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ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Belgium are seeking to deepen cooperation in transport and logistics, critical minerals, energy, advanced technologies and manufacturing, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and King Philippe said at the Oct. 13 fourth meeting of the Kazakh-Belgian Business Council during the Belgian monarch’s state visit to Kazakhstan.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and King Philippe of Belgium attend the fourth meeting of the Kazakh-Belgian Business Council in Astana. Photo credit: Akorda.
Belgium ranks among the 10 largest investors in Kazakhstan, with Belgian companies investing more than $15 billion in the country over the past two decades, Tokayev said, opening the council.
“More than 100 Belgian and joint ventures are successfully operating in our country in the fields of agriculture, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, advanced technologies and energy. At the regional level, Kazakhstan is Belgium’s largest trading partner in Central Asia,” Tokayev said.
He also highlighted King Philippe’s contribution to expanding bilateral trade and economic ties, identifying transport and logistics as one of the key areas for further cooperation.
Transport and logistics offer new opportunities
According to Tokayev, Kazakhstan is investing heavily in modernizing its railway and road infrastructure, seaports and terminals along the Middle Corridor. He proposed closer practical cooperation between the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Kazakhstan’s Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk.
“In this context, Belgium’s extensive experience as one of Europe’s largest logistics hubs is particularly valuable to us. This will open up broader markets for Kazakhstan’s metal products, petrochemicals and agricultural products,” he said.
King Philippe also emphasized the complementary roles of the two countries in connecting Europe and Central Asia. According to him, Kazakhstan is a vital link across the Eurasian space.
“Thanks to its unique geographical location and significant natural resources, it has become a regional center for trade, investment and the development of the green economy, occupying a special place in the global economy. All this creates a natural foundation for mutually complementary cooperation,” he said.
AI and advanced technology on the agenda
Tokayev identified artificial intelligence and the technology industry as other priorities for strengthening the partnership. Kazakhstan is advancing initiatives such as Alem.ai and Alatau City, which are intended to develop next-generation centers for advanced industries and technological innovation.
“Belgium’s strong position in semiconductor research opens up new opportunities for joint projects and the development of our partnership,” Tokayev said.
The two countries could also expand cooperation in energy and petrochemicals. Tokayev described Kazakhstan as a reliable supplier of oil to European markets and highlighted opportunities in renewable energy, energy efficiency, industrial decarbonization and hydrogen production.
“I invite Belgian companies to implement joint projects in the deep processing of raw materials, the chemical industry and the production of high-value-added polymer products,” he said.
Critical minerals and industrial processing
Critical minerals were another central topic at the business council, alongside a Kazakh-Belgian roundtable on the sector held as part of King Philippe’s state visit. Tokayev said Kazakhstan already produces 21 of the 34 types of raw materials considered critical to European industry and supplies Belgium with titanium and molybdenum products.
“The partnership between John Cockerill and Qarmet to create new galvanizing and protective-coating capacity is a real example of our industrial cooperation. We also welcome the participation of Belgian partners in geological exploration and the deep processing of raw materials and metals,” Tokayev said.
Business ties and people-to-people cooperation
Tokayev also stressed Kazakhstan’s interest in attracting skilled and entrepreneurial people willing to work alongside local professionals.
“The more such people come to our country, the better it will be for all of us, as this contributes to strengthening both personal and professional contacts. Such interaction is highly valued in Kazakhstan. As President of Kazakhstan, I value first and foremost the intellectual abilities of people who come to our country, rather than their ethnic background,” he said.
King Philippe, addressing business representatives from both countries, called for stronger cooperation in promising sectors including energy, critical minerals, transport and logistics, finance and tourism.
“Belgium and Kazakhstan are separated by a considerable geographical distance, but in terms of ambition, pragmatic approach and determination, we are remarkably close,” he said.
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