Bern, 23 October. Trade and Integration Minister Arman Shakkaliyev met Swiss President Guy Parmelin in Bern on 22 October.
Parmelin described preparations for the Geneva AI Summit on 21–22 June 2027 and expressed confidence that Kazakhstan would take part.
According to the ministry, Parmelin, who also heads the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, recalled his visit to Astana in November 2025, his talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the meeting of the Kazakh-Swiss Business Council; the agreements reached then, he said, gave new impetus to trade ties. He noted the adoption of the new Constitution and the formation of the unicameral Kurultai, as well as Kazakhstan's progress in digitalisation, and called the country a reliable and promising partner in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is part of the Swiss-led constituency in the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Bank Group.
Shakkaliyev described the results of the 12th meeting of the intergovernmental commission held the same day: the agreements concern farm exports, infrastructure, energy, critical raw materials, digitalisation and innovation, and the National Nuclear Centre signed a roadmap with the NAGRA cooperative. Kazakhstan invited Swiss companies to industrial cooperation.
What it means: The minister's trip to Bern ended with a meeting at the level of the Swiss President and an expectation that Kazakhstan will take part in a major international AI forum.
Who benefits: Kazakh exporters and infrastructure and energy projects, which gain the Swiss government's attention; Kazakhstan's AI agenda, which gets an international platform.
Background: The Swiss President also heads one of the federal departments during the year in office; Parmelin heads the economy department.
List of sources used: Trade Ministry of Kazakhstan
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
