On Monday 18th April, ISTC Executive Director, David Cleave met with The President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in Almaty, Academician, Professor Mr, Murat, Zhurinov, to  reacquaint the President on ISTC's latest developments and initiatives in Kazakhstan and the region. Discussions on important Kazakh areas of interest on Water Security and Biosafety Biosecurity were exchanged as well as regional initiatives currently being implemented by ISTC in Central Asia and the Caucasus. 
ISTC and the the President of the National Academy of Sciences have a long history of cooperation and collaboration as President Zhurinov was one of the first supporters who instigated Kazakstan's joining to ISTC and also provided ISTC with an ISTC Representative Branch Office space in a nearby Institute at the outset. In addition when the ISTC was moving to Kazakhstan the President also offered office space for the ISTC's Head Office before the decision was taken that ISTC should be located in Astana near the Government Ministries and Embassies.
The ISTC ED and the Academy President Zhurinov had not met for several years not least of which because of the Covid pandemic and Executive Director was able to both present ISTC's compliments as well as to present an ISTC Plaque to  Academy President   Zhurinov for the past collaboration and cooperation. It was agreed that further discussions will take place on future collaboration especially in the light of the fact that the Academy of Science will be changing its status to a Public organ as prescribed by Kazakhstan's President Tokayev.