Israel and Kazakhstan have formally committed to a new era of space cooperation, signing a joint declaration in Jerusalem that aims to bridge the gap between their respective aerospace industries and research sectors. The agreement, finalized on Nov. 2, 2026, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, outlines a strategic framework for collaboration in satellite technology, Earth observation, and space education.
Strategic Alignment in the Space Sector
The declaration was signed by Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel and Baubek Oralmagambetov, head of the Aerospace Committee at Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The partnership focuses on practical missions, including the use of satellite data to monitor climate trends, agricultural developments, and environmental shifts. Beyond pure research, the document encourages closer ties between private aerospace companies in both nations, facilitating the exchange of technical knowledge and the identification of joint business ventures.
Minister Gamliel emphasized that the initiative reflects changes in how national security and economic growth are managed. “Space is no longer merely an auxiliary sector, but a strategic dimension in its own right,” Gamliel said. She noted that the relationship between the two countries has matured, built on a foundation of mutual trust and a shared ambition to integrate government, academic, and commercial capabilities.
Israel and Kazakhstan Sign Bilateral Tax Treaty
The space agreement was one of several major outcomes from the 10th session of the Israel-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. Co-chaired by Israeli Minister Zeev Elkin and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev, the commission also yielded a long-awaited double taxation agreement. This tax treaty, which concluded more than a decade of negotiations, is designed to simplify operations for companies and investors looking to cross borders between the two nations, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The visit by Deputy Prime Minister Madiyev marked the highest-level arrival of a Kazakh official in Israel in ten years. The delegation included more than 50 senior government officials and representatives from state-owned enterprises, signaling a concerted effort to deepen ties across multiple sectors, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and water resource management. During the meetings, representatives established a joint working group on water, a move initiated following Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s visit to Astana earlier this year, according to the Israeli government.
Building on the Abraham Accords Framework
The deepening of ties with Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest economy, occurs as the country moves closer to the framework of the Abraham Accords. Kazakhstan participated in a September 2026 meeting of Abraham Accords partner nations in New York, a development that has provided an additional layer of legitimacy and structure to its technological partnerships with Israel. This diplomatic trajectory has allowed for a more integrated approach to regional cooperation, moving beyond traditional trade into high-tech and scientific domains.
While the signing ceremonies provided the formal basis for these relationships, officials are now turning their attention to the practical implementation of these goals. Deputy Prime Minister Madiyev stressed that the success of the partnership will be measured by concrete outcomes rather than the documents themselves. “It is important for us that cooperation is not limited to exchanging experience and signing documents,” Madiyev said. “It should result in concrete projects, new expertise, investments and technologies that are implemented and put to work in Kazakhstan.”
Future Outlook for Joint Research
The operational framework established by the declaration creates a durable path for the Israel Space Agency and its Kazakh counterparts to continue discussions on long-term missions. For Israel, the partnership represents an opportunity to expand its innovative satellite technologies, while for Kazakhstan, it offers a way to strengthen its domestic aerospace infrastructure and digital development programs. As the two countries move forward, the focus will shift toward identifying specific technology demonstrations and educational programs that can involve students and entrepreneurs from both nations.
