Kazakhstan and Japan Strengthen Economic and Strategic Relations
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held high-level talks with Akihisa Nagashima, Special Advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister, on Jan. 31 to explore avenues for expanding trade, investment, and scientific collaboration. The meeting underscored Japan’s vital role in Kazakhstan’s economic growth.
Tokayev emphasized the potential for boosting bilateral ties, noting that Japanese investments in Kazakhstan have surpassed $8 billion. He reassured Japan of Kazakhstan’s commitment to creating favorable conditions for foreign investors.
Nagashima reaffirmed Japan's intent to deepen ties and discussed the importance of high-level political dialogue. Topics included cooperation in trade, energy, transportation, education, climate change, and cultural collaboration.
In a separate meeting, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Nagashima focused on enhancing strategic partnerships, particularly ahead of the Central Asia + Japan Summit scheduled for 2025. They also highlighted mutual interest in joint projects in energy, ecology, and critical minerals.
“Japan has advanced technologies and innovations in demand in various sectors of the economy. We see significant potential for expanding cooperation and realization of new investment projects,” Nurtleu noted.
Japanese investments in Kazakhstan have seen a 6% increase in 2024, reaching over $300 million, with trade turnover between the countries hitting $1.6 billion in January-November 2024.
