Kazakhstan is seeking to expand exports of agricultural products to the Turkish market, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during a meeting of the Kazakhstan-Turkey Intergovernmental Commission held in Astana.
According to Bektenov, trade turnover in the agro-industrial sector between the two countries increased by more than 25% in 2025, reaching $360 million. “In the coming period, it is important to diversify trade in this sector, expand the export product range, and launch joint high value-added production. We are interested in exporting wheat, lentils, animal feed, and oilseeds to Turkey,” he said.
The prime minister also said that relevant government agencies and businesses in Kazakhstan and Turkey have established exchanges of experience in agricultural technologies and insurance. To support further export growth, he added, cooperation in veterinary and phytosanitary control needs to be strengthened.
In 2025, approximately $390 million in Turkish investment was attracted to Kazakhstan’s economy, bringing the cumulative total over the past 20 years to more than $6 billion.
By the end of 2025, bilateral trade had increased by 9%, while Kazakhstan’s overall exports rose by more than 17% to $3.9 billion.
Turkey’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, who led the Turkish delegation, emphasised the importance of cooperation not only at the bilateral level but also within multilateral frameworks.
“We attach particular importance not only to bilateral interaction between Turkey and Kazakhstan, but also to our joint work within the Organization of Turkic States and other international structures. These platforms enable us to enhance coordination, expand economic opportunities, and translate political dialogue into practical outcomes,” Yılmaz said.
The parties also noted a 35% increase in railway freight transportation between Kazakhstan and Turkey in 2025 and reaffirmed the priority of developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor. Key objectives include infrastructure modernisation, eliminating bottlenecks, expanding port and terminal capacity, implementing digital solutions, and coordinating tariff policies.
In addition to agriculture, the sides discussed prospects for energy cooperation, including joint projects in the oil and gas sector and geological exploration. Potential cooperation in IT education, fintech, cybersecurity, and e-government services was also highlighted.
As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Turkey is considered a promising market for Kazakh meat producers, as it is willing to pay higher prices than other markets.
