Kazakhstan and Türkiye are moving towards a more practical model of economic cooperation, focusing on diversifying trade and launching joint industrial projects, Kazakh prime minister Olzhas Bektenov said during the 14th Intergovernmental Commission held in Astana, while Turkish vice president Cevdet Yılmaz said the two countries are setting a goal of $15 billion in trade volume.
Kazakhstan intends to shift its exports away from raw materials towards higher value-added goods in partnership with Turkish businesses, while both countries have set a target to increase bilateral trade.
“On the instructions of president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the government is carrying out systemic work to launch a new investment cycle and attract high-quality investments,” Bektenov said, adding that Kazakhstan is ready to provide full support for new joint projects.
Yılmaz added that foreign trade between the two countries “reached $10 billion, renewing a record” adding that “our goal is to achieve the $15 billion trade volume set by our presidents”.
“At this point, accelerating customs and logistics processes is one of our top priorities. In addition, increasing our mutual investments is extremely important,” Yılmaz said.
During the talks, officials outlined their joint economic plans which include the construction of an agricultural processing plant in Astana, the development of a logistics hub in Aktobe, the expansion of pharmaceutical production in Almaty, and the launch of an aluminium plant in Shymkent.
Following the discussions, the sides signed a joint action plan that will serve as a roadmap for bilateral trade and economic cooperation, vice president Yılmaz said.
The Turkish vice president stated that the Middle Corridor route, connecting Asia and Europe, is becoming a “mandatory choice” in supply chains to avoid global supply chain disruptions elsewhere.
“The Northern Corridor has become unpredictable due to geopolitical tensions. The southern route is pushing the limits of its capacity. This situation has made the Middle Corridor not an alternative but a mandatory choice, with Türkiye and Kazakhstan at the center of this route,” Yılmaz said.
“Therefore, the Middle Corridor is a line that will carry not only the load of two countries but also of all Eurasia, and the stronger this line is, the more permanent the jointly built prosperity on this line will be.”
Trade and investment on the rise
Türkiye is among Kazakhstan’s top five trading partners, with more than 5,000 companies with Turkish capital operating in the country. The portfolio of joint projects includes over 170 initiatives worth approximately €8 billion.
In 2025, bilateral trade increased by 9% to reach €4.6 billion. Kazakhstan’s exports rose by more than 17% to €3.3 billion, while imports from Türkiye totalled €1.3 billion.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to visit Kazakhstan on 14 May, where he will take part in a meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and sign a number of new agreements.
The Turkish leader is also expected to attend an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Turkistan, while Tokayev will attend Antalya Diplomacy Forum.