Oslo has quietly become a new meeting point for Kazakhstan and Northern Europe’s business communities. The Doing Business in Kazakhstan economic seminar, held in the Norwegian capital, showed that interest in Kazakhstan is no longer theoretical - it is turning into concrete business conversations, figures, and projects, DKNews.kz reports.
The event was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Norway with the support of the EAST Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Norway and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). The goal was straightforward: to explain Kazakhstan to Norwegian businesses not through slogans, but through real opportunities, numbers, and direct dialogue.
From formal speeches to real interest
Kazakhstan was represented by Ambassador to Norway Adil Tursunov and Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan Murat Karimsakov. From the Norwegian side, the speakers included Ambassador Designate of Norway to Kazakhstan Helene Sand Andresen, Chair of the Board of Directors of the East CCI of Norway Ronny Solberg, and Senior Advisor of the International Department of NHO Katarina Sætersdal.
The audience itself reflected the growing seriousness of the dialogue. Representatives of Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, export financing institutions, business associations, companies from various sectors, and foreign embassies accredited in Norway gathered in one room. This was not just a presentation for potential investors - it was a conversation among decision-makers.
Kazakhstan as a practical business destination
During the seminar, participants noted that economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Norway has gained noticeable momentum over the past two years. Kazakhstan was presented not simply as a distant market, but as a stable partner and a regional hub linking Central Asia, the Caspian region, and broader Eurasian supply chains.
Norwegian participants paid particular attention to Kazakhstan’s trade, economic, and investment potential. Sectors such as agribusiness, aquaculture, logistics, processing industries, and sustainable development sparked active discussion. The networking sessions became one of the most productive parts of the seminar, with several potential joint projects initiated directly during informal talks.
Business Council as a working mechanism
The Oslo seminar fits into a broader, systematic effort to strengthen bilateral business ties. In December 2024, the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan and the East CCI of Norway signed an agreement to establish a Kazakh-Norwegian Business Council.
Just a few months later, in April 2025, the first-ever meeting of this bilateral Business Council was held in Oslo - a milestone in the history of Kazakh-Norwegian relations. In May 2025, a large Norwegian delegation of 11 members visited Kazakhstan for the first time in recent years and took part in the Astana International Forum 2025.
At the conclusion of the seminar, the sides agreed on further steps to deepen economic cooperation, including holding the second meeting of the Kazakh-Norwegian Business Council in May 2026 in Astana.
Numbers that confirm the trend
Trade statistics underline that the dialogue is already producing results. From January to November 2025, mutual trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Norway reached USD 156.7 million, a 32% increase compared to the same period of the previous year. Imports amounted to USD 149.6 million, while Kazakhstan’s exports reached USD 7.1 million.
A clear example of cooperation moving from discussion to implementation came in December 2025, when Norwegian company Optimar signed a significant aquaculture contract, delivering harvesting equipment for a new fish farming project in Kazakhstan.
A growing bridge between North and Central Asia
The Doing Business in Kazakhstan seminar in Oslo highlighted a broader shift. For Norwegian businesses, Kazakhstan is increasingly seen not only as a market, but as a strategic entry point into Central Asia and the Caspian region. For Kazakhstan, Norway represents a source of advanced technologies, sustainable solutions, and long-term partnerships.
What makes such events valuable is not the formal protocol, but the people behind the numbers - entrepreneurs, diplomats, and investors who are ready to move from interest to action. And that is exactly why Kazakhstan’s presence in Oslo is starting to attract real attention.
