Antonello De Riu, Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan, shared his impressions of life and work in Central Asia, as well as the prospects for investment and cultural exchange between Italy and Kazakhstan.
Antonello De Riu, city — Astana, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Republic of Kazakhstan
About myself
Since April of this year, I have been serving as the Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan. My diplomatic career has already lasted 30 years — I entered the service in July 1995. During this time, I have completed six foreign postings.
My profession has allowed me to get to know different cultures — not superficially, as a tourist, but from within, living among people, sharing with them everyday life, traditions, and values. I see this as one of the main privileges of diplomacy — the ability to understand the world in all its diversity.
There is also a price for this. Constant relocations are a challenge not only for the diplomat himself but also for the family. My wife and I have two children, and starting from my previous posting in Kosovo, they have stayed in Italy. Our elder son studies at a university in Rotterdam, and the younger one in Rome, next to his mother. My wife divides her time between Italy and Kazakhstan: she takes care of our son and supports me. We have been married for 25 years, and her support is a source of strength for me.
My path to diplomacy began at the university, where I earned a degree in political science. Even then, I knew that I wanted to connect my life with international service. In Italy, entry into the diplomatic corps requires passing one of the most difficult state exams.
My interest in the world and other cultures was born in childhood. My father worked for a large construction company engaged in infrastructure projects. His job required constant relocation. We traveled a lot around Italy and also lived abroad — two years in Iran and one year in Kuwait in the early 1980s. This experience of early “nomadism” prepared me for the life I lead today.
About my work
My first professional appointment abroad coincided with my first childhood memory of a foreign country — it was Iran. I first visited it in the 1970s with my parents, and years later, I returned there as a diplomat, serving as head of the commercial section of the Italian Embassy. It was from there that my real connection with Central Asia began: during an official trip, I had the opportunity to visit Uzbekistan.
After Iran, I worked in South Korea, where I also oversaw issues related to North Korea. Our mission was accredited in Pyongyang as well. Thanks to this, I was able to visit North Korea — a country closed to most people. Such opportunities are rare, and that is what makes diplomatic service unique.
After Seoul, I returned to Italy, but soon I was assigned to Tunisia as Deputy Head of Mission. It was a period of significant change: from 2010 to 2014, I became a witness and participant in a historic moment — the beginning of the Arab Spring. I arrived shortly before the revolution, when Tunisia was still under President Ben Ali. I saw how the country went from an authoritarian regime to a democratic transition, which was accompanied by instability.
Later, I worked in Hong Kong and Macau as Consul General. There, I focused on economic and cultural cooperation, which became an important part of my professional development. In 2021, I was appointed Ambassador to Kosovo, where, despite its small territory, the international agenda is extremely dynamic. I grew to love the Balkans, primarily because of the ability to quickly move between different countries and cultures. Within a few hundred kilometers lies a whole palette of states with unique histories.
About Central Asia
I had never been to Kazakhstan before, but when the opportunity arose to apply for the position of Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan, I did not hesitate.
Kazakhstan is an amazing place where nomadic culture is felt not only in history but also in spirit. This is especially symbolic, as I myself am a “nomadic diplomat” whose path spans continents, cultures, and eras.
Kazakhstan is a country that, in terms of territory, is comparable to an entire region of Europe. I have already begun my small travels: I bought a car and discovered my first routes. And every day in this country brings a discovery.
My mission here is not only a personal exploration of the country but also the strengthening of ties between our states. I can say with confidence: relations between Italy and Kazakhstan are currently experiencing a real rise.
About activities in Central Asia
Over the past two years, more than 15 high-level official visits have taken place between our countries, both from Italy to Kazakhstan and in the opposite direction.
These visits show how important our government considers the development of relations with Kazakhstan and the entire Central Asian region. And this is just the beginning: ahead of us are new visits, initiatives, and agreements.
Economic partnership between our countries is developing actively. A vivid example is the company Eni, which has been operating in Kazakhstan since 1992 and became one of the first foreign companies in the country. Eni not only participates in oil and gas projects but also contributes to the energy transition, developing solar and wind energy projects.
Italy is a world leader in the following sectors: agro-industrial complex and food processing, production of industrial equipment, infrastructure and transport systems, digital technologies, including “smart cities,” cybersecurity and innovative IT solutions, circular economy and green production, including environmentally friendly technologies and waste recycling. We see Kazakhstan as a reliable partner for the development of new industries, technology exchange, and joint promotion of sustainable development.
An equally important area, in my view, is cultural and educational ties. Currently, there are 97 cooperation agreements between Kazakh and Italian universities — these include student and faculty exchanges and joint research programs.
A particularly significant event was the opening in July 2025 of the first foreign branch of the Italian Polytechnic University — Marche Polytechnic University — in Taldykorgan. It was an important step in which both the Minister of Science and the regional Akim participated. Now, Kazakh students can study under Italian professors right here, without leaving the country, gaining a European level of education and access to international academic knowledge.
We can invest in energy, industry, and infrastructure — and we are doing it. But nothing creates such strong and lasting ties between countries as culture, education, and human communication.
If a Kazakh student goes to study in Italy, learns our culture, language, and way of thinking, and lives in our cities, they will forever keep this connection. And years later, when he becomes a businessman, politician, or scientist, he will already perceive Italy as something close and familiar. And when the time comes to choose — to cooperate with Italy or another country — perhaps he will choose us. Because he will know how we think, how we work, how we solve problems. And it works both ways.
Italy has a unique ability to capture hearts through art, fashion, cuisine, design, the automobile industry, and cinema. This is soft power that doesn’t need to impose itself — it is simply attractive.
I can confidently say: the strongest diplomacy is the one built not between ministries, but between people — between students, professors, artists, architects, young entrepreneurs who are sincerely interested in one another. And in this sense, Kazakhstan is an incredibly promising partner for Italy.
I am proud to be part of this cultural bridge between our nations. And I hope that with each passing year, this bridge will only become wider, stronger, and more vibrant.