Kazakhstan initiates a new stage of economic integration within the OTS

On April 30, 2026, in Istanbul, a meeting was held between the Chairman of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan “Atameken” National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan Atameken Kanat Sharlapayev and the Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan Murat Karimsakov with the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev. During the meeting, the parties discussed practical steps to deepen economic cooperation and enhance business collaboration among member states.

It was noted that the working visit is taking place as part of preparations for the upcoming OTS Heads of State Summit, aimed at strengthening economic and investment cooperation, as well as expanding integration among the countries.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that at the current stage the priority is shifting from political interaction to achieving concrete economic results. Particular attention was given to increasing mutual investments, developing joint projects, and systematically simplifying business conditions across the Turkic region. At the same time, key mechanisms for business cooperation were identified as the establishment of free economic and industrial zones, as well as the financing of cooperative projects in priority sectors.

In 2026, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” holds the chairmanship in the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry. In this regard, the Kazakh side views the current period as a phase of renewal and institutional strengthening of cooperation. In particular, it was proposed to formalize the Union’s status as a full-fledged international organization through the adoption of an Agreement on cooperation in trade, investment, and entrepreneurship.

To enhance operational efficiency, the establishment of a permanent Secretariat of the Union in the Republic of Kazakhstan was proposed, which would serve as an operational center for supporting joint projects and coordinating business interaction among OTS countries.

A separate focus of discussion was the development of new mechanisms for business engagement. In addition to existing bilateral formats, Kanat Sharlapayev proposed initiating the creation of a multilateral Business Council “Republic of Kazakhstan – OTS countries,” which would serve as a unified platform for implementing transnational projects, including the development of transport and logistics corridors and the establishment of joint industrial clusters.

Within this initiative, it was proposed to focus on forming a portfolio of specific cooperative projects, removing barriers to mutual trade through the creation of a unified digital registry of restrictions, and utilizing the instruments of the Turkic Investment Fund for co-financing promising initiatives.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Kazakh side invited the Secretary General of the OTS to participate in the OTS Business Forum, which will be held on May 13, 2026, in Kazakhstan. The forum is expected to become a platform for developing practical solutions and preparing a package of concrete commercial agreements ahead of the Heads of State Summit.

The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” reaffirmed its readiness to actively contribute to building an effective economic ecosystem aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and strengthening the position of Turkic business on the global stage.