ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Singapore need to translate strong political ties and mutual trust into tangible economic outcomes, including more investment, joint projects and technology exchange, as cooperation expands into transport, artificial intelligence, digitalization and other strategic sectors, according to experts.
Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Photo credit: Akorda “The key now is to translate the excellent political relationship and mutual trust between our countries into tangible economic outcomes – more Singaporean investment and companies in Kazakhstan, more joint projects, greater technology and knowledge exchange, and stronger connections between our business communities and people,” Honorary Consul of Singapore in Kazakhstan Talgat Chinikeyev told The Astana Times.
Talgat Chinikeyev, Honorary Consul of Singapore in Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Talgat Chinikeyev’s personal archive. Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Aug. 26 visit to Kazakhstan highlighted the growing scope of bilateral cooperation, with discussions covering investment, transport and logistics, aviation, smart city development, agriculture, critical minerals, tourism, water management, AI and digitalization.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted Singapore’s transformation into a global center of finance, trade, innovation and technology. “Your country’s experience serves as an inspiring example for the international community,” Tokayev told Lee. Tokayev noted that bilateral relations are developing dynamically, supported by regular political dialogue, growing trade and an accelerated inflow of Singaporean capital.
“In fact, Kazakhstan and Singapore remain each other’s largest trading partners in their respective regions – Central Asia and Southeast Asia. The number of companies with Singaporean capital operating in our country has reached nearly 500 and continues to grow,” he said.
Bilateral trade approached $1 billion last year, while trade reached $777 million in January-June, up 2.5 times from the same period last year. Singapore’s gross foreign direct investment inflows into Kazakhstan doubled in 2025 to approximately $1.5 billion. Lee said the relationship had reached “a qualitatively new level,” noting growing interest among Kazakh companies in entering the Singapore market.
He welcomed the ratification of the Agreement on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments and the Agreement on Trade in Services and Investment. “Our relationship has significant potential to move forward,” Lee said.