A seminar on sanctions control and trade in strategic goods is being held in Astana

A training seminar titled “Sanctions Control and Trade in Strategic Goods” is being held in Astana on February 12-13, 2026. The event is organized by the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the U.S. Department of State’s Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program, in partnership with K2 Integrity and the Institute of Financial Integrity (IFI).

The seminar brings together representatives of government agencies, national companies responsible for logistics and transportation, export control and licensing, as well as representatives of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan: Diana Zhakutova, Director of the Department of International Cooperation; Aizhan Koshenova, Manager of the Department of International Cooperation; and Adil Mukhamediyarov, Manager of the Department of Commercial Activities.

The seminar speakers include international experts in sanctions regulation and export control, among them Grant Kent (USA), Sophie Davis (New Zealand), and Amir Fadavi (USA). They are sharing practical experience in the application of sanctions mechanisms, compliance tools, and risk management in international trade.

The seminar aims to enhance awareness of multilateral sanctions and trade control mechanisms, and to develop practical skills for managing sanctions risks in the global trading environment. The program includes discussions on the nature of sanctions and mechanisms for controlling trade in strategic goods, an in-depth analysis of sanctions regimes targeting Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, and a review of sanctions evasion techniques and mitigation strategies. A separate session is dedicated to the sanctions analytics system developed by the Institute of Financial Integrity and to practical exercises on identifying, assessing, and managing sanctions risks.

As part of the seminar, participants receive certificates of completion and one-year access to the IFI Financial Integrity online platform (DOLFIN), including the opportunity to use the Certified Risk Management Specialist – Global Sanctions (CRMS-GS) program.

The Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan consistently focuses on compliance with international trade standards, the development of a compliance culture, and the strengthening of professional expertise in international trade and sanctions regulation. Participation in such educational initiatives contributes to enhancing the resilience of Kazakhstani companies to external risks and strengthening their competitiveness in international markets.