Il Lugano Civic Palace hosted an official delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Led by Kairat Sarzhanov, Ambassador of the country to Switzerland. The meeting, which was attended by the Mayor Michele Foletti and the Municipal Philip Lombardi e Mark Church, took place in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual interest, laying the foundations for a strengthening of institutional relations between Lugano and Kazakhstan.
The visit is part of existing diplomatic relations and economic cooperation, but it also represents a step toward a broader dialogue on technological innovation and sustainable development—two strategic areas for both sides.
Highlights: Institutions and Research
During the visit to Ticino, the Kazakh delegation took part in several moments of discussion, including participation in the Plan ₿ Forum, an international event dedicated to the future of finance and new digital technologies.
The visit also included stops at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), the IDSIA (Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Studies), theISTePS (Institute of Systems and Technologies for Sustainable Production) and The creator, scientific dissemination center of theUniversity of Svizzera ItalianaThese stops allowed the Kazakh delegation to see some of Ticino's excellence in the fields of artificial intelligence, applied research, and sustainable innovation.
An open dialogue about the future
Il Mayor Michele Foletti He expressed satisfaction with the visit, emphasizing how the meeting represents a valuable opportunity to build quality collaborations:
This visit reaffirms our friendship and shared commitment to developing valuable collaborations between our institutions. The activities related to the Plan ₿ Forum and the in-depth discussions at our research centers of excellence offer new opportunities for dialogue between research, business, and government, for the benefit of our communities.
on your part, Ambassador Kairat Sarzhanov highlighted Kazakhstan's willingness to continue the path of cooperation with the City of Lugano:
I would like to thank the City for its warm welcome. Today's discussions have identified common areas of intervention on which we can concretely work. We will continue to develop joint projects in the fields of innovation, artificial intelligence, and digital services, for the benefit of citizens and businesses.
Lugano, a bridge between Europe and Central Asia
The exchange between the delegations also provided an opportunity to reflect on Lugano's role as an innovation platform and international meeting point. The presence of Kazakhstan, a strategic country between Europe and Asia, adds a global dimension to the city's economic and scientific relations.
The meeting at Palazzo Civico therefore represents not just a gesture of institutional diplomacy, but a concrete opportunity to build new synergies between research, technology, and economic development, in line with the vision of an increasingly connected and forward-looking Lugano.
Photo: Credit @photolocatelli.ch
From left: Municipal Councilor Marco Chiesa, Ambassador Kairat Sarzhanov, Mayor Michele Foletti, and Municipal Councilor Filippo Lombardi
