Kazakhstan and Türkiye set to boost trade up to USD 15 bln
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At today’s 6th meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Kazakhstan and Türkiye have reaffirmed their goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to 15 billion US dollars, Qazinform News Agency reports.
President Erdoğan said the two nations aim to increase commodity turnover to 15 billion US dollars. He emphasized the importance of implementing the action plan adopted at the 14th meeting of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission held on April 15 in Astana.
He noted that both sides will continue to encourage investment and highlighted the role of business forums in bringing together the private sector.
Presidents of Kazakhstan and Türkiye are also expected to attend the closing ceremony of a business forum today.
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Kazakhstani companies to take part in Balkhash NPP construction
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Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Energy Agency Almassadam Satkaliyev met in Moscow with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, Qazinform News Agency reports.
According to the press service of Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Energy Agency, the sides discussed a wide range of cooperation issues in the development of the nuclear industry, including the implementation of the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant project in Kazakhstan.
Special attention was given to workforce training for the nuclear sector, the development of scientific and technical cooperation, as well as the localization of production and participation of Kazakhstani enterprises in nuclear projects.
We discussed issues related to localization and the involvement of Kazakhstani companies in the construction of this plant, personnel training, and the overall development of long-term cooperation. It is encouraging to note that we have reached a common understanding on all key issues. Basic approaches have been developed that fully meet the interests of our states and reflect the strategic nature of relations between our countries, Satkaliyev said.
The head of Rosatom stressed the importance of comprehensive preparations for the implementation of the Balkhash NPP project, including engineering and environmental-climatic studies of the site.
Almost the entire production program is being carried out. We need at least one year of site monitoring in order to prepare all the necessary reports and implement the project with full consideration of the natural, geological, and weather conditions of this specific location, stated Likhachev.
According to Likhachev, the Balkhash plant project will be developed with consideration of local site characteristics and will be based on Russian nuclear energy technologies.
The sides also reaffirmed their interest in continuing constructive dialogue and further developing cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
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One of the World’s Largest Islamic Banks Explores Investment Opportunities in Kazakhstan
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The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the State of Kuwait Yerzhan Yelekeyev held a meeting with Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Hamad Al-Marzouq, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for the development of Kazakh-Kuwaiti cooperation in the investment, banking, trade and economic spheres.
Particular attention was paid to food security issues. The Ambassador of Kazakhstan highlighted the significant potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the agro-industrial sector, including meat production, emphasizing the country’s readiness to contribute to strengthening food security in the State of Kuwait and the wider region. In this context, the parties discussed opportunities for supplying Kazakh agricultural products to the Kuwaiti market, as well as implementing joint investment projects, including the establishment of agro-industrial and livestock farming facilities in Kazakhstan.
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan also informed the Kuwaiti side about the implementation of the Alatau City project in Kazakhstan - one of the country’s largest urban development initiatives, envisioned as a modern digital city of accelerated development with advanced innovation and investment infrastructure.
The Kuwaiti side expressed particular interest in expanding cooperation in the field of food security and stated its intention to explore opportunities for cooperation with Kazakh companies. In addition, representatives of Kuwait Finance House confirmed their interest in developing cooperation with Kazakhstan in the banking sector, including studying the procedures and requirements for obtaining a banking license in Kazakhstan.
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Kazakhstan and China agreed on mutual protection of investments
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The Kazakh Senate ratified a Treaty between the Governments of Kazakhstan and China on the Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investments, Qazinform News Agency reports.
According to Senate deputy Sergey Yershov, the ratification of the new investment protection agreement marks the final step in giving legal force to commitments made during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Astana in June last year.
The ratification will update the 1992 treaty and modernize the legal framework to align with global standards.
It eliminates discrimination and ensures parity for Kazakh and Chinese investors.
The treaty is expected to stimulate high-tech investment, create jobs, and strengthen Kazakhstan’s export potential.
In 2025, direct investment from China reached 2.8 billion US dollars, 135% up against the same period of the previous year.
Total Chinese investment in Kazakhstan between 2005 and 2025 reached 29.3 billion US dollars.
Kazakh investment in China between 2005 and 2025 hit 926.9 million US dollars.
Bilateral trade turnover in 2025 totaled 34.1 billion US dollars, up 13.2% from the previous year.
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Total Sown Area This Year Will Exceed 23.8 Million Hectares
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Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov reported at the Government session on the progress of spring field works and measures to provide agricultural producers with necessary resources, primeminister.kz reports.
In particular, he noted that since the beginning of the year, the issue of high-quality and timely spring field works has been under special control of the Ministry, and all problematic issues are being considered at meetings of the Operational Headquarters.
According to the Deputy Minister, the structure of sown areas has been formed jointly with the akimats. The total area amounts to 23.8 million hectares, which is 180 thousand hectares more than last year. Priority is given to high-margin crops: areas under oilseeds will exceed 4 million hectares, and under fodder crops — 3.3 million hectares. To provide raw materials for corn processing projects, corn sowing areas will be expanded to 265 thousand hectares. To saturate the domestic market, potato planting areas in organized farms will be increased by 10 thousand hectares. Azat Sultanov emphasized that this structure will fully meet domestic needs and reduce risks associated with price fluctuations.
Work on diversification continues: grain areas have been reduced by 127 thousand hectares. In order to reduce the burden on water resources, rice and cotton areas are being optimized. For the first time, the structure of sown areas has been approved in accordance with the actual water limit: rice area has been reduced by 20.2 thousand hectares, while areas under cotton with drip irrigation have been increased by 29.8 thousand hectares, with a reduction in traditional irrigation methods by 12 thousand hectares.
The Deputy Minister informed that sowing has already begun in almost all regions. More than 2 million hectares have been sown, including grains, oilseeds, fodder, vegetable and melon crops, and potatoes. The condition of 94% of winter crops is assessed as optimal.
He also reported on the development of a digital platform for monitoring the progress of the campaign, which is currently operating in pilot mode. In the future, it is planned to introduce elements of artificial intelligence for process forecasting.
Regarding technical equipment, Azat Sultanov noted that agricultural machinery is fully ready. Last year, the fleet renewal rate reached 6.5%, with a target of 8% this year. State support measures are focused on domestic producers: the reimbursement share for the purchase of Kazakhstani machinery is 30%. Thanks to this, agricultural machinery production grew by 22% over the year, and such global brands as Claas and John Deere entered the market. 402 thousand tons of preferential diesel fuel have been allocated for the works, more than half of which has already been shipped.
Regarding seed material, the Vice Minister noted that the demand for 2.3 million tons has been fully met. From this year, a new mechanism for subsidizing seeds with priority for domestic entities has come into force. At the same time, he reminded that seed testing at the expense of the state has been cancelled — farmers must now conduct it at their own expense.
On mineral fertilizers, it was reported that 2.3 million tons are planned to be applied this year. As of now, 1.1 million tons have been shipped. Despite the rise in world prices, fertilizer prices on the domestic market were fixed at the beginning of the year.
In addition, early preparation for the harvest is underway. From April, applications for preferential financing for the construction and modernization of elevators have begun. With full financing, storage capacity is planned to be expanded by 1 million tons.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that akimats must keep under control the readiness of machinery, timely shipment of fuel and lubricants, seed examination, and contracting for fertilizer supply in order to complete sowing within optimal agrotechnical deadlines.
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