Kazakhstan and the United States are continuing to strengthen their strategic partnership, with investment playing a central role. At a roundtable with U.S. business representatives in New York, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that American investments in Kazakhstan’s economy have surpassed $100 billion.
“Today, more than 630 American companies are successfully operating in our country, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Boeing, Visa, Mastercard, Meta, Wabtec, and Citibank. We regard the U.S. as an important strategic partner and reaffirm our commitment to further developing multifaceted cooperation,” Tokayev said.
The president noted that Kazakhstan’s economy grew by 6.5% in the first eight months of 2025. He added that ongoing political and economic reforms are creating favorable conditions for long-term growth and attracting further investment.
Energy and Uranium: The Cornerstone of Cooperation
Energy continues to underpin U.S.-Kazakhstan relations.
“We recognize and highly value the large and successful investments of Chevron and ExxonMobil over the past 30 years. Despite all the turbulence in regional geopolitics, their presence in our country has never been questioned,” Tokayev said.
He pointed out that Kazakhstan supplies about 40% of the global uranium market and nearly a quarter of U.S. imports. Tokayev also highlighted Kazakhstan’s “four sources” strategy – oil, gas, coal, and uranium – and expressed support for the U.S. approach to coal as a reliable energy source in the near term.
$4.2 Billion Wabtec Agreement: A Landmark Deal
A key outcome of Tokayev’s U.S. visit was the signing of a $4.2 billion agreement with American locomotive manufacturer Wabtec.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the deal will see Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), acquire 300 ES44Aci Evolution Series freight locomotives over the next decade.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick described the contract as the “largest in history,” noting it would create approximately 11,000 jobs in Texas and Pennsylvania. “This is not just a story of massive success, it’s an example of how American innovation strengthens global leadership,” he posted on X.
Wabtec President and CEO Rafael Santana added, “This project represents KTZ’s ambition to transform Kazakhstan’s railway network into a key bridge between Europe and Asia.”
Tokayev has emphasized that Kazakhstan is upgrading transport hubs and rolling out a “Smart Cargo” digital customs and logistics system to streamline east–west and Trans-Caspian transit traffic.
Presidential Support: Trump and Tokayev Hold Call
The Wabtec agreement was preceded by a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Tokayev.
“I just concluded a wonderful call with the Highly Respected President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He emphasized the significance of the locomotive deal and linked it to his broader support for revitalizing U.S. infrastructure. “We need to support our rail industry, which has been attacked for years by ‘fake environmentalists.’ Now railroads are coming back and fast!” he said.
Observers noted that Trump’s personal involvement underscored the political importance of the agreement for bilateral relations.
Green Energy Progress: SAF Plant with LanzaJet
Another notable development was the agreement between Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company, KazMunayGas (KMG), and U.S.-based LanzaJet to construct a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant.
A prior market study by KMG estimated Kazakhstan’s SAF consumption could reach 70,000 tons annually by 2030.
“Joint efforts will make a significant contribution to achieving low-carbon development goals and strengthening our country’s transit potential,” said KMG Chairman Askhat Khasenov.
Expanding Cooperation in Agriculture, Technology, and Education
President Tokayev also invited American companies to expand their presence in Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector. “Kazakhstan is among the world’s top ten grain exporters. We welcome PepsiCo and Mars’ plans to create modern processing facilities,” he said.
Tokayev also emphasized Kazakhstan’s digital ambitions: “We intend to become a fully digital state within three years. Today, Nvidia, Amazon, Starlink, and Microsoft are already operating in Kazakhstan’s ecosystem.”
In the education sector, Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan is developing into a regional academic hub. Branches of the University of Arizona, Duke University, and the Colorado School of Mines have opened in the country. Additionally, over 800 Bolashak program scholars are currently studying at institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
Balancing Challenges with Strategic Momentum
Despite progress in many areas, bilateral relations face challenges. In spring 2025, the Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on select Kazakhstani goods.
In response, Astana dispatched a delegation to Washington for consultations. Analysts warn that the tariffs could deal a “serious blow” to Kazakhstan’s economy.
Taken together, however, these latest developments suggest a deepening of the U.S.-Kazakhstan partnership that goes beyond contracts – one anchored in long-term strategy, infrastructure, and energy supply. If the current momentum continues, Kazakhstan could become not just a regional energy hub but an increasingly vital node in the global supply chain for strategic raw materials.
Sergey Kwan
