Over the past five years, mutual trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the United States has doubled, reaching $4.2bn, a sign of the growing strength and diversification of bilateral relations.
Building on this momentum, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov met with the U.S. Presidential Special Representative for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and First Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to discuss expanding trade, investment, and innovation partnerships.
During the meeting, Bektenov emphasized that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attaches special importance to enhancing cooperation with the United States. He noted that this dialogue marks another key step toward realizing the full trade and economic potential of both countries.
According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the gross inflow of direct investment from the U.S. since 1993 has amounted to about $61.2bn, accounting for more than 13% of total foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan. Bektenov highlighted that the government continues to implement systemic measures to create favorable conditions for foreign, including American, businesses.
The sides discussed deepening collaboration across priority sectors such as industry, digital technologies, energy, agriculture, transport, logistics, and water management. Reports on sectoral cooperation and future plans were delivered by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov, and Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev.
New opportunities were identified in transit and transport, while both parties emphasized the importance of modernizing the energy sector and introducing advanced technologies in joint projects.
In the agricultural sector, Kazakhstan, one of the world’s top ten exporters of grain and flour, proposed joint projects for deep grain processing and subsequent exports to markets in the United States, EU, China, and India.
The meeting also stressed cooperation in the digital and AI industries. Kazakhstan’s International Center for Artificial Intelligence Alem.AI, which unites global technology companies such as Apple and Google, is emerging as a key regional platform. Meanwhile, the Astana Hub, home to over 1,700 companies and the Silk Road Innovation Center in California are implementing acceleration programs in partnership with leading American firms and universities.
At the end of the talks, both sides reaffirmed their readiness to expand trade and economic cooperation across all promising areas, highlighting their shared commitment to advancing a strategic and forward-looking partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States.
