President Isaac Herzog met with Jewish community leaders in Kazakhstan during a state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and technological ties between the two countries. Speaking at the Beit Rachel Synagogue in Astana, Herzog highlighted the centuries-old history of Kazakhstan’s Jewish community and praised its role in fostering modern relations with Israel. He expressed gratitude to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the invitation and voiced hope that the visit would deepen cooperation across Central Asia.

Herzog emphasized the importance of expanding regional partnerships, noting that the visit reflects growing momentum in relations between Israel and Central Asian nations. He said he hoped the trip would advance collaboration for the benefit of the broader region.

The president also toured Kazakhstan’s international artificial intelligence center, alem.ai, where he met senior officials and viewed a startup exhibition. He praised the country’s technological innovation and stressed that artificial intelligence represents a transformative global shift, bringing both major opportunities and ethical challenges. Israeli officials in cyber and innovation sectors joined the visit, underscoring a shared focus on advancing technology and strengthening bilateral cooperation.