Kazakhstan, China Move to Deepen Industrial and Energy Cooperation
Kazakhstan and China intend to continue strengthening cooperation in industry, construction and energy. The issue was discussed during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlan Nalibayev and Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin, according to the government’s press service.
"During the meeting, the sides reviewed the current state of Kazakh-Chinese cooperation in industry, construction and energy, the progress of joint initiatives, as well as promising areas for further strengthening cooperation," the statement said.
Nalibayev highlighted the strategic nature of relations between Kazakhstan and China and the significant potential for further developing cooperation between the two countries.
Han Chunlin, in turn, reaffirmed China’s readiness to further develop the mutually beneficial partnership.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the sides agreed to maintain contacts on key issues of bilateral cooperation.
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Kazakhstan Develops ‘Smart Border’ System to Streamline Customs Procedures
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Kazakhstan is developing a "smart border" model by introducing digital solutions to streamline customs procedures, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a meeting with World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General Ian Saunders, according to the Akorda presidential press service.
Tokayev said Kazakhstan was making significant efforts to strengthen transport links across Eurasia and create favourable conditions for the transit of goods.
The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation, which has developed successfully for more than 30 years.
They exchanged views on emerging challenges and trends in global trade.
Saunders noted Kazakhstan’s significant progress in improving customs administration, introducing modern digital solutions and strengthening the institutional capacity of the relevant authorities.
Particular attention was given to prospects for expanding trade and economic ties and strengthening Central Asia’s transport and logistics potential.
Tokayev awarded Saunders Kazakhstan’s Order of Dostyk, Second Class, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening partnership and friendship.
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Kazakhstan to Step Up Search for New Oil and Gas Fields
Kazakhstan plans to increase exploration and appraisal drilling to discover new fields and replenish the country’s resource base. Prospects for exploratory drilling and the industry’s development were discussed at the KAZDRILLING conference in Atyrau, the Energy Ministry said.
The ministry forecasts that about 80 exploration and appraisal wells will be drilled in 2026, with the annual number potentially rising to 120 in 2027 and 2028.
Particular attention will be given to underexplored sedimentary basins with significant oil and gas potential. To attract investors, authorities have streamlined the process for awarding rights to these areas. Once an application is submitted, the Energy Ministry must hold an auction within 10 business days.
Investors must conduct seismic surveys covering at least 30% of the licensed area during the first three years before proceeding with exploratory drilling.
The Energy Ministry also intends to develop the domestic drilling services market and increase the use of Kazakh-made products. Zhigermunaiservice’s plant in Atyrau already manufactures drill bits, calibrators and other drilling equipment.
"Our goal is to create a sustainable and competitive drilling services market. This should result in new geological discoveries, replenished reserves, growth in domestic manufacturing, the creation of skilled jobs and increased tax revenue," Vice Energy Minister Yerlan Akbarov said.
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OPEC+ Countries Keep Oil Output Levels Unchanged for October
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Seven OPEC+ countries, including Kazakhstan, have agreed to keep their oil production levels for October 2026 unchanged from September, the group said.
Representatives of the seven countries met on Sept. 6 to discuss global oil market conditions and the outlook for the sector.
The participants also reaffirmed their commitment to full compliance with the Declaration of Cooperation.
The OPEC+ countries will hold their next meeting on Oct. 4, 2026.
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New Gold Processing Plant to Be Built in Kazakhstan’s Akmola Region
Images | Akimat of Akmola region
A project to build a new Zijin RG Gold processing plant at the Raigorodok deposit has been launched in the Burabay district of Kazakhstan’s Akmola region, the regional administration’s press service reports.
Direct investment in the project will exceed $600 million. The new plant will be able to process up to 10 million tonnes of ore a year, increasing the complex’s total processing capacity to 16 million tonnes annually.
According to the regional administration, the new facility will add around 7 tonnes of gold output a year. As a result, the company’s total annual production of doré alloy will rise from 6 tonnes to more than 12 tonnes.
The project also includes the construction of power and water supply facilities, tailings storage facilities, transport and warehouse infrastructure, as well as a rotational workers’ camp for 400 people.
Particular attention is being paid to training local personnel. Zijin Mining is already running a scholarship programme for young people from the Akmola region to study in China.
Other projects to expand and modernise gold mining and processing facilities are also under way in the region. By 2028, gold ore processing capacity in the Akmola region is expected to reach 50 million tonnes a year.
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S&P Upgrades Assessment of Kazakhstan’s Banking Sector
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S&P Global Ratings has upgraded its assessment of Kazakhstan’s banking sector industry risk from group "7" to "6", according to the country’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market.
At the same time, S&P revised the trend for the "economic risk" component from "stable" to "positive". The agency said the upgrade reinforces a long-term improvement in the banking sector’s position, continuing the trend seen in previous reviews in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
According to S&P analysts, the revision reflects, among other factors, stronger banking supervision in Kazakhstan. S&P highlighted regular assessments of banks’ asset quality, the implementation of the international Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP), as well as measures aimed at curbing excessive risk-taking by banks, particularly in retail lending.
Analysts also positively assessed oversight of banks’ capital and liquidity, stress testing, corporate governance requirements and efforts to address emerging risks, including cyber threats and climate-related factors.
S&P said Kazakhstan’s banking sector has remained resilient to geopolitical and macroeconomic risks in recent years, while overall credit risk remains under control.
The change in the Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment (BICRA) also affected the ratings of individual financial institutions. S&P upgraded Bank CenterCredit’s long-term rating to "BB+" and raised the Kazakhstan national scale ratings of Freedom group subsidiaries to "kzA". The outlooks on Halyk Bank and Nurbank, as well as on Freedom Holding’s international ratings, were revised to "positive".
Earlier, S&P upgraded Kazakhstan’s sovereign credit rating to "BBB" for the first time in 10 years.
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Kazakhstan-China agricultural trade reaches nearly $2 billion
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Trade in agricultural products between Kazakhstan and China rose by 36.8% in 2025 to $1.97 billion. The figures were announced during a meeting between Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Agriculture Nazgul Khatepova and Liu Huanxin, head of China's National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (NAFRA), according to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture's press service.
"China is one of Kazakhstan's key strategic partners in the agricultural sector. Our geographical proximity, complementary economies and steadily growing demand for food provide a solid foundation for further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. We are interested in systematic cooperation that will ensure stable demand for our products and create new channels for accessing the Chinese market," the vice minister said.
The two sides noted significant potential for further increasing trade volumes and diversifying mutual supplies.
"Following the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue working on proposals and step up cooperation between the relevant government agencies and business representatives of the two countries," the ministry said.
Kazakhstan and China have also launched a joint digital platform for trading grain and agricultural products. The new tool provides a direct channel between exporters and Chinese buyers.
"Thirty-five Kazakh companies have already registered on the trading platform. Deals have already been concluded for the export of 24,000 tonnes of oilseed flax," Khatepova added.
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Kazakhstan proposes expanding cooperation with Serbia in energy and agriculture
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Kazakhstan is interested in strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with Serbia in agriculture, energy, tourism and healthcare. The issue was discussed at a meeting between Kazakhstan's Ambassador Bolat Imanbayev and Serbia's Minister for International Economic Cooperation Nenad Popovic, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service reported.
"The two sides exchanged specific plans for the coming period aimed at giving further impetus to the development of Kazakh-Serbian relations," the ministry said in a statement.
Popovic also congratulated Kazakhstan's leadership on the successful conduct of the Kurultai elections and reaffirmed Serbia's firm commitment to implementing all agreements reached at the highest level. He highlighted the prospects for cooperation in transport, construction, artificial intelligence, digitalisation and education.
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S&P Raises Outlook on Freedom After Kazakhstan Rating Upgrade
Images | Freedom Holding Corp.
S&P Global Ratings has raised its outlook on the long-term credit ratings of Freedom Holding Corp. (FRHC) and four of the group’s key companies following an upgrade of Kazakhstan’s sovereign rating to "BBB/A-2", the holding company’s press service reports.
The four key companies are Freedom Finance JSC, Freedom Finance Global, Freedom Finance Europe and Freedom Bank Kazakhstan JSC. The ratings of the FRHC subsidiaries were affirmed at "BB-/B", while the Kazakhstan national scale ratings of Freedom Finance JSC and Freedom Bank Kazakhstan JSC were upgraded from "kzA-" to "kzA".
"The S&P decision marks the second positive rating action involving the group’s key companies in the past several months. Earlier, on June 24, 2026, the agency upgraded their long-term ratings from ‘B+’ to ‘BB-’, while raising the Kazakhstan national scale ratings of Freedom Finance JSC and Freedom Bank Kazakhstan JSC from ‘kzBBB+’ to ‘kzA-’," the press service said.
The holding company said the outlook revision reflects an improved assessment of Kazakhstan’s economic prospects and lower risks for the financial sector and compliance functions, as well as the group’s progress in developing a consolidated risk management framework.
"S&P’s decision followed the upgrade of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s sovereign rating to ‘BBB/A-2’. The agency improved its assessment of the country’s banking sector industry risk from 7 to 6, revised the industry risk trend to ‘stable’, and changed the economic risk trend from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’," Freedom Holding Corp. said.
According to S&P, further improvements in regulation and supervision, combined with accumulated capital buffers and the resilience of the public sector, will help maintain financial stability and enable Kazakhstan’s financial system to navigate different phases of the economic cycle more effectively.
About the Company
Freedom Holding Corp. is a diversified company providing financial services and operating in telecommunications, online sales of airline tickets and tickets to cultural and sporting events, online supermarket services and a range of other businesses. Including its subsidiaries, Freedom Holding Corp. employs more than 12,100 people.
The holding company’s divisions and subsidiaries operate in 24 countries, including Kazakhstan, the United States, Cyprus, Armenia, Uzbekistan and European Union member states, among others. Freedom Holding Corp.’s common shares are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol FRHC.
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