İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay and an accompanying delegation from İzmir visited the cities of Almaty, Shymkent, and Turkestan in Kazakhstan. Reaching Kazakhstan via the newly initiated direct flight between İzmir and Almaty, the delegation conducted meetings aimed at developing new partnerships in trade and agriculture, advancing sister-city relations, and strengthening cultural ties. During the visit, where various collaboration opportunities were evaluated, Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay stated "We want this ancient Silk Road that connects us to be strengthened once again today”.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay paid a working visit to strengthen İzmir's cultural, tourism, and commercial relations with the cities of Kazakhstan. Municipal Council Members of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Saadet Çağlın, Hediye Kaya, Mehmet Emin Davran, and Hidayet Petin, Head of Foreign Relations Department of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Selin Sayın Kapancı and Vice President of Western Anatolia Industrialists and Business People Associations Federation Mehmet Ömer Telcioğlu accompanied Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay on his visit to Almaty, Shymkent, and Turkestan. Significant steps were taken to give a new momentum to the relations between İzmir and Kazakhstan through diplomatic contacts, meetings between local administrations and cultural programs held throughout the visit.
Air Bridge Was Established with the First Direct Flight from İzmir to Almaty
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality delegation carried out its Kazakhstan visit via the first direct İzmir-Almaty flight launched by Sunexpress on July 31, 2026. In Almaty, comprehensive meetings were held with the aim of transforming the new air bridge between the two countries into economic, cultural and local administration-level collaborations. As part of the program, the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Almaty was visited, and meetings were held with the representatives of the Turkish business world to evaluate the investment and trade potential between the two countries.
22-Year Cooperation Between İzmir and Shymkent Enters a New Phase
The second stop for İzmir delegation, led by Mayor Tugay, was Shymkent. The meeting, hosted by Shymkent's Akim (Local Administrator /
Mayor) Syzdykbekov Gabit Abdimazhitovich, was accompanied by Öykü Arpınar, Vice Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Turkestan, while the Shymkent delegation was represented by First Deputy Akim Aidyn Meirambekuly Karimov, Deputy Akim Arman Sabituly Sabitov, and accompanying bureaucrats. Official discussions were held to further advance the relationship between Shymkent and İzmir, which has had a cooperation protocol with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality since 2004. Mutual willingness was expressed to transform the 22-year-long cooperation between the two cities into a sister city relationship, and a consensus was reached on developing joint projects in the fields of trade, industry, tourism, culture, and agriculture.
Invitation to the 95th İzmir International Fair from Mayor Tugay
During the meeting, Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay noted that the cooperation initiated in 2004 had not reached the desired level over time and stated their goal to develop relations on a much stronger and more concrete foundation moving forward. Tugay emphasized that the launch of direct flights would increase mutual visits between the two cities and contribute significantly to commercial and economic relations.
Inviting the Shymkent delegation to the 95th İzmir International Fair to be held on September 5-13, 2026, Tugay proposed establishing joint working groups and conducting regular visits between the two cities. Akim of Shymkent Syzdykbekov Gabit Abdimazhitovich suggested that the two cities need to get to know each other better and proposed forming joint teams in culture, arts, promotion, and economy. He also announced plans to visit İzmir in the upcoming period.
Pointed Out to Vibrant City Life
Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, who visited the historic Citadel Old Town as part of his contacts in Shymkent, shared his first impressions of the city to the Kazakh press. Stating that this was his first visit to Shymkent, Mayor Tugay expressed his admiration for the city's orderly structure, green areas, wide boulevards, and social life, saying that the vibrant city life where people do sports and spend time was remarkable. Reminding that Shymkent has been one of the most important stops on the Silk Road throughout history, he said, "The Silk Road extends to İzmir. We want this ancient road, which connected us yesterday, to be strengthened again today with bridges of trade, culture, tourism, and friendship." The delegation also visited the Japanese Park located in the city.
A Message of Agriculture and Brotherhood in Turkestan, the Spiritual Capital of the Turkic World
İzmir delegation, which also visited Turkestan, considered the spiritual capital of the Turkic world, met with the Turkestan Regional Akim, Nuralkhan Oralbayevich Kusherov. Mayor Tugay stated that they have been closely following Kazakhstan's development in recent years and that the country's development is a source of pride for Türkiye. Expressing their desire to establish stronger relations between İzmir and Kazakhstani cities, Mayor Tugay said that comprehensive collaborations could be developed in the fields of education, culture, tourism, and especially agriculture.
Turkestan Regional Akim Nuralkhan Oralbayevich Kusherov, on the other hand, drew attention to the historical brotherhood ties between Türkiye and Kazakhstan and stated that they are ready to develop strong collaborations with İzmir, especially in the agricultural sector. Emphasizing that İzmir, one of Türkiye's most important agricultural centers, is ready to share its experience in plant production, animal husbandry, and agricultural machinery industry, Tugay called for an increase in reciprocal visits and institutional relations between the cities.
Visit to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Within the scope of the Turkestan program, the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is recognized one of the most important spiritual centers of the Turkic world, was also visited. Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay and the accompanying delegation toured the historical sections of the mausoleum and received information about the Turkic state tradition, the diplomatic reception places of the Kazakh khans, and the common historical heritage.
Final Stop: Diplomacy and Business Contacts in the Capital, Astana
The final stop of the Kazakhstan working visit will be the country's capital Astana. Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay and his delegation will visit the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Astana to exchange views on Türkiye-Kazakhstan relations and new collaboration opportunities. Additionally, the delegation will meet with the business representatives at the Astana Office of the Turkish-Kazakh Businessmen Association (TÜKÍB) to evaluate trade and investment potential between İzmir and Kazakhstan.
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