Meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria held in Astana

On March 17, 2026, in Astana, Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, met with Georgi Vodenski, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Tsvetozar Genchev, Economic Affairs Advisor.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of Kazakh-Bulgarian trade and economic cooperation. It was noted that over more than 30 years of diplomatic relations, a stable platform for interaction has been established in political, economic, and cultural spheres.

Kazakhstan remains a reliable supplier of energy resources and raw materials: crude oil, natural gas, and unprocessed aluminum dominate exports to Bulgaria; supplies of polypropylene, food industry products (dried legumes), and orthopedic items are also significant. Bulgaria, in turn, mainly supplies Kazakhstan with pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and food products (bakery products, beer, and chocolate); among imported items are lifting and handling equipment.

It was specifically highlighted that 62 companies with Bulgarian capital are currently operating in the Kazakh market, including “Bulmarket DM”, “Monbat Group”, and “Sopharma”.

Within the framework of industrial cooperation, joint projects are being implemented and developed. In particular, the first phase of the “JASYL SUYQ QAZAQSTAN” LLP project, in collaboration with the Bulgarian company “UBC BG”, has been launched for the production of industrial refrigeration equipment. Work is currently underway to expand production. Other projects are also being developed.

An important topic of discussion was the development of institutional interaction. It was noted that during the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, to Kazakhstan in 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Memorandum aims to expand and deepen bilateral trade and economic cooperation, promote direct contacts between business communities, and support joint investment initiatives.

In line with this Memorandum, the meeting participants discussed the possibility of establishing the Kazakhstan-Bulgaria Business Council as a key platform for systematic business interaction between the two countries. Currently, the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan has sent a draft agreement to the Bulgarian side, and the formation of a pool of interested companies and the development of priority areas of cooperation in various economic sectors are underway.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of mutual interest in deepening business ties, expanding direct contacts between entrepreneurs, and implementing new joint projects.