New Areas of Kazakhstan–Germany Economic Cooperation Discussed in Berlin

On August 27, 2026, the 16th meeting of the Kazakhstan–Germany Intergovernmental Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held in Berlin. Murat Karimsakov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Board of The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, took part in the event.

The meeting was held at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in the format of an open discussion on the prospects for bilateral cooperation. The meeting was co-chaired by Gerlind Heckmann, Deputy Head of the Foreign Trade Division at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Olzhas Saparbekov, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The discussion focused on developing trade and economic relations, industrial and raw materials cooperation, improving transport and logistics infrastructure, modernizing healthcare, cooperation in water management and energy, enhancing the investment climate, and considering specific requests from Kazakh and German companies.

Speaking at the session dedicated to investment cooperation, Murat Karimsakov presented an assessment of the current state of bilateral relations from the perspective of the business community. He noted that Germany has traditionally been one of Kazakhstan’s leading economic partners in the European Union. Kazakhstan accounts for more than 80% of Germany’s trade with Central Asian countries.

In 2025, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Germany amounted to USD 4.4 billion. Kazakhstan’s exports increased by 7.4% to USD 1.2 billion, while imports from Germany rose by 10.3% to USD 3.1 billion. Kazakhstan’s exports primarily consist of crude oil, ferroalloys, phosphorus, and metallurgical products. Germany supplies Kazakhstan with high-tech equipment, automotive components, pharmaceutical products, and agricultural machinery.

Investment cooperation has even greater potential. From 2005 through the first quarter of 2026, gross inflows of direct investment from Germany to Kazakhstan amounted to USD 8 billion. There are 1,412 enterprises with German participation registered in the country, of which 1,102 are active. A portfolio of 64 joint projects worth USD 4.46 billion has been formed: 39 projects have already been completed, 18 are under implementation, and 7 are under consideration.

“Our common task is to increase the share of projects in the manufacturing industry and move from supplying finished equipment to localizing production, establishing joint ventures, and transferring technologies and technological solutions. Kazakhstan offers German businesses not only access to its domestic market, but also access to the markets of Central Asia, the EAEU, and China,” Murat Karimsakov emphasized.

Areas of practical interest include mechanical engineering, the production and servicing of railway equipment, deep processing of critical minerals, recycling of waste and lithium-ion batteries, water treatment, renewable energy, agricultural processing, the chemical industry, and construction materials.

According to Murat Karimsakov, investors in Kazakhstan have access to instruments offered by development institutions, as well as project and export financing. The Astana International Financial Centre, where 41 companies with German capital are registered, provides additional opportunities. At the same time, businesses need not only support measures but also a clear project implementation framework: a reliable partner, a land plot or production site, infrastructure, a financial model, timelines, and clearly assigned responsibilities of the parties.

Kazakh businesses are interested in establishing joint ventures with a high degree of localization, transferring technologies, training engineering and technical personnel, and receiving assistance with product certification in accordance with European Union standards.

Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their mutual interest in expanding industrial cooperation, implementing investment initiatives, and strengthening direct ties between the business communities of Kazakhstan and Germany.