BANGKOK – Government officials and business leaders from Kazakhstan and Thailand met in Bangkok on May 25 to explore new opportunities in trade, investment and tourism cooperation, as both countries seek to strengthen economic ties and diversify commercial partnerships.
Kazakhstan-Thailand business forum. Photo credit: Assel Satubaldina/ The Astana Times The forum brought together representatives from government agencies, chambers of commerce and private companies to discuss cooperation in sectors ranging from agriculture and food processing to logistics, digital technologies, energy and tourism.
Participants highlighted Kazakhstan’s role as a gateway to Central Asia and Thailand’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading manufacturing and export hubs. Trade between Kazakhstan and Thailand reached $255.1 million in 2025, with $216.5 million of those being Kazakh imports.
In 2024, the figure stood at $236.5 million, according to figures from Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics. “Thailand and Kazakhstan have continued to expand economic engagement in recent years with the growing opportunity for collaboration in areas such as agriculture, food processing, technology, logistics, and investment.
As a key economic hub in Central Asia, Kazakhstan offers a very strong potential for trade, investment, and business partnership with Thai companies,” said Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade. From L to R: Margulan Baimukhan, Bakytnur Bakytuly, Poj Aramwattananont, Piyapin Niyomerks.
Photo credit: Assel Satubaldina/ The Astana Times He said a Thai business delegation is scheduled to visit Kazakhstan in June led by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Siasak Phuangketkeow. The mission will feature business seminars, meetings with trade and investment agencies, and networking and business-matching events aimed at strengthening commercial ties between the two countries.
Almaty Region Deputy Governor Bakytnur Bakytuly, who led the delegation, said Kazakhstan is seeking to expand exports to Thailand, particularly in metallurgy, petrochemicals, agricultural products and higher value-added manufactured goods. “According to our estimates, Kazakhstan’s untapped export potential for the Thai market exceeds $900 million.
In this regard, we consider it essential to continue promoting Kazakh products and strengthening direct ties between the businesses of our two countries,” he said. Kazakhstan is also looking to attract Thai investment in sectors including food processing and manufacturing.
Bakytuly cited Thai seafood producer Sea Value’s plans to launch a fish-processing and canned-food production project in Kazakhstan as an example of growing industrial cooperation. Beyond trade, he said Kazakhstan sees opportunities for closer cooperation in transport and logistics through the Middle Corridor and Belt and Road connectivity routes, as well as in digital trade, fintech, cloud technologies, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Piyapin Niyomerks, Ambassador of Thailand to Kazakhstan, welcomed the large Kazakh business delegation visiting Thailand.