Written by: Dr. Abdul Rahim Abdul Wahid
Astana – The Astana International Forum (AIF) to take place on May 29–30, 2025, in Astana, Kazakhstan, under the theme “Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future,” the forum aims to foster global cooperation and dialogue amid increasing geopolitical polarization.
More than 5,000 attendees from all over the world are expected to participate, including 80 heads of state, ministers, government leaders and CEOs, more than 110 speakers, 50 representatives from their countries, and 20 partners and sponsors.
The forum will serve as a platform for high-level delegates from foreign governments, international organizations, businesses, and academia to engage in dialogue and seek solutions to pressing global challenges, including climate change, food shortages, and energy security.
Worldwide Attendees
AIF2025 will welcome a diverse range of speakers and attendees from around the world, including heads of state, top business leaders, scholars, diplomats, as well as local and international journalists reporting on the event. Past participants have included the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
With a mandate to build new partnerships and bolster existing collaborations, AIF2025 will focus on four core thematic areas: foreign policy and security; international development and sustainability; energy and climate; and economy and finance.
As a diverse and inclusive platform addressing pressing issues shaping our international community, AIF2025 invites global stakeholders and partners to join Kazakhstan in promoting multilateral change and international collaboration.
In the spring of 2025, AIF will serve as a key international platform for policymakers and business executives to discuss global issues.
Kazakhstan, a nation uniquely positioned to bridge east and west, remains committed to providing an inclusive forum for world leaders to shape an international system that works for all.
Kazakhstan Responsibility
With a strategic position and growing role, Kazakhstan has taken on the responsibility of contributing to transformative change on a global scale. The Astana International Forum (AIF) exemplifies this effort, aiming to overcome divisions and foster collaboration.
After a one-year hiatus in 2024 due to financial constraints caused by unprecedented flooding, the AIF returns this year with high-ranking officials leading the preparations. Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, has signed an official order for its organization, with top officials forming the organizing committee to ensure the event’s smooth execution.
In just two years, AIF has established itself as a recognised platform for reigniting multilateralism, facilitating cross-border dialogues, and developing practical approaches to our most pressing global challenges. Hosting global leaders and innovators, AIF continues its mission of fostering high-level collaboration and driving actionable diplomatic solutions.
