Japanese Business Federation Delegation Holds Talks in Astana

On 9 July 2026, Astana hosted a meeting between the leadership of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken", The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, and a high-level delegation of the Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN), which arrived in Kazakhstan on a working visit. This visit marked the first-ever trip by representatives of Japan's leading business federation to Astana, opening new opportunities for strengthening direct dialogue between the business communities of the two countries.

The Kazakh side was represented by Kanat Sharlapayev, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken"; Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Board of The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan; and Sabr Esimbekov, Co-Chairman of the Kazakhstan–Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation. The Japanese delegation was led by Takeshi Hashimoto, Chairman of the Japan–CIS Business Cooperation Committee of the Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN). The delegation also included Yasumasa Iijima, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of KEIDANREN, and executives of leading Japanese corporations and industry associations interested in expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and future prospects of Kazakhstan–Japan trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as new avenues for interaction between the business communities of the two countries.

Opening the meeting, Kanat Sharlapayev noted that Japan has remained one of Kazakhstan's key strategic partners for many years and ranks among the country's largest foreign investors. He emphasized that bilateral cooperation is entering a new stage of development, with particular focus on industrial cooperation, technological advancement, production localization and the training of engineering professionals.

Special attention was given to improving the business environment, enhancing mechanisms of cooperation between the Government and the business community, and exchanging best practices between the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken" and KEIDANREN. The Kazakh side expressed its interest in studying Japan's experience in consolidating business interests and developing a balanced business community position in shaping economic policy.

A separate part of the discussions focused on the modernization of energy infrastructure, the development of transport and logistics corridors, and the expansion of Japanese companies' participation in investment projects in Kazakhstan. The parties stressed that priority should be given to involving Kazakhstan's small and medium-sized enterprises in joint projects with leading Japanese corporations, expanding production localization, establishing service centres, and introducing advanced industrial infrastructure management technologies.

Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Board of The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, emphasized the importance of strengthening direct ties between the business communities of the two countries and reaffirmed the Chamber's readiness to provide comprehensive support for developing partnerships between Kazakh and Japanese companies, including identifying reliable business partners, organizing trade missions and facilitating joint projects. Sabr Esimbekov, Co-Chairman of the Kazakhstan–Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation, underlined the significance of the issues discussed during the meeting and reaffirmed the National Chamber's commitment to their practical implementation. In this regard, he invited the Japanese side to participate in the next meeting of the Kazakhstan–Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation, which will be held in Astana later this year.

On the same day, the KEIDANREN delegation also took part in a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, attended by Kanat Sharlapayev. The discussions focused on further expanding Kazakhstan–Japan trade, economic and investment cooperation, improving the business climate, developing transport, logistics and energy infrastructure, and implementing joint projects involving leading Japanese companies and Kazakh businesses. Particular attention was paid to production localization, technology transfer, industrial cooperation and creating favourable conditions for attracting new investment into Kazakhstan's economy.