Kazakhstan and Latvia Discuss Expansion of Trade and Economic Cooperation

On September 29, 2025, in Astana, Murat Karymsakov, Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, met with Atis Schwinka, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Latvia, and Datse Rutka, Ambassador of Latvia to Kazakhstan. The parties discussed key areas of cooperation in logistics, multimodal transportation, and the development of trade and economic relations.

The Kazakhstani delegation included representatives of NCE Atameken, the Kazakhstan–Latvia Business Council, as well as specialists from relevant departments in the fields of international cooperation, logistics, industry, agriculture, and trade. Representatives of industry associations and transport and logistics companies were also present at the meeting.

Murat Karymsakov emphasized the strategic importance of Latvia for Kazakhstan as one of its key partners in Europe and Scandinavia: "Your seaports, developed infrastructure, and ability to adapt flexibly to modern challenges make Latvia not only a reliable transit hub, but also an important partner contributing to sustainable development and strengthening the economic potential of both our countries."

Special attention was paid to the work of the Kazakhstan–Latvia Business Council, established in April this year with the support of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan and the Latvian Employers’ Confederation. The Council is expected to serve as a new platform for developing business contacts and deepening economic cooperation. During the meeting, the parties also discussed the prospects for increasing trade turnover, which amounted to USD 231 million in 2024.

Murat Karymsakov stressed: "Today, about 145 Latvian enterprises are successfully operating in Kazakhstan. The pharmaceutical and banking sectors occupy a special place. We also highly value the Latvian side’s proposals to use the opportunities of the ports of Riga, Ventspils, and Liepaja, and we are ready to develop new multimodal routes, including the Trans-Caspian transport corridor."

The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan expressed its readiness to further develop practical cooperation in logistics, transport, and investment, highlighting the importance of synergy between business and government agencies in strengthening the economic partnership between Kazakhstan and Latvia.