Kazakhstan and the EU Strengthen Bilateral and Regional Cooperation
Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas on March 28 in Almaty to discuss the current state and future prospects of Kazakhstan-EU relations, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service.
Key Areas of Cooperation
The parties emphasized the importance of upcoming events, including the Central Asia-EU Summit in Samarkand, and discussed joint efforts in:
- Transport and logistics, particularly the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).
- Green energy and climate change initiatives.
- Visa facilitation negotiations to simplify travel procedures for Kazakh citizens.
Nurtleu stressed the need for joint practical steps to enhance access to the Middle Eastern and African markets through TITR. He also called for the prompt initiation of visa facilitation talks between Kazakhstan and the EU.
Kallas reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to deepening long-term cooperation with Kazakhstan and advancing joint projects. She noted that recent discussions at the Central Asia-EU Ministerial Meeting in Ashgabat had laid the groundwork for further engagement.
Meeting with President Tokayev
Kallas also met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to explore opportunities for expanding trade and economic partnerships in key sectors.
Kazakhstan-EU Economic Relations
The European Union remains Kazakhstan’s largest trade and investment partner:
- Bilateral trade turnover reached $49.7 billion in 2024, a 16.9% increase.
- Kazakh exports to the EU amounted to $38.6 billion, while imports totaled $11.1 billion.
- Since 2005, the gross inflow of direct investment from EU countries has reached $200.7 billion.
- More than 3,000 European companies currently operate in Kazakhstan.
The discussions underscored mutual interest in strengthening economic ties and enhancing connectivity between Kazakhstan and the EU.
Photo credit: Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
