code of Administrative Offences. The new initiative seeks to provide individuals who committed minor administrative offences with an opportunity to resolve outstanding liabilities and move forward.
The administrative amnesty will be conducted alongside a criminal amnesty, marking the first time both measures have been implemented simultaneously. Similar programmes aimed at reducing administrative penalties and outstanding fines have been used in various forms in several countries around the world.
Under the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amnesty in connection with the Adoption of the New Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan”
(Law No. 328-VIII of 1 July, 2026) the measures required to implement the amnesty will be carried out from 1 July to 31 December 2026.
Key Facts at a Glance
Why the Amnesty Is Being Introduced
Administrative Amnesty: Who Is Eligible
The administrative amnesty will be regulated under a new Article 889-1 of Kazakhstan’s Code of Administrative Offences.
The measure applies to administrative fines imposed on:
The inclusion of individual entrepreneurs is intended to support economic activity and reduce the financial burden associated with outstanding administrative penalties.
The administrative amnesty will not apply to:
Criminal Amnesty
Since independence, Kazakhstan has conducted around ten criminal amnesties linked to major national milestones and humanitarian considerations. The current initiative is distinct because it is the first to combine a criminal amnesty with a large-scale administrative amnesty.
Who is excluded: The amnesty will not apply to persons convicted of:
Implementation Mechanism
Expected Impact
Beyond its immediate humanitarian and administrative objectives, the initiative forms part of Kazakhstan’s broader programme of constitutional, political, and institutional modernisation. By resolving accumulated administrative cases through a fully digital process, the amnesty is also expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to improve administrative efficiency, enhance the quality of government data systems, and support the further digital transformation of public services.
International Practice
Countries around the world periodically introduce amnesty or penalty-relief programmes to help citizens and businesses resolve outstanding administrative liabilities, reduce enforcement burdens, and encourage compliance.
Examples include:
Muscat, August 26, 2026 –Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Isagaliyev, paid a working visit to the Sultanate of Oman.
During his visit, A. Isagaliyev met with Khalifa Al-Harthy, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and future prospects of Kazakhstan-Oman relations, pressing issues on the regional and international agenda, as well as cooperation within multilateral organizations.
More attention was paid to further strengthening ties and organizing visits at the high and highest levels. The sides also agreed on the dates for the second round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Sultanate of Oman, which will take place in Astana.
Taking this opportunity, Al-Harthy warmly congratulated Kazakhstan on the successful holding of the country’s first-ever elections to the unicameral Kurultai.
Confidence has been expressed that the new Parliament will play a key role in further advancing consistent reforms in Kazakhstan, will provide effective legislative support for large-scale transformations, and will give new impetus to the country’s sustainable development under the leadership of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
As part of the working visit, A. Isagaliyev also met with Mulham Al-Jarf, First Deputy Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority.
The sides discussed the current state and future prospects of investment cooperation between the two countries, including the implementation of joint projects and the expansion of cooperation between the business communities of Kazakhstan and Oman.
At the conclusion of the meetings, the sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening political dialogue and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between Kazakhstan and Oman.
Muscat, 18 August 2026 – Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Sultanate of Oman Aidarbek Tumatov met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman Sheikh Khalifa Al-Harthy as part of efforts to coordinate joint measures aimed at further developing and enhancing bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, the sides discussed priority areas of cooperation and joint steps for the upcoming period. In the political sphere, particular attention was paid to the organization of official visits, which will provide additional impetus to the development of Kazakhstan–Oman relations and help elevate them to a new level.
In the context of further expanding the bilateral legal framework, the sides noted the importance of continuing work on the preparation and conclusion of bilateral documents that meet the current needs and prospective areas of Kazakhstan–Oman cooperation.
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan inquired about the outcome of the consideration of Kazakhstan’s request for the Sultanate of Oman to support the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to establish an international water organization under the auspices of the United Nations.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman was briefed on the upcoming elections to the Quryltai of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for 23 August 2026, which will be one of the most important political events in the country this year.