Kazakhstan Expands Clean Tech Cooperation with Central Asian Nations

Closer regional cooperation in clean technology, energy efficiency, and climate innovation will enable Central Asian countries to jointly address shared energy and environmental challenges. This statement was made by Saken Kalkamanov, Chairman of the Board of the International Green Technologies and Investment Projects Center (IGTIC), at Baku Climate Action Week 2026.

As part of a regional dialogue co-organized with the Economic Cooperation Organization’s Clean Energy Center and UNIDO, Saken Kalkamanov presented Kazakhstan’s experience in energy efficiency enhancement and technological modernization, while outlining prospects for expanding regional collaboration.

Special emphasis was placed on the UNIDO Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP), which fosters cleantech entrepreneurship, supports startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and drives the commercialization of climate solutions in Kazakhstan. To date, the program has received over 600 applications, with approximately 100 startups benefiting from systematic support—17% of which operate in the energy and energy efficiency sectors.

A proposal was made to scale the GCIP framework across Central Asia and Azerbaijan, drawing a positive response from event participants. Experts stressed the need to further build cooperation among the region’s nations, highlighting that pooling competencies will enable more effective achievement of joint climate and energy goals.

On the same day, Saken Kalkamanov participated in the round table discussion “Cultural Heritage and Biodiversity Conservation in the Turkic World: From Shared Traditions to Joint Actions.” In his speech, he emphasized that for Kazakhstan, nature conservation and biodiversity are inextricably linked to cultural heritage and traditional knowledge.

According to the head of IGTIC, modern environmental policy must account not only for the status of individual ecosystems and species, but also for historical knowledge, cultural practices, and the deep connection between humans and natural ecosystems.

Kazakhstan’s participation in Baku Climate Action Week served as a key platform for advancing regional cooperation in clean technology, energy efficiency, and biodiversity conservation, as well as exchanging actionable solutions to achieve climate targets.