Tokayev, Erdoğan Highlight AI, Logistics and Industrial Cooperation at Kazakh-Turkish Business Forum
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed expanding trade, AI, and industrial cooperation at a business forum in Astana, aiming to boost bilateral trade to $15 billion. Tokayev highlighted 142 joint projects worth $7.6 billion, including investments in aviation, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, while emphasizing Kazakhstan’s digital and AI advancements through initiatives like the Alem.ai Center and Altyn Visa program.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the Kazakh-Turkish Business Forum in Astana on May 14, focusing on deepening cooperation in industry, transport, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and digital technologies. They set a target to increase bilateral trade turnover to $15 billion, with Tokayev noting that 3,800 Turkish-owned enterprises already operate in Kazakhstan, creating thousands of jobs. Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s economic growth, with a 6.5% GDP increase last year and a $300 billion economy, positioning it as Central Asia’s largest market. He invited Turkish investors to leverage Kazakhstan’s Altyn Visa program and the Astana International Financial Centre, which hosts 5,600 companies from 90 countries, including 73 Turkish firms. Joint industrial projects total 142, valued at $7.6 billion, including YDA Holding’s investments in manufacturing and medical production, Panelsan’s chemical projects, and Aksa Energy’s power plant in Kyzylorda Region. Turkish firms are also expanding Kazakhstan’s aviation sector, with TAV Holding reconstructing Almaty Airport’s international terminal and S Sistem Lojistik planning a logistics center at Aktobe Airport. Tokayev emphasized agriculture as a key priority, noting Kazakhstan’s sixth-place global ranking in arable land and 27 million tons of grain harvested last year. Turkish companies like Tiryaki Holding and İskefe are investing in grain processing and gelatin production, while Alarko Holding plans a greenhouse complex in Shymkent. In pharmaceuticals, Turkish firms Abdi İbrahim and Nobel have opened production facilities in Kazakhstan, and YDA Group is building hospitals in Turkistan and Petropavlovsk. Tokayev also stressed digital collaboration, including Kazakhstan’s new AI-focused ministry, two supercomputers, and the Alem.ai International AI Center in Astana. He proposed joint projects in AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and online services, citing recent deals like Kaspi.kz’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Turkey’s Hepsiburada platform. Erdoğan praised Kazakhstan as a strategic partner, noting Türkiye’s strong economic and cultural ties with the region. Both leaders reaffirmed commitments to enhancing trade, investment, and technological cooperation, aiming to solidify the partnership’s long-term growth.
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