At the Israeli-Kazakh irrigation project ribbon-cutting ceremony: Deputy Head of MASHAV, Ilan Fluss, (third from left) and Ambassador Eliyahu Tasman (third from right). Photo: Courtesy

Though the anti-Israel boycott movement seems to be spreading at an alarming rate, it appears Kazakhstan has little interest in such politics, as the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced a joint initiative to develop the Central Asian nation’s irrigation systems.

Recently, Israeli and Kazakh dignitaries together cut the ribbon at the Israel-Kazakhstan Irrigation Demonstration Center in the Almaty region.

The project is being implemented through cooperation between the Israeli Foreign and Agricultural ministries, as well as the Israeli embassy in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry and the “KazAgroInnovation” group.

The official inauguration of the project took place on May 19, and was attended by the deputy head of MASHAV, Ilan Fluss and the Israeli ambassador to Kazakhstan, Eliyahu Tasman, among others.

Israel and majority Muslim Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1992, and the countries have formed strong ties since.

Israel purchases 25% of its oil resources from Kazakhstan and the two countries also maintain close defense and intelligence contacts.

Kazakhstan has a very small Jewish population a little over 3,000 today.