ALMATY – Kazakhstan's upper house of parliament has approved a strategic partnership and cooperation agreement with the United Kingdom, formalizing a framework for expanded bilateral engagement across energy, trade, technology, and education sectors. Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov announced the ratification during the April 16 Senate session, positioning the move as a foundation for surpassing last year's $1.6 billion in bilateral trade.
The agreement arrives amid a notable recovery in Kazakhstan-UK commercial ties. Trade between the two nations surged to $1.6 billion in 2025, rebounding sharply from $886 million in 2024 and $1.2 billion in 2023. Kazakhstan's export profile remains anchored in raw materials, including crude oil and rare earth metals, while the United Kingdom supplies vehicles, machinery, pharmaceutical products, and construction equipment to the Kazakh market.
British energy majors Shell and BP are both deepening their Kazakh commitments. Reports suggesting Shell's potential exit from the Kazakh market proved unfounded, according to Issetov. In March, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy and Shell finalized a new exploration contract in the Aktobe Region, extending the company's operational footprint through 2032. Separately, KazMunayGas and BP signed an agreement covering geological exploration activities in the Mangystau Region, signaling BP's intent to expand its upstream presence in the country.
Beyond energy, the partnership is set to facilitate greater academic mobility. The agreement clears the path for UK universities to establish branch campuses in Kazakhstan, an initiative designed to strengthen human capital development and broaden access to international education standards. The framework builds on prior agreements signed in London, including a memorandum on institutional cooperation between universities.
Visa liberalization remains on the negotiating agenda, with Astana seeking eased entry procedures for students, academics, business representatives, and official delegations. Issetov acknowledged the UK's tightened migration posture and framed visa facilitation as a gradual process, beginning with streamlined procedures for educational and professional travelers.