Kazakhstan and Turkey are accelerating their economic partnership, with bilateral trade volumes climbing 9% year-over-year as both governments pursue a strategic reorientation of Kazakh export flows away from raw commodities toward finished industrial products.
Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov presented the trade figures at the 14th session of the Kazakhstan-Turkey intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation, held in Astana. The country's exports to Turkey surged more than 17% to reach $3.9 billion during the period under review.
Industrial Diversification Agenda
Addressing delegates from both nations, Bektenov emphasized that the presidents of Kazakhstan and Turkey have set concrete targets to further expand trade volumes. The Kazakh premier underscored that Ankara ranks among Kazakhstan's most significant trading partners, with investment cooperation serving as a primary engine driving the bilateral relationship.
A core element of the bilateral economic agenda involves transforming Kazakhstan's export profile. Rather than shipping raw materials abroad, Astana and Ankara are working to channel Kazakh production toward goods carrying higher added value—a policy shift designed to capture greater economic returns from the country's industrial base.
Investment Flows and Joint Projects
Turkish investment in Kazakhstan has expanded substantially, with over $6 billion flowing into the country since 2025. More than 5,000 enterprises operating with Turkish capital are currently registered in Kazakhstan, reflecting the depth of commercial ties between the two nations.
The two governments have jointly developed 98 investment projects valued at $4 billion. An additional 50 projects worth $3.9 billion are currently in implementation phases. Bektenov noted that Kazakhstan stands prepared to provide industrial platforms and state support instruments to facilitate these joint ventures.
The Astana session builds upon the previous intergovernmental commission meeting held in Ankara in 2024, which participants say laid groundwork for the current expansion of economic relations.