Kazakhstan Presented Trade and Investment Priorities at the ECO Business Forum in Shusha

On July 2, 2025, the 6th ECO Business Forum titled “Investment and Trade Promotion as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development in the ECO Region” was held in the city of Shusha (Republic of Azerbaijan) as part of the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan was represented at the event by Member of the Board and Chief of Staff, Assan Zhakishev, who delivered a report on the key directions of foreign economic cooperation and sustainable development priorities.

In his speech, Assan Zhakishev expressed gratitude to the forum organizers for the high level of the event and emphasized the significance of Shusha as a symbol of historical heritage and regional unity. He highlighted the importance of collective response to global economic transformations and underscored the need to strengthen cooperation among ECO member states.

“Only joint efforts, diplomacy at the level of heads of state, coordination of development strategies, and the shared use of infrastructure and human resources will lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the region,” said Assan Zhakishev.

According to him, Kazakhstan continues to demonstrate positive dynamics in trade and economic relations with ECO countries. From January to March of this year, trade turnover amounted to USD 3.5 billion, a 6.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Exports rose by 12.4%, reaching USD 2.6 billion. Kazakhstan’s key trading partners in the region remain Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Special attention was paid to logistics development. Kazakhstan is actively building infrastructure along the “North–South” and “East–West” corridors, prioritizing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which carried 4.5 million tons of cargo in 2024. The ports of Aktau and Kuryk, the Khorgos dry port, and the national railway network are being developed and modernized. Logistics digitalization and procedural unification are also being advanced.

A separate focus was given to Kazakhstan’s investment climate. The country has 15 special economic zones and more than 49,000 enterprises with foreign participation. A new investment cycle has been launched, aiming to attract USD 150 billion in foreign direct investment by 2029. In the first half of 2025 alone, agreements worth over USD 21 billion were signed.

The forum also featured B2B and B2G meetings dedicated to the discussion of joint projects and new avenues of partnership.

The Business Forum in Shusha confirmed the importance of dialogue among ECO countries and opened new opportunities to deepen regional economic cooperation. The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan reaffirmed its readiness to serve as an open platform for promoting joint initiatives and supporting business.