Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni oversaw the signing of agreements worth over €4 billion with Kazakhstan on Friday, during a visit to the capital Astana. The deals span a range of sectors, including energy, engineering, agriculture, and critical raw materials.
Meloni and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued a joint statement declaring the agreements “a significant step forward” in bilateral cooperation. Key sectors include oil and gas, renewable energy, water management, mechanical engineering, and the agro-industrial complex. Both leaders also committed to long-term collaboration on critical raw materials, seen as a strategic asset for both countries.
The agreements reflect broader ambitions. Meloni said the partnership also aims to diversify trade structures and support small and medium-sized enterprises in both countries.
Her visit to Kazakhstan coincided with the Italy-Central Asia Summit in Astana, where she met leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. “There is a new level of relations between Italy and Central Asia,” she said, describing the region as “a crossroads of history” and “a bridge between East and West.”
Italy forging closer ties with region
Meloni highlighted Italy’s leadership in forging closer ties with the region, noting that it was the first EU country to initiate a regular diplomatic format with the Central Asian republics. She linked this to a broader European shift, citing the EU-Central Asia Summit held in April as a sign of growing cooperation.
In talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Meloni discussed shared priorities such as infrastructure and critical raw materials. Italian companies already operate in Tajikistan, but Meloni said there was “room to do more” in fields like new materials and technology.
She also raised the issue of security, naming counter-terrorism as a key area of shared concern. “It clearly worries everyone,” she said, expressing Italy’s commitment to joint efforts on regional stability.
