Kazakhstan-EU Relations Deepen Beyond Trade as Cooperation Expands Across Strategic Sectors

The relationship between Kazakhstan and the European Union is evolving into a new phase, characterized by expanding cooperation in strategic sectors beyond traditional energy ties. High-level meetings held recently in Astana, Brussels, and Strasbourg underscore the growing partnership, reflecting Europe's increased interest in Central Asia amidst shifting global geopolitical and economic landscapes.

Economic ties remain robust, with the EU serving as Kazakhstan's largest economic partner. During the 19th meeting of the Kazakhstan-European Union Dialogue Platform on June 11, it was reported that trade turnover between the two entities reached $45.2 billion in 2025. For the first four months of 2026, bilateral trade totaled $12.4 billion, with Kazakhstan's exports amounting to $9.27 billion during that period. Notably, Kazakh agricultural exports to the EU saw a significant increase of 34.3%, reaching $266.2 million, indicating successful diversification efforts away from traditional commodity sectors.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted that the EU accounts for over 30% of Kazakhstan's foreign trade and that cumulative European investment in the country exceeds $200 billion. He emphasized Kazakhstan's role as a reliable partner for the EU in energy security, industrial cooperation, and transport connectivity. To further enhance the investment climate, Kazakhstan is introducing reforms such as the "Altyn (Golden) Visa" program for investors and skilled professionals, expanding the international presence of Kazakh Invest, and establishing the Kazakhstan Investment House to centralize investor support.

While European business representatives acknowledged the government's reform efforts, they also raised concerns regarding customs administration, intellectual property protection, regulatory predictability, and technical standards. German representatives specifically stressed the need for harmonizing standards in technical regulation, accreditation, and conformity assessment to further facilitate trade and integration between Kazakhstan and the EU.

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These figures clearly demonstrate the high level of mutual economic interest between our countries. Kazakhstan remains a reliable and predictable partner of the EU in matters of energy security, industrial cooperation and transport connectivity.