Israel and Kazakhstan Sign Double Taxation Agreement After More Than Decade of Talks

Israel and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on Monday to prevent double taxation, following more than a decade of negotiations. The two countries say the deal is meant to facilitate bilateral investment and expand economic cooperation. The agreement was signed during the tenth meeting of the Israel-Kazakhstan Joint Economic Commission in Jerusalem, co-chaired by Ze’ev Elkin, who represented the Finance Ministry, and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry organized the meeting, which brought together representatives from 12 government ministries, including nine Kazakh deputy ministers. The two countries also signed memoranda of understanding on artificial intelligence, labor, and cybersecurity, along with a joint declaration on space cooperation and the commission’s official protocol. Discussions at the commission covered energy, water technologies, innovation, agriculture, investment, critical minerals, science, healthcare, and industrial standardization. The countries also identified shared challenges involving climate change, desertification, and water resource management, areas where Israeli technological expertise could support Kazakhstan’s development priorities.

The source states that the double taxation agreement is expected to make cross-border business activity easier by setting a framework for determining taxation rights and reducing the risk that the same income is taxed in both countries. The precise provisions and implementation date have not yet been publicly detailed.

Elkin welcomed the agreement as a significant achievement after years of diplomatic and economic discussions. He said relations between the two countries “have gained momentum over the past year, especially following the visits of the foreign minister and the president.” He also said he was “especially pleased to sign the double taxation agreement, after more than a decade of negotiations, which will ease the burden on companies and investors and open new economic opportunities.” Agreements that ease the burden on businesses and invite lasting cooperation reflect the work of peacemaking (Matthew 5:9).

According to the Foreign Ministry, Madiyev is the highest-ranking Kazakh official to visit Israel in the past ten years. He led an economic delegation of more than 50 senior government officials and representatives of state-owned companies, including deputy ministers and regional governors. The visit came about six months after President Isaac Herzog traveled to Kazakhstan in April 2026, and nine months after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Astana in January. During his visit, Madiyev met with Herzog, Sa’ar, Foreign Ministry Director-General Eden Bar Tal, and senior representatives of Israeli government agencies.

The two countries also convened their first joint working group on water management, led on the Israeli side by the Israel Water Authority. The group was established following a decision reached during Sa’ar’s January visit to Astana. Alongside the diplomatic meetings, the Foreign Ministry and the Israel Export Institute organized a bilateral business forum, in cooperation with the Israel Innovation Authority and the Manufacturers Association of Israel. A separate roundtable focused on critical minerals. Kazakhstan’s government reported that seven commercial documents were signed during the business forum, and discussions addressed direct air connections and possible visa-free travel arrangements.

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