Geneva, 9 October 2026 – H.E. Mr. Kairat Torebayev, Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other International Economic Organizations in Geneva, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Idris Abdul Rahman Al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations (UN) Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.
During the meeting, Permanent Representative K. Torebayev and Permanent Representative I. Al Khanjari discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation, interaction within international organizations, and prospects for strengthening partnerships in areas of mutual interest.
Particular attention was paid to international cooperation in the fields of digitalization and telecommunications.
Both sides expressed their interest in further strengthening constructive dialogue and enhancing cooperation within multilateral frameworks.
Geneva, 2 October 2026 – Kazakhstan will chair the First Global Forum of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intellectual Property, to be held in Geneva on 9-10 November 2026. The Forum will be chaired by Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Economic Organizations Kairat Torebayev.
The new international platform will bring together ministers, heads of national authorities, representatives of technology companies, academia and the creative industries. Discussions will focus on the use of works and data in the development of AI, the protection of the interests of authors and inventors, and the distribution of economic value generated by new technologies.
As a first step in preparations for the Forum, a briefing for ambassadors of WIPO Member States was held today, 2 October, at WIPO headquarters. The briefing was conducted jointly by Permanent Representative K. Torebayev and WIPO Assistant Director General Ken Natsume. Participants discussed the objectives of the Forum and its programme.
Permanent Representative K. Torebayev emphasized that intellectual property is becoming one of the key instruments of economic development in the age of AI. Decisions in this field affect countries' competitiveness, the remuneration of content creators and the ability of national innovation systems to develop. They also concern the preservation of cultural and linguistic diversity, giving these discussions strategic importance at both the political and diplomatic levels.
During the discussion, ambassadors placed particular emphasis on expanding access to technology, strengthening national capacities and reducing the digital divide. Participants discussed the need to strike a balance between protecting human creativity and supporting technological development, while also creating opportunities for developing and smaller countries to participate actively in innovation processes.
Permanent Representative K. Torebayev encouraged Member States to engage actively in preparations for the Forum, involve relevant ministries and government agencies, share practical experience and propose topics for discussion.
For Kazakhstan, the Forum will provide an opportunity to present its achievements in the fields of AI and intellectual property to the international community.
Kazakhstan's chairmanship of this new WIPO platform strengthens the country's participation in the global dialogue on the future of innovation and creativity and opens additional opportunities for international cooperation.
Dushanbe, 29 September 2026 – Kazakhstan announced a new initiative aimed at advancing digital skills and strengthening human capital in African countries. The initiative was unveiled during the ITU Regional Forum for CIS countries, taking place in Dushanbe on 29–30 September.
Under the initiative, Kazakhstan will provide 100 free training places in digital technologies, programming and artificial intelligence for participants from African countries. Particular attention will be given to expanding opportunities for talented young people from least developed countries and landlocked developing countries.
The initiative will be implemented with the support of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and in close cooperation with the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT). The Bureau will facilitate the coordination of outreach and participant selection in cooperation with Kazakhstan’s education and training providers.
Kazakhstan has developed a dynamic digital ecosystem bringing together the alem.ai International Center for Artificial Intelligence, Astana Hub, and a range of educational initiatives in the field of information technology. These include the Tech Orda programme and Tomorrow School, a school of programming and artificial intelligence based on a peer-to-peer learning model.
By extending these educational opportunities to African countries, Kazakhstan aims to share its accumulated experience and contribute to the development of digital competencies beyond its region.
The initiative is intended to support the objectives of the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, advance South-South cooperation, and contribute to ITU’s efforts to bridge the global digital divide.
Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its cooperation with ITU in the areas of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation ecosystem development and human capital. The new initiative represents a practical contribution by Kazakhstan to expanding access to modern digital skills and creating new opportunities for young people.
Background: The ITU Regional Forum for CIS countries is being held in Dushanbe on 29–30 September 2026, bringing together representatives of countries from the region, ITU and other stakeholders to discuss digital development priorities and regional cooperation.
Geneva, 29 September 2026 – Kazakhstan has made significant progress in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026, rising by eight positions, from 81st to 73rd place among 139 economies worldwide. This marks Kazakhstan’s best performance in the past 10 years.
At the regional level, Kazakhstan ranked 1st among Central Asian countries and 2nd among the 11 economies of Central and Southern Asia. Among the 35 upper-middle-income economies, Kazakhstan ranked 17th. The most notable improvement was recorded in innovation outputs. Kazakhstan’s ranking in the Innovation Output Sub-Index rose by 11 positions, from 84th to 73rd place, while its ranking in the Innovation Input Sub-Index improved from 75th to 73rd place.
The GII 2026 results were presented at WIPO headquarters in Geneva as part of an advance presentation of the Index for Permanent Representatives of Member States.
Kazakhstan’s improved ranking was preceded by systematic work at both the national and international levels. Throughout 2026, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Geneva established direct engagement with WIPO on GII-related matters, focusing on specific indicators, the methodology used to calculate them, and the quality of the underlying data.
At the initiative of the Permanent Mission, a dedicated online consultation was organized between WIPO experts and relevant government authorities of Kazakhstan. The discussion examined Kazakhstan’s indicators in detail, including data sources, missing and outdated statistics, as well as priority areas for further work. Following these consultations, the Permanent Mission prepared an analytical assessment of the GII containing specific recommendations, which was circulated to the relevant government bodies of Kazakhstan. Particular attention was given to the quality of international statistics and the timely and accurate reflection of Kazakhstan’s data.
This work made it possible to shift Kazakhstan’s engagement with WIPO from the annual monitoring of its ranking to substantive work on specific indicators, data sources and the policy measures required to improve performance.
Despite the progress achieved, further improvement remains possible in areas such as research and development expenditure, university-industry collaboration, venture capital, the development of innovation clusters, software, and scientific and technical publications.
The Permanent Mission will continue its engagement with WIPO on individual GII indicators and methodology. The next objective will be to consolidate the progress achieved and further improve Kazakhstan’s position through systematic work by government authorities on the Index’s key indicators.
New York, 24 September 2026 – Kazakhstan presented its national approach to developing human capital in artificial intelligence (AI) at the high-level meeting of the AI Skills Coalition, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on the margins of the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
Opening the meeting, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin stressed that, amid the rapid development of AI, ensuring equal access to the necessary knowledge and skills is becoming one of the key global challenges. According to ITU estimates, around 1.2 billion people need training in basic digital skills in order to achieve global goals by 2030.
Kazakhstan was represented at the event by Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan Doszhan Musaliyev. He outlined the country's systemic approach to training AI professionals, ranging from school education and vocational training to research and technology entrepreneurship.
One of Kazakhstan's key goals is to train more than 5 million people in digital and AI skills over the next five years. To this end, the country is implementing the AI Sana, Tomorrow School, AI Olympiad and Tech Orda programs, as well as specialized programs for civil servants and senior managers.
Today, 79 Kazakh universities offer programs in information technology (IT) and AI, with more than 76,000 students enrolled. The Alem.ai international center brings together educational, research and startup initiatives, providing access to state-of-the-art computing infrastructure. More than 12,000 people have already completed training under the Tech Orda program, with over 90% of graduates securing employment.
The discussion also brought together representatives of Trinidad and Tobago, Pakistan and the Dominican Republic, as well as ITU, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Bank, technology companies and the academic community.
The AI Skills Coalition meeting focused on moving from stand-alone educational initiatives to AI competence development at scale and strengthening national ecosystems. Kazakhstan reaffirmed its readiness to actively contribute to this work and to share its experience in preparing talent for the AI-driven economy.
Geneva, 22 September 2026 – Kazakhstan participated in the inaugural Giga Learning Hub Masterclass, organized by Giga, a joint initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The Masterclass, entitled “Effective Regulation for Leveraging Satellite Technologies in Connecting Rural Schools to the Internet,” focused on the exchange of practical experience in satellite connectivity regulation and expanding connectivity to remote and underserved areas.
At Giga's invitation, a representative of the Telecommunications Committee of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan presented the country's experience in developing digital infrastructure, deploying satellite technologies and bridging the digital divide.
The presentation highlighted key areas of Kazakhstan's “Accessible Internet” National Project for 2024–2027. By the end of 2027, Kazakhstan aims to provide 100% of its population with Internet access. More than 90% of rural settlements are expected to have access to high-speed Internet through wired technologies, while the most remote settlements will be connected using satellite solutions.
Currently, three satellite Internet operators are active in Kazakhstan, with two additional companies expected to enter the market. In addition, Kazakhstan plans to launch Direct-to-Cell (D2C) technology by the end of 2026 to further expand mobile connectivity.
Background: Giga is a joint ITU–UNICEF initiative aimed at connecting schools to the Internet. The Giga Learning Hub Masterclass series brings together government representatives, regulators and industry experts to exchange practical solutions and experience in advancing digital connectivity.
Geneva, 22 September 2026 – Astana has been selected as one of the 15 finalists of WIPO City of Innovation 2026, a new global award launched for the first time by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2026 to recognize cities making concrete commitments to advancing innovation and creativity. Kazakhstan's capital has become the only city from Central Asia represented among the finalists of the inaugural competition and is competing for the award for the first time.
The final features 15 cities from 11 countries around the world – Charleroi (Belgium), Shanghai (China), Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram (India), Amman and the Municipality of Bergish/Irbid (Jordan), Astana (Kazakhstan), Tetouan and Rabat (Morocco), Echague (Philippines), Caldas da Rainha (Portugal), Moscow (Russian Federation), Mueang Lamphun and Roi Et (Thailand), and Liverpool (United Kingdom).
With the support of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the WTO in Geneva, applications from three Kazakh cities were submitted to WIPO in June this year. Following an international selection process, Astana was chosen as one of the finalists of the inaugural WIPO City of Innovation competition.
On its official finalists' webpage, WIPO presents Astana as a city seeking to build a self-sustaining innovation ecosystem in which digital technologies directly respond to residents' needs and contemporary urban challenges. Key priorities highlighted include the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) powered Smart City, the creation of a single digital gateway for personalized public services, the strengthening of the innovation ecosystem, and the use of technology to advance sustainability and improve accessibility across the urban environment.
At the heart of Astana's application is a 12-month transformation programme. One of its central elements is Astana Smart City – an integrated intelligent urban management framework bringing together information systems, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, transport infrastructure, video streams and a digital twin of the city.
Another key priority is the development of astana.kz based on the “City as a Service” model, creating a unified digital environment where residents can access personalized services and interact with the city through an AI assistant. The capital also aims to develop a full innovation cycle, from education and startup acceleration to research and development (R&D) and bringing technological solutions to international markets.
Next Stop – Geneva
On 12 October 2026, WIPO Headquarters in Geneva will host the WIPO City of Innovation award ceremony, where up to three winning cities will be announced. The ceremony will take place on the sidelines of the sixth session of the United Nations Forum of Mayors.
The winning cities will gain an international platform to showcase their innovation initiatives, opportunities to expand engagement with the global innovation and intellectual property community, and additional visibility for their urban projects through WIPO's communication channels and information resources.
On 12 October in Geneva, it will be revealed whether Astana will become one of the first cities in history to receive the WIPO City of Innovation title.
Astana's selection as a finalist in WIPO's inaugural competition and its status as the only representative of Central Asia reflect growing international attention to the capital's initiatives in digitalization, artificial intelligence, Smart City development, sustainability and urban inclusiveness.
Geneva, 15 September 2026 – Kairat Torebayev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Economic Organizations, met with Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
During the meeting, the sides discussed further development of practical cooperation between Kazakhstan and WIPO, with particular emphasis on the digitalization of the intellectual property system, the introduction of modern technological solutions, and the strengthening of the country's innovation ecosystem.
In particular, the discussions covered further interaction between Kazakhstan's national digital platforms and WIPO tools, as well as the application of artificial intelligence technologies in the examination of intellectual property rights. The sides also discussed the forthcoming publication of the Global Innovation Index. They noted the work carried out jointly with WIPO to update relevant national data and indicators reflecting the development of Kazakhstan's innovation system. The Kazakh side expressed hope that the work undertaken and the progress achieved in developing the national innovation ecosystem would be reflected in the results of the forthcoming Index.
Particular attention was given to preparations for the WIPO Global Forum on Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence, to be held in Geneva on 9–10 November 2026. Kazakhstan reaffirmed its interest in actively participating in the Forum, including through the engagement of representatives of the country's artificial intelligence sector. Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative K. Torebayev will participate in the Forum as Chair. The sides underscored the growing importance of international dialogue on issues at the intersection of artificial intelligence and the intellectual property system.
The meeting also addressed Kazakhstan's participation in the WIPO City of Innovation Award. Kazakhstan submitted applications from Astana, Konayev and Karaganda, showcasing different approaches to innovation-driven and digital urban development. The results of the Award are expected to be announced on 12 October 2026, with up to three cities to be selected as winners. The award ceremony will take place at WIPO headquarters in Geneva in connection with the Sixth UN Forum of Mayors.
The WIPO Director General highly appreciated Kazakhstan's active engagement with the Organization and the positive momentum in bilateral cooperation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in further expanding practical cooperation in the fields of intellectual property, innovation and emerging technologies.
Geneva, 11 September 2026 – Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international economic organizations in Geneva, Kairat Torebayev, held a meeting with the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, H.E. Marcel Robert Tibaleka.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the state and prospects of Kazakhstan-Uganda relations and exchanged views on opportunities to expand trade and economic cooperation, as well as cooperation in the digital sphere and human capital development.
Particular attention was paid to cooperation between the two countries on multilateral platforms in Geneva and to strengthening engagement within international organizations.
The parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in maintaining regular contacts and further developing constructive dialogue between Kazakhstan and Uganda.
Geneva, 10 September 2026 – Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the WTO and other international economic organizations in Geneva Kairat Torebayev held a meeting with Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cameroon to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations H.E. Mr. Salomon Eheth.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects for the development of Kazakhstan-Cameroon relations, with particular attention paid to expanding trade and economic cooperation and identifying new areas of mutually beneficial engagement.
Special attention was given to the interaction between the two countries within multilateral platforms in Geneva, as well as opportunities to strengthen cooperation within international organizations.
The parties confirmed their mutual interest in maintaining regular contacts and further developing a constructive dialogue between Kazakhstan and Cameroon.