Nurlan Sauranbayev and Lisa Setlakwe discussed airport regulation and the development of small aviation. The meeting took place on 20 October 2026 in Astana during ICAO Aviation Security Week. The sides expressed interest in cooperation.
What was discussed
The participants touched on two areas: airport regulation and the development of small aviation. These were talks, not an agreement or a joint programme.
Background
Kazakhstan and Canada have discussed aviation cooperation before. In February 2025, the then head of the transport agency, Marat Karabayev, and Canada's ambassador, Christopher Duggan, discussed broadening air-services partnership, introducing modern technologies, raising air transport safety and the possible acquisition of De Havilland aircraft to develop small aviation in Kazakhstan. No specific agreements beyond staying in touch were announced at the time.
What has not been announced
Documents, projects, financing, timelines and responsible executives have not been named. It is not stated whether specific aircraft or airports are involved.
Our assessment: the meeting is a signal of regulatory dialogue, not a commercial decision. Its market significance will be clear if projects for small-aviation airports or aircraft orders appear. This is flycentralasia's conclusion, not a statement by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport or the Canadian side.
What businesses can do. Regional airports and small-aviation operators can watch for possible cooperation programmes and equipment supplies. Small-aircraft manufacturers and lessors can take into account Kazakhstan's interest in this segment, which has already shown up in other projects in the region.