Kazakhstan and the European Union are bolstering their economic partnership, with a recent high-level meeting paving the way for expanded collaboration in trade, investment, and sustainable development.
A Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Committee meeting held in Astana, reaffirmed the EU's position as Kazakhstan's foremost economic ally and set the stage for deeper integration on green initiatives.
The EU remains the largest single market for Kazakhstan's exports and a primary source of foreign investment. In 2024, the trade turnover between the two partners reached nearly $50 billion. More recent reports from April 2025 have indicated this figure could be as high as $49.7 billion, with Kazakh exports to the EU accounting for approximately $38.6 billion of that total. This robust trade relationship is further underscored by the immense flow of capital, with the EU having invested over $200 billion into the Kazakh economy since 2005. The footprint of European business in the Central Asian nation is substantial, with over 3,000 companies with European capital, including industry giants like Shell, Total, and Airbus, actively operating in the country.
A key focus of the ongoing dialogue is the comprehensive implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). A recent visit by a delegation from the Council of the European Union's Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) in early June 2025 emphasized the practical steps being taken to realize the full potential of this agreement. Discussions are centered on enhancing technical regulations, streamlining digital trade, and significantly boosting the export of non-resource goods from Kazakhstan. The nation's e-commerce market is already showing significant promise, having surpassed 3.2 trillion tenge (approximately $6.3 billion).
A cornerstone of the evolving partnership is the joint commitment to a green transition. Both sides have agreed to intensify their collaboration on the implementation of the European Green Deal's principles. This includes strengthening cooperation in standardization, accreditation, and the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) best practices. In April 2025, a partnership roadmap for 2025-2026 was endorsed, specifically targeting strategic cooperation in the fields of critical raw materials, batteries, and renewable hydrogen. This aligns with the EU's broader "Global Gateway" strategy, which aims to mobilize significant investment in sustainable infrastructure and energy projects across Central Asia. As part of this, a €12 billion investment package has been announced for the region, signaling a strong European commitment to fostering a green and resilient economy in partnership with nations like Kazakhstan.
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British energy major Shell has signed a new exploration contract with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy for the Zhanaturmys block in the Aktobe Region, expanding the company’s upstream presence in one of the country’s most promising hydrocarbon basins.
Rising tensions in the Middle East are beginning to affect Kazakhstan’s economy and citizens, disrupting grain trade across the Caspian Sea and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of Kazakh nationals from several countries in the region.
Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounting diplomatic pressure and geopolitical tensions push the disaster further into the international spotlight.
As tensions escalate in the Middle East, Kazakhstan is assessing the impact on its trade routes, diplomatic ties and citizens in the region. Analysts say the crisis could test Astana’s ability to balance economic interests, security concerns and foreign policy priorities.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Baku has completed its evacuation of staff from the Azerbaijan Consulate General in Tabriz, while most employees from the Azerbaijan Embassy in Tehran have also returned.
Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport came under attack in heavy airstrikes on early Saturday morning (7 March), Iranian news agencies reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia continued to shoot down missiles in their airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking its neighbours.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
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Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
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