On 16 October 2025 in Astana, the 2nd Regional Central Asian and European Decarbonisation Diplomacy Forum was held, organised by the Hydrogen Diplomacy Office (GIZ) together with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Forum brought together representatives of governments from Central Asia and the Caucasus, international organisations, the private sector, academia, and civil society.
As last year’s Regional Forum laid the foundation for regional dialogue, this year’s Forum built on those discussions by encouraging more in-depth and practically oriented exchanges. The focus moved toward identifying specific opportunities for cooperation, investment, and alignment of policies. The attention was set on regional cooperation as the overarching theme whilst exploring key social, economic, and techno-ecological dimensions of the energy transition.
In the opening session, remarks were delivered by Bakytzhan Ilyas, Vice Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Arman Isetov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Aleska Simkic, Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan; Monika Iwersen, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kazakhstan; and Dyusenbay Turganov, Member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Speakers underscored that renewables and green hydrogen are priorities for Kazakhstan and the wider region’s decarbonisation pathway, linking Central Asia with Europe.
The Ministry of Energy presented ongoing work to update Kazakhstan’s Hydrogen Energy Concept, intended as a strategic document to attract investment and deepen international cooperation. Interest in new green hydrogen projects in Kazakhstan continues to grow among both international investors and domestic business. The country’s strong renewable energy potential, strategic geography, and engagement from international financial institutions (including the World Bank, EBRD, ADB, UNDP and IRENA) position Kazakhstan well for the hydrogen economy.
A key milestone of the Forum was the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Energy and the Hydrogen Diplomacy Office (GIZ) in Astana, strengthening collaboration on hydrogen roadmaps, skills, and market standards. The programme featured five panels, covering:
- Advancing SDG 7 through a just energy transition in Central Asia and the Caucasus
- Unlocking investment for Kazakhstan’s hydrogen industry (with KAZAKH INVEST)
- Integrating renewables into Central Asia’s grid for a decarbonised future
- The water–energy nexus for hydrogen and RES expansion (with UNECE)
- Regional policy alignment and certification standards
Discussions highlighted that regional cooperation and knowledge exchange are critical success factors for building a credible hydrogen market and accelerating decarbonisation in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Building on the Forum’s outcomes, H2-diplo will continue supporting partner countries in developing hydrogen strategies and roadmaps, fostering regional exchange, and enabling knowledge transfer between regions. Special thanks go to the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan and the participants for their commitment to a shared, decarbonised future.
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Photo credits: Кайыржан Сагындыков Kairzhan Sagyndykov
