Kazakhstan and EU Strengthen Strategic Partnership, DKnews.kz reports.

Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu received the European Union’s Special Representative for Central Asia Eduards Stiprais, who arrived to Kazakhstan on a working visit.

During the meeting, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral and regional cooperation, including the practical implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the European Union, as well as strengthening economic ties, investment cooperation, and regional security issues.

Both sides emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue within the framework of the EU Strategy for Central Asia and implementing joint initiatives in the fields of sustainable development, digitalization, and climate policy. Green transformation and the transport and logistics connectivity of the region with the European Union were discussed thoroughly. In this context, the importance of implementing projects aimed at developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route was highlighted.

Minister Nurtleu reaffirmed the country’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the European Union and noted the significance of the upcoming “Central Asia - European Union” Summit in Samarkand this week.

For his part, Special Representative Stiprais praised the dynamics of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU, highlighting the key role of Kazakhstan in fostering interregional cooperation and implementing major infrastructure and economic projects.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue their constructive dialogue on all pressing bilateral and regional issues.

The European Union is the main trade and investment partner of Kazakhstan. The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and European Union reached 49.7 billion US dollars (+16.9%), including exports from Kazakhstan – 38.6 billion dollars, imports to Kazakhstan – 11.1 billion dollars. The gross inflow of direct investment from EU countries for the period from 2005 to 9 month of 2024 amounted 200.7 billion dollars, which is 47.8% of the total gross FDI (419.5 billion dollars). Of these, in 9 months of 2024, FDI from EU countries amounted to 6.4 billion dollars or 50.4%. There are more than 3,000 European companies currently operating in Kazakhstan.