Kazakhstan Participated in the 26th Meeting of the SCO Business Council in Beijing

On July 16, 2025, the 26th meeting of the Business Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Beijing. The national part of the SCO Business Council from the Republic of Kazakhstan participated in the event, represented by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” and the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan.

The Kazakh delegation was headed by Raimbek Batalov, Chairman of the Presidium of the NCE “Atameken”, and Murat Karimsakov, Member of the Management Board – Head of the Secretariat of the Chairman of the Presidium of NCE RK “Atameken”, and Chairman of the Management Board of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan.

At the meeting, Raimbek Batalov delivered a report on key areas of economic cooperation, ongoing projects, and prospects for expanding collaboration within the SCO framework. According to him, the SCO countries possess significant competitive advantages:

“Thanks to the harmonious combination of natural resources, territorial and technological advantages, as well as our unity, the SCO Business Council enjoys undeniable authority on the international stage, attracting the attention of many countries and partners,” he stated.

According to the presented data, in 2024 Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with SCO countries exceeded USD 67 billion, indicating growing business activity and interest in expanding trade and economic cooperation.

Special attention in his speech was given to the events held under the auspices of the SCO in 2024–2025 with the active participation of Kazakhstan, including:

• Meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators;
• 25th anniversary meeting of the SCO Business Council and the SCO Heads of State Summit in Astana;
• SCO Youth Development Forum;
• International Conference on Multilateralism and Global Governance;
• Roundtable as part of the SCO Year of Sustainable Development;
• 9th Meeting of the Joint Working Group of SCO Member States on Investment Promotion and the “China-SCO” Industrial Cooperation Conference on Sustainable Development;
• Forum “Central Asia — the Core of the SCO: 25 Years of Cooperation for Joint Development”, among others.

Raimbek Batalov also noted that Kazakhstan’s initiative to update the activities of the Business Council was reflected in the renewed SCO priorities in accordance with the long-term Economic Development Strategy until 2030. Key focus areas include digital transformation, green technologies, sustainable development, and industrial cooperation.

“SMEs, due to their flexibility and innovativeness, should become key participants in joint initiatives. Supporting such enterprises is a crucial priority,” he emphasized.

In conclusion, Raimbek Batalov confirmed Kazakhstan’s readiness to continue actively contributing to the development of the SCO’s economic dimension, strengthening business ties, and implementing multilateral initiatives aimed at sustainable regional growth.