On September 23, 2026, the Astana Akimat, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport and Changi Airports International (CAI, a subsidiary of Singapore's Changi Airport Group) signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement.
The agreement covers two areas:
- Construction of a new airport in Astana, part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's directive to build an international aviation hub and develop the capital's transit potential.
- Development of the existing Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, with CAI participating in management, operations and maintenance (O&M), and other development initiatives.
The parties are now finalizing partnership structures and preparing the necessary documentation. The agreement formalizes commitments made during Changi Airport Group leadership's visit to Astana in August 2026 and a subsequent delegation meeting in Singapore.
The agreement was signed by Yevgeny Glotov (Deputy Akim of Astana), Talgat Lastayev (Vice-Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan) and Eugene Gan (CEO, Changi Airports International).
For B2B audiences: bringing in an operator of Changi's caliber — one of the world's top-rated airports for operational standards — signals to international investors and infrastructure contractors that Astana's ambitions to become an aviation hub are being taken seriously long-term. Local contractors, fuel providers and ground handlers should also prepare for tenders as the project moves into implementation.