Kazakhstan, EU Discuss Energy Supplies via CPC
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Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas held a telephone conversation.
The two sides discussed cooperation in the energy sector, including prospects for international infrastructure for energy supplies and the operation of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).
According to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, the conversation also covered agreements reached during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Brussels on 23 June.
Kosherbayev and Kallas discussed expanding trade and economic ties, promising areas for cooperation, as well as the schedule of upcoming bilateral and multilateral meetings.
The two sides reaffirmed their interest in further strengthening the partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union.
Earlier, Kazakhstan and Greece discussed the security of oil supplies via the CPC.
Kazakhstan is also considering additional routes for oil exports following temporary restrictions imposed by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium on accepting crude oil.
On 20 July, another attack on a civilian tanker occurred at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s marine terminal, resulting in the suspension of oil loading operations.
In addition, during the night of 30 July, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker NIFFOS SIFNOS, which was loading oil at Single Point Mooring 3 (SPM-3) at the CPC marine terminal, came under a drone attack.
The Isle of Man-flagged tanker MARATHI was also attacked six nautical miles from the CPC marine terminal, in territorial waters, while it was heading to the terminal to take on oil.
Ukraine later agreed to halt attacks on the CPC, Bloomberg reported.
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Kazakhstan Invites Chinese Companies to Invest in Mineral Exploration and Processing
Kazakhstan has invited Chinese and international companies to cooperate in mineral exploration, mining and advanced processing. Industry and Construction Minister Yersayin Nagaspayev made the announcement at the China Mining 2026 international conference in Tianjin, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction.
"Kazakhstan offers opportunities to jointly create new value chains and modern production facilities. We invite Chinese and international companies to cooperate in geological exploration, mining and advanced processing of mineral resources. We place particular emphasis on attracting modern technologies and localising production. It is important to take industrial cooperation to a new level and implement projects that serve the long-term interests of our countries," Nagaspayev said.
The minister noted the steady expansion of business and investment ties, as well as closer industrial cooperation in recent years.
According to the ministry, around 11,000 companies with Chinese participation currently operate in Kazakhstan. The country’s largest partners include CNPC, Sinopec, CITIC Group, Zijin Mining, East Hope Group, Huawei, PowerChina, SANY, Fufeng and Lihua Group, among others.
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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously said that relations between Kazakhstan and China had reached an unprecedentedly high level
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BRICS Voices Concern Over Growing Unilateral Trade Measures
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BRICS countries have expressed serious concern over the unilateral imposition of trade and financial measures, including tariff increases and non-tariff restrictions, a Kazakhstan Today correspondent reports.
"We remain seriously concerned about the unilateral imposition of trade- and finance-related measures, including tariff increases and non-tariff measures that distort trade and are inconsistent with World Trade Organization rules," RIA Novosti quoted the statement as saying.
The statement noted that such pressure has the greatest impact on emerging economies.
"We reaffirm our support for an open, transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core," the statement said.
BRICS countries also warned of significant challenges facing the global economy.
"The global economy is facing significant challenges. Risks to the global economic outlook remain elevated, reflecting persistent geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation and protectionism, policy uncertainty, fiscal and inflationary pressures, rising debt and financial vulnerabilities," the document said.
The BRICS summit is due to take place in India.
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Kazakh Citizens to Make QR Payments in China, India and UAE
Kazakhstan is working to introduce cross-border QR payments with 11 countries, with the service expected to launch in China by the end of 2026, a Kazakhstan Today correspondent reported.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Central Asia FinTech Summit 2026, National Bank Deputy Governor Binur Zhalenov said the countries involved include China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Practical agreements have already been signed in several areas.
"We are currently working on cross-border payments with 11 countries, including China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. We expect the system to become operational with China by the end of this year. It will be rolled out gradually in the other countries, tentatively by the middle of next year," Zhalenov said.
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Banks will set their own fees for cross-border QR payments. Zhalenov said the National Bank does not regulate the fees banks charge their customers.
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Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Plan Joint Silk Road Tourism Routes
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan plan to develop joint tourism routes along the Great Silk Road, expand transport links and simplify border and visa procedures for travelers, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports said following a bilateral tourism forum in Astana.
In 2025, Kazakhstan welcomed about 5.6 million visitors from Uzbekistan, while around 2.9 million Kazakh citizens traveled to Uzbekistan.
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Kazakh Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Miras Tulebayev said the two countries could jointly promote Central Asia as a single tourism destination.
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Kazakhstan Plans to Expand Digital Tenge Use to 2 Trillion Tenge
Kazakhstan plans to expand the use of the digital tenge to 2 trillion tenge over the next 12 months, National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov said at the Central Asia Fintech Summit 2026.
"We have a firm commitment agreed with the government. Our initial target was 1 trillion tenge, but given the new objectives related to major infrastructure, construction and other programs, we now aim to increase the use of the digital tenge to 2 trillion tenge over the next 12 months," Suleimenov said.
He said the digital tenge was being gradually integrated into public procurement, budget planning and government funds. The National Bank is not prioritizing its use for retail payments because commercial banks already offer their own consumer payment products.
Suleimenov also said 90% of payments in Kazakhstan were now cashless.
He highlighted the nationwide interbank QR payment system, launched July 19. The system has already processed 20 million transactions worth more than 400 billion tenge and secured a 25% market share, he said.
The digital tenge was launched in 2023, followed by the Anti-Fraud Center in 2024. Kazakhstan developed its interbank payment infrastructure in 2024 and 2025 before launching the interbank QR system this year.
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Kazakhstan Steps Up Efforts to Attract Foreign Investment
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has instructed officials to step up engagement with foreign investors and accelerate the implementation of investment projects in the country, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Tileuberdi held a working meeting with the leadership of the Foreign Ministry’s Investment Committee and the national company KAZAKH INVEST. The participants discussed the implementation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directives on attracting investment and improving the country’s investment climate.
The minister was briefed on efforts to attract foreign direct investment and implement investment projects, as well as work with potential investors and the development of the national digital investment platform.
Preparations for international investment events were also discussed.
Following the meeting, Tileuberdi instructed officials to improve the effectiveness of engagement with investors, accelerate the implementation of investment projects and strengthen coordination in attracting capital to Kazakhstan’s economy.
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China’s SPIC to Invest $1.2 Billion in Wind Farm in Kazakhstan
A 1 GW wind farm is planned for construction near the city of Ekibastuz in Kazakhstan, with Chinese energy corporation State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) set to invest $1.2 billion in the project, Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry said.
Representatives of the ministry and SPIC executives discussed the progress of the project, which is being developed jointly with Kazakhstan-based Pavlodar Green Energy. The wind farm is scheduled to become operational in 2029.
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The two sides also discussed other areas of cooperation and the possibility of launching new energy projects in Kazakhstan.
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