Debrecen establishes a sister-city partnership with the Kazakh city of Shymkent

Papp László, Mayor of Debrecen, and Gabit Syzdybekov, Mayor of Shymkent, signed a sister-city agreement in the Kazakh city on October 8, 2026.

Shymkent is one of the most important cities in southern Kazakhstan and has held special status as a city of republican significance since 2018. With a population of more than 1.2 million, it is the country’s third-largest city and an important economic, cultural, and transportation hub. Oil refining, the chemical industry, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, and food processing all play significant roles in the city’s economy. Shymkent has an international airport, a major railway hub, and an extensive road network, further strengthening its economic importance. In 2020, it was named the Commonwealth of Independent States’ Cultural Capital.

Shymkent is also a regional center for education, with several universities and higher education institutions offering a wide range of programs, particularly in engineering, teacher training, and healthcare. The development of the city can be compared in several respects with the development of Debrecen.

The Debrecen General Assembly decided at its September 24, 2026 meeting to establish a sister-city partnership with Shymkent at the initiative of the Kazakh side. The two partner cities agreed to establish the relationship based on the principle of mutual respect, with the aim of strengthening friendly relations between the peoples of Hungary and the Republic of Kazakhstan and expanding cooperation in various fields for their mutual development.

Both sides agreed to cooperate on a voluntary, equal, friendly, and mutually beneficial basis in the fields of economy and trade, science and technology, education, culture, tourism, sports, the arts, and other areas, while promoting exchanges between the two cities.

As part of the cooperation, the cities will maintain direct contact to provide comprehensive support for economic development, create conditions for scientific seminars, conferences, and consultations, and keep each other informed about ongoing economic reforms. They will also encourage and support the preservation and protection of their cities’ cultural heritage.

The two cities will organize reciprocal visits and maintain communication on matters of mutual interest in order to deepen cooperation in various fields.

The agreement entered into force on the day it was signed and is valid for an indefinite period.

Most recently, Debrecen signed sister-city agreements with Kharkiv, Ukraine, on September 16, 2026, and with Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely), Romania, on September 19, 2026. With the addition of Shymkent, Debrecen now has 24 sister cities.

(debrecen.hu)

Photo: debrecen.hu