Kazakhstan to develop civil aviation master plan through 2050

Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar in Astana. Salazar was in the city to attend the Aviation Security Week 2026 event. It is the first official visit by the ICAO Secretary General to Central Asian countries.

The meeting discussed strengthening cooperation between Kazakhstan and ICAO. Bektenov said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev places particular importance on developing Kazakhstan's transport and logistics potential, forming aviation hubs and strengthening the country's transit role. Salazar praised Kazakhstan's achievements in ensuring aviation security, noting that the country ranks among the top 20 states with an ICAO aviation security score of 95.7%.

According to the government, the sector's overall activity grew 6.5 times over the past five years, reaching $2.9 billion. Airports served 31.8 million passengers in 2025, and international routes increased to 161 destinations. The meeting also highlighted the importance of the Civil Aviation Master Plan to 2050 (CAMP-2050), which sets strategic directions for the sector.