Kazakhstan and Thailand are stepping up efforts to strengthen their economic partnership. A meeting between the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Thailand, Margulan Baimukhan, and Thailand’s Minister of Commerce, Suphajee Suthumpun, confirmed both sides’ intention to give new momentum to trade, investment and technological cooperation, DKNews.kz reports.
The talks took place against the backdrop of 33 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over this period, Kazakhstan–Thailand ties have evolved into a stable and pragmatic partnership, which both sides now aim to elevate to a new qualitative level.
Digitalization as a key driver of cooperation
One of the central themes of the meeting was Kazakhstan’s digital transformation agenda. Ambassador Baimukhan informed the Thai side that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has declared the current year the Year of Digitalization, underscoring the country’s strategic focus on building a modern digital economy.
Kazakhstan has been consistently developing its digital ecosystem, with the international IT hub Astana Hub playing a key role in attracting startups and technology companies. The adoption of the Digital Code has also created a transparent and forward-looking regulatory framework for the digital sector.
Particular attention was drawn to the recently signed Kazakhstan–Thailand Memorandum on cooperation in the digital sphere. The document provides a practical foundation for joint work in areas such as digital trade, fintech, cybersecurity and smart logistics. In this context, Kazakhstan also presented its initiative to establish a UN ESCAP Digital Solutions Center, which could serve as a regional platform for sharing digital technologies and best practices.
Trade is growing, but potential is far greater
Thailand remains one of Kazakhstan’s key partners in Southeast Asia. According to the Ambassador, around 70 percent of Thailand’s trade with Central Asian countries is conducted with Kazakhstan, highlighting Astana’s leading role in the region.
Trade figures reflect a positive trend. In the first eleven months of 2025, bilateral trade turnover increased by 7.5 percent, reaching USD 235.5 million. At the same time, both sides agreed that these figures represent only a fraction of the existing potential for trade and economic cooperation.
The discussion also highlighted the intensification of political contacts in 2024–2025, which has helped create a favorable environment for expanding economic ties.
New mechanisms and investment opportunities
Special emphasis was placed on launching the Joint Trade Committee and the Working Group on Agriculture, which are expected to make bilateral cooperation more structured and results-oriented.
The parties also considered the possibility of opening a Thai Trade Representative Office in Astana or Almaty. Such a step could significantly facilitate Thai companies’ access not only to the Kazakh market, but also to Central Asia and the CIS as a whole. Prospects for advancing agreements on mutual investment protection and the avoidance of double taxation were also discussed.
Kazakhstan reaffirmed its readiness to expand cooperation in the agro-industrial sector, citing the Sea Value project in the Almaty region as a successful example of investment partnership between the two countries.
Logistics, transit and tourism
Transit and logistics cooperation formed another important part of the talks. The sides exchanged views on the use of the Middle Corridor and emphasized Kazakhstan’s role as a reliable transport hub linking Asia and Europe.
Tourism was also on the agenda, particularly in light of the launch of direct flights between Almaty, Shymkent and Bangkok. These routes are expected to boost people-to-people contacts, business travel and mutual tourism flows.
Thailand’s perspective
Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun emphasized that Thailand views Kazakhstan as a key partner in Central Asia and attaches great importance to strengthening comprehensive trade and economic cooperation.
She also expressed interest in considering an invitation to visit Kazakhstan. Such a visit could include meetings of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Joint Trade Committee, as well as business missions involving representatives of the private sector from both countries.
The Thai side showed strong interest in deepening cooperation in digital solutions, particularly in applying digitalization to increase productivity, efficiency and competitiveness in industrial and agro-industrial sectors. Digital technologies were also seen as an important tool for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and developing modern value-added chains.
In addition, Thailand confirmed its readiness to facilitate progress on bilateral agreements currently under consideration and to continue substantive dialogue on issues related to critical materials and rare earth resources of mutual interest.
Looking ahead
The meeting also underscored Kazakhstan’s role as a reliable transit and logistics hub and its potential to serve as a gateway for Thai companies seeking greater access to the markets of Central Asia and the CIS, using existing infrastructure and international transport corridors.
At the conclusion of the talks, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued constructive dialogue and expressed confidence that the steady development of cooperation would further strengthen Kazakhstan–Thailand relations and bring them to a new level.
