Kazakhstan Strengthens Ties with Indonesia: New Honorary Consulate Opens in Bali to Boost Tourism and Investment

Kazakhstan Establishes Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

In a significant step to enhance diplomatic and economic relations, Kazakhstan has officially established an Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali. The appointment of I Putu Winastra, Chairman of the Bali Chapter of the Indonesian Association of Travel Agents (ASITA-Bali), as the Honorary Consul marks the beginning of closer cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Indonesian island province.

The formal inauguration took place on July 30, 2025, at the consulate premises located on Jalan Trengguli I No. 14, Tembau, East Bali. The event was presided over by Serzhan Abdykarimov, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Indonesia, who highlighted the importance of this diplomatic expansion.

Ambassador Abdykarimov remarked, “The opening of the Bali Consulate proves how seriously Kazakhstan views Bali and the rest of Indonesia. We thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for approving the establishment of the Honorary Consulate in Bali.” He emphasized Bali’s strategic location and its rising popularity as a tourist destination among Kazakhstan’s tourists as key reasons for choosing the island as the consulate site.

Tourism data supports this development, with Kazakh tourist arrivals in Bali doubling from 9,000 visitors in 2023 to 18,000 in 2024. This increase reflects growing interest and signifies the need for enhanced consular services on the island.

Beyond tourism, the new consulate will serve as a bridge to foster greater economic, educational, commercial, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Ambassador Abdykarimov expressed hopes to attract investors from Kazakhstan to Bali and vice versa, encouraging cultural and business exchanges. “Balinese who have not seen the beauty of Kazakhstan can also visit our country,” he added.

Honorary Consul Putu Winastra pledged to actively engage with Kazakhstan’s tourism stakeholders and local partners to facilitate mutual benefits. “Bali is well-known as an international tourism hub, and the increasing number of Kazakh tourists underscores the need for a consulate to provide support and comfort for them while visiting Bali,” Winastra said.

He outlined plans to enhance communication with Kazakh tour operators and conduct promotional sales missions to Kazakhstan and Middle Eastern countries to boost tourism for both regions. However, Winastra identified the lack of direct flight connectivity between Kazakhstan and Bali as a challenge impacting further tourism growth. Currently, no direct flights link Astana Airport with Bali.

“Imagine, even without direct flights, the number of Kazakh visitors is already high. Improved flight connectivity would undoubtedly increase this number,” he said. The possibility of charter flights between Kazakhstan and Bali remains open, though Winastra stressed such initiatives must encourage reciprocal tourism flow. “While bringing tourists to Bali is important, we also need to promote Indonesian visits to Kazakhstan. This effort requires collaboration between the private sector and government,” he emphasized.

Winastra described Kazakh tourists as typically spending 7 to 10 days in Bali, enjoying the island’s natural beauty, beaches, lakes, and premium hotels. Their considerable spending contributes positively to the local tourism economy.

The establishment of the Kazakhstan Honorary Consulate in Denpasar is expected to deepen the relationship between the two regions and provide enhanced support for increasing numbers of Kazakh tourists, while opening avenues for further economic and cultural partnerships.