On July 3, 2025, Mr. Yannis Neophytou, Head of Department at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), held a working meeting with Mr. Bakytzhan Ilyas, Vice-Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in Astana as part of his mission to Central Asia.
The German delegation included Mr. Ullrich Kinne, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Astana; Dr. Andreas Schneider, Director of the Regional Office for Central Asia; Mr. Petar Gjorgjiev, Country Manager and Economist for Central Asia at the German Development Bank (KfW); Mr. Joachim Fritz, GIZ Country Director for Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; and Mr. Sven Ernedal, Programme Manager for the EU4SustainableEnergy: Renewable Energy in Central Asia regional programme, implemented by GIZ.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and grid modernization.
The Vice-Minister highlighted ongoing activities supported by the German side and outlined opportunities for further collaboration. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a sustainable energy transition. The discussion also covered the current status and priority areas for support in the energy sector and decarbonization through regional programmes such as EU4SustainableEnergy: Renewable Energy in Central Asia.
Notably, in September 2024, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed an agreement with GIZ on the implementation of a project for the development of renewable energy sources in Central Asia, confirming its commitment and readiness for partnership. The agreement aims to strengthen the framework conditions for both regional and national expansion of renewable energy sources and marks a significant step in implementing Kazakhstan’s clean energy transition strategy.
