Key Areas for Developing Cooperation within the Turkic Business Community Discussed in Astana

An Extraordinary Meeting of the Heads of the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) was held in Astana as part of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Union.

The meeting was attended by Kanat Sharlapaev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and Chairman of TCCI; Assan Darbayev, Vice Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mahmut Gürcan, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye; Baghdad Amreyev, President of the Turkic Investment Fund; Merei Mukazhan, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States; Adem Kula, Secretary General of TCCI; as well as representatives of government agencies, international organizations, and business associations from across the Turkic world. The event was moderated by Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan.

Opening the meeting, Kanat Sharlapaev noted that global economic changes, the restructuring of logistics chains, and macroeconomic challenges require the business communities of the Turkic countries to take an active and coordinated approach.

“The Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry should function as a clear institutional mechanism that transforms the political dialogue between our states into concrete commercial contracts, investments, and jobs. To achieve this, we must focus on practical initiatives that will deliver tangible benefits to entrepreneurs in our countries,” he emphasized.

Mahmut Gürcan, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, highlighted the importance of national chambers in strengthening trade and economic cooperation and supporting entrepreneurs.

“Chambers of commerce and industry, as organizations with the deepest understanding of the challenges faced by businesses on the ground, play a key role in addressing the practical issues encountered by entrepreneurs, including customs procedures, logistics, and access to financing,” he noted.

Industrial cooperation was identified as one of the central areas of collaboration. The participants considered prospects for establishing joint ventures in mechanical engineering, the production of construction materials and automotive components, and the agro-industrial sector. The implementation of such projects will help establish sustainable, high-value-added technological chains and expand mutual supplies.

Kanat Sharlapaev emphasized the direct relationship between the development of industrial cooperation and transport logistics. The localization of production and increased supplies of raw materials, components, and finished products create a stable cargo base for international transport routes, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route—the Middle Corridor.

In accordance with the agenda, TCCI Secretary General Adem Kula reported on the implementation of the decisions adopted at the Union’s closed meeting held on May 13, 2026. The participants reviewed the implementation of the TCCI Action Plan, the execution of instructions related to institutional development, the work of sectoral committees, and the status of the implementation of the General Assembly’s decisions. Particular attention was given to preparing TCCI proposals for the upcoming Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States.

The further institutional strengthening of TCCI was addressed as a separate item. At the initiative of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, a draft Agreement on Cooperation in Trade, Investment, and Entrepreneurship within the Union was developed. The document is intended to consolidate TCCI’s status as a key institutional body of the Turkic business community and establish transparent conditions for interstate commercial cooperation.

Particular attention was also given to implementing the TCCI Strategic Memorandum signed in Tashkent on November 12, 2025. Islam Shahbender, co-founder of Karavan.net, presented a joint roadmap for establishing the Union’s integrated e-commerce and export platform. The potential use of digital tools and the organization of B2B interaction were considered using SARBAN.BIZ, the unified digital business platform of the Turkic states, as an example. The project was presented by Amir Urisov, representative of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan expressed its readiness to continue actively implementing the outlined initiatives, strengthening cooperation between national chambers, and establishing effective mechanisms to support entrepreneurs throughout the Turkic states.

The decisions adopted following the meeting are aimed at further strengthening TCCI institutionally, expanding industrial and investment cooperation, developing transport and logistics links, and creating modern digital infrastructure for businesses.