Kazakhstan's Superfecta at B20: Four Advantages in Critical Minerals

On November 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C., Kanat Sharlapaev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, addressed a panel session at the B20 Summit dedicated to public-private partnerships between Central Asia and the United States in critical mineral resources. He invited American businesses to pursue long-term industrial and technological partnerships with Kazakhstan.

Kanat Sharlapaev described Kazakhstan's competitive advantages in the mining sector using the concept of a Superfecta — a combination of four strengths: a diverse mineral resource base, developed infrastructure, predictable regulation, and a skilled workforce.

Kazakhstan's mineral resource base encompasses a wide range of resources essential to the energy and industrial sectors. Its extensive railway network and energy infrastructure support mining operations. Investors in the subsoil sector benefit from international mineral resource assessment standards and a first-come, first-served licensing system. Kazakhstan's engineering institutions train specialists who make up the overwhelming majority of the industry's workforce.

Particular attention during the session was devoted to financing early-stage mineral exploration. Years may pass between initial exploration and commercial production. For smaller exploration companies, financial instruments that enable capital raising before a project begins generating revenue are therefore especially important.

"Between 2022 and 2025, capital investment in metal ore mining in Kazakhstan increased by approximately 62%, while total investment in geological exploration grew 2.5 times, reaching USD 1 billion," Kanat Sharlapaev noted.

International companies including Rio Tinto, Fortescue, Ivanhoe Mines, Arras Minerals, B2Gold, and East Star Resources are already operating in Kazakhstan. As the Chairman of the Atameken Presidium emphasized, their investments demonstrate confidence in the country's business environment.

Kazakhstan's priorities for cooperation with American businesses include advanced processing of mineral resources, technology transfer, and the development of comprehensive industrial ecosystems. As examples of the sector's potential, Kanat Sharlapaev highlighted the Sarytogan project, which has graphite resources exceeding 65 million tonnes, and the production of high-purity manganese sulfate by Taza Metal Technologies. He also mentioned Akbulak, a joint exploration project between Kazgeology and Cove Kaz Capital Group at a site where rare earth elements, including neodymium and praseodymium, have been identified.

The B20 Summit is taking place in Washington, D.C., from November 9 to 11 as part of the United States' G20 presidency. Kazakhstan's large business delegation includes representatives of industry, energy, agriculture, transportation, and logistics.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Kanat Sharlapaev held business meetings with representatives of the American business and expert communities. These included discussions with Dan Levin, Founder and Managing Partner of Tenfore Holdings. The American investment firm invests in growth-stage technology companies and supports their business expansion. The meeting explored opportunities for direct cooperation between Tenfore's portfolio companies and Kazakhstani enterprises in advanced manufacturing, robotics, intelligent logistics, and artificial intelligence applications.

Kanat Sharlapaev also met with Heidi Crebo-Rediker, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and an expert in international finance and economic security. Their discussions focused on attracting private capital to infrastructure and critical minerals projects. The agenda also covered the preparation of public-private partnership projects, risk allocation between governments and investors, and access to long-term financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.

For Kazakhstani businesses, participation in the B20 provided an opportunity to discuss practical conditions for launching joint projects with American partners, ranging from financing geological exploration and introducing new technologies to involving domestic enterprises as contractors and suppliers.