Italy and Kazakhstan are expanding their economic cooperation, with more than $8 billion in potential partnerships under discussion across critical sectors such as energy, agriculture, logistics, and technology.
The Italy-Kazakhstan Supply Chain Forum, held on May 28 in Astana, served as a key platform to advance bilateral trade and industrial ties just ahead of the Astana International Forum (AIF) on May 29–30.
Organized by the Italy-Kazakhstan Trade Association (ACIK) alongside national agencies and business leaders, the event built on the momentum of last October’s bilateral forum in Milan. It also laid the foundation for the next round of talks to be held in Italy.
Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, highlighting Italy’s longstanding investment in sectors such as energy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and machinery. He noted that bilateral trade rose 25% in 2024, reaching nearly $20 billion, with $18 billion in Kazakh exports. In Q1 2025 alone, trade hit $4.4 billion.
“Italy remains among our top five EU investors, with $7.6 billion invested over the past 20 years,” said Bektenov. “Our government is focused on improving the investment climate with incentives like tax and customs benefits, infrastructure support, and a responsive legal environment.”
New Agreements and Sectoral Focus
The forum resulted in 10 memoranda of understanding worth €180 million (approx. $204 million) in areas such as petrochemicals, machinery, agriculture, metallurgy, and logistics digitalization. These agreements aim to position both countries for joint production projects targeting European, Central Asian, and Chinese markets.
Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliev called the event a “milestone” in bilateral ties, emphasizing Kazakhstan’s role as a key Eurasian transport and logistics hub, especially via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) or Middle Corridor, which saw a 63% increase in cargo in 2024.
Kazakhstan proposed several initiatives including:
Agricultural exports were also spotlighted, particularly organic grain, oilseeds, and animal feed.
Industrial Integration and Workforce Development
Maire Group CEO Alessandro Bernini praised Kazakhstan’s transformation since the 1990s, pointing to vast industrial opportunities for Italian firms.
“We encourage Italian companies to establish a permanent presence in Kazakhstan,” Bernini said. “The country is in the midst of major industrial investment, and we can accelerate the modernization of local companies by working together.”
Maire Group is already collaborating with local universities to recruit and train graduates for the growing industrial sector.
Challenges for SMEs and Support Solutions
Livio Mazzuoccolo, General Manager of Confindustria, noted that many European SMEs lack adequate preparation when entering Kazakhstan or Central Asia. He said proper registration and market integration typically take 16 months, and that sectors like oil and gas require additional licensing steps.
To better support Italian SMEs, Confindustria is transforming its Kazakhstan office into Confindustria Central Asia and Caucasus, aimed at streamlining market entry and offering targeted guidance.
Energy Transition and Strategic Geography
Paolo Arrighetti, SVP at Ansaldo Energia, highlighted Kazakhstan’s balanced approach to the energy transition — promoting renewables while converting coal-fired plants to gas-powered systems to ensure grid stability.
“These forums are essential for launching meaningful collaborations,” said Arrighetti. “Kazakhstan’s location — between China, Russia, and Europe — makes it an emerging regional hub amid global realignments.”
He concluded that instability elsewhere has created opportunities in Central Asia, and that Kazakhstan is uniquely positioned to serve as a stable, innovation-driven partner in this new geopolitical landscape.
Almost all of Taiwan shut down on Friday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Champi...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on D...
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said.&nbs...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Yemen's Houthis have denied targeting the holy city of Medina on Wednesday adding that they have not conducted any military operations towards Saudi Arabia either, denying earlier comments from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court in Batumi will on Wednesday hear a lawsuit seeking to ban five Georgian opposition parties, four of which collectively gained 784,820 votes (37.79 per cent) in the country’s last national elections in 2024.
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Azerbaijani families of people missing since the Garabagh conflict have taken their appeal to EU officials in Brussels, calling for greater international support in clarifying the fate of their relatives and locating mass graves.
A peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia could be signed in 2027 or 2028, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday, state news agency Armenpress reported.
Kazakhstan is preparing sweeping military reforms after 14 service members died during exercises in the Caspian Sea. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev approved the plans on 21 October, with major changes to training, oversight and defence capabilities set to begin in 2027.
Iranian officials have stepped up warnings of retaliation amid the threat of renewed U.S.-Israeli strikes, while signalling that a diplomatic solution remains possible if Washington demonstrates a sincere commitment to rebuilding trust.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment