20.05.2026
The Society of Honorary Consuls Marked the 10th Anniversary of the Consular Service of Honorary Consul of Hungary Jambulat Sarsenov
Almaty, Kazakhstan — On 20 May 2026, the official diplomatic reception organized by the Honorary Consulate of Hungary in the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the support of the Republican Public Association “Society of Honorary Consuls,” took place at the Edelweiss countryside tourist resort. The ceremonial event was dedicated to a significant milestone — the 10th anniversary of the consular service of the Honorary Consul of Hungary, one of the founders of the Society of Honorary Consuls and a member of its Audit Commission, Mr. Jambulat Sarsenov.
The reception served as a reliable platform for strengthening professional dialogue between career diplomats and Honorary consuls. The event brought together distinguished members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Kazakhstan. Among the honored guests were H.E. Zhanibek Abdrashov, Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty, the Consuls General of the United States, Hungary, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, the Deputy Head and Counsellor of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, as well as honorary consuls of European, Asian, and Latin American states who are members of the Society of Honorary Consuls.
The official part of the evening was opened with welcoming remarks by the celebrant, Honorary Consul of Hungary Mr. Jambulat Sarsenov. Congratulatory speeches were subsequently delivered by Mr. Denis Van den Weghe, Chairman of the Board of the Society of Honorary Consuls, and Mr. Zhanibek Abdrashov, Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty.
As part of the event, Mr. Jambulat Sarsenov presented a report on the dynamic development of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Hungary, which during the reporting period evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership. As the Honorary Consul noted in his address:
“The period from 2013 to 2026 has become a time of qualitative transformation in Kazakh-Hungarian relations. We are witnessing regular political dialogue at the highest level, supported by tangible economic results, mutual investments, and profound humanitarian rapprochement.”
The report highlighted the key achievements of joint cooperation, to which the Honorary Consulate directly contributed:
Trade and Investment: By the end of 2024, bilateral trade turnover had reached approximately USD 200 million, while the first quarter of 2025 recorded a historic 37% increase in trade volume. The total volume of Hungarian investments in Kazakhstan’s economy exceeded USD 370 million. Thirty-six Hungarian companies are successfully operating in the Kazakh market.
Energy and Agriculture: Since 2022, the strategic development project of the Rozhkovskoye gas condensate field in the West Kazakhstan Region has been implemented with the participation of the Hungarian company MOL and JSC NC KazMunayGas. In the Aktobe Region, with the support of a joint investment fund, the large-scale greenhouse complex of Green Capital Kazakhstan LLP (20 hectares) has been launched.
Education: Since 2017, within the framework of the intergovernmental “Stipendium Hungaricum” programme, the quota for Kazakhstani students studying at Hungarian universities has been increased to 200 scholarships annually.
The Society of Honorary Consuls expressed its special appreciation to Mr. Sarsenov for his consistent and longstanding support of the organization since its establishment in 2018. As a co-founder of the Society and an active member of its Audit Commission, Mr. Sarsenov has made a substantial practical contribution to the institutional development of the honorary consular corps. A vivid example of such cooperation was the sponsorship provided by his company, Mediker Hospital International, during the Eurasian FICAC Conference held in Astana in 2024, one of the most important diplomatic and economic forums in the Central Asian region.
In turn, the participants of the reception and the leadership of the Honorary Consulate of Hungary expressed their sincere gratitude to Mr. Denis Van den Weghe, Chairman of the Board of the Society of Honorary Consuls, for his continuous efforts aimed at consolidating the consular community and providing a reliable platform for strengthening international relations in Kazakhstan.
The event was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere and reaffirmed the important role of the institution of honorary consuls in expanding the horizons of both traditional and consular diplomacy.
