Kazakhstan secured agreements and investment commitments worth $12 billion during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's official visit to Brussels on 22–23 June, underlining the growing economic importance of ties between the European Union and Central Asia's largest economy.
The deals, announced during Tokayev's talks with EU leaders and European investors in Brussels, span critical minerals, transport, manufacturing and aviation, highlighting Kazakhstan's increasingly important role in Europe's economic strategy.
The visit came as Brussels continues efforts to diversify supply chains, strengthen access to critical raw materials and develop alternative trade routes linking Europe and Asia.
Against that backdrop, Kazakhstan used the meetings to position itself not only as a supplier of energy and natural resources but also as a long-term industrial and logistics partner for the bloc.
A major focus of the discussions was cooperation on critical minerals, which have become increasingly important to the EU's green and digital transition.
Speaking in Brussels, Tokayev said Kazakhstan is capable of supplying 21 of the 34 raw materials included on the European Union's list of critical minerals.
The Kazakh president also proposed expanding cooperation through long-term offtake agreements designed to support domestic processing and manufacturing.
The approach, he said, would help create higher-value industries within Kazakhstan while providing European companies with more secure and diversified supply chains. As part of that effort, Astana plans to establish a Regional Research Centre for Rare Earth Metals.
The discussions also reflected the continued importance of energy cooperation between the two sides. Tokayev noted that nearly 13% of Kazakhstan's crude oil exports were supplied to European markets over the past year.
Transport connectivity also featured prominently in the talks. Tokayev highlighted the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, the route linking Europe and Asia through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus.
Interest in the corridor has grown in recent years as governments and businesses seek alternative trade routes capable of reducing logistical bottlenecks and increasing the resilience of international supply chains.
Several commercial agreements were announced alongside the political discussions. Among the most significant was a ceremonial agreement between Air Astana and Airbus for up to 50 A320neo and A321neo aircraft, valued at €7.145 billion.
The deal represents one of the largest aviation agreements involving Kazakhstan in recent years and accounts for a substantial portion of the broader package unveiled during the visit.
The visit also underlined the broader trajectory of EU-Kazakhstan relations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that trade between Kazakhstan and the European Union has more than doubled over the past decade since the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
For Brussels, Kazakhstan is increasingly viewed as an important partner in areas ranging from energy security and critical raw materials to transport connectivity.
For Astana, closer ties with the European Union offer opportunities to attract investment, expand industrial capacity and strengthen its position within emerging trade networks connecting Europe and Asia.
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