Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev held a roundtable meeting with representatives of the British business community during his working visit to London, DKNews.kz reports.
The event brought together senior UK officials, including Acting Minister of State for Business and Trade Chris Bryant, Chairman of the British-Kazakh Society Rupert Goodman, and executives from leading British companies and institutions.
The discussions focused on strengthening trade, investment cooperation, and expanding partnerships in strategic sectors.
Focus on investment and economic partnership
Participants explored opportunities to deepen economic ties between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom, with particular attention to critical minerals and rare earth elements.
Kazakhstan presented its ongoing reforms aimed at improving the investment climate.
Kosherbayev emphasized:
- strengthened investor protection mechanisms
- targeted tax incentives and business preferences
- political stability supporting long-term investment
- efforts to unlock new economic opportunities
“We remain firmly committed to ensuring that your investments generate long-term returns, supported by a favorable business climate and consistent reforms,” he said.
Kazakhstan’s economic growth and regional role
The minister also highlighted Kazakhstan’s economic achievements over the past 25 years, noting its growing importance as a regional economic hub.
According to his remarks:
- Kazakhstan’s economy has grown at an average annual rate of 5.7 percent
- nominal GDP now exceeds 300 billion US dollars
- the country ranks among the world’s top 50 economies
- Kazakhstan attracts more than 60 percent of foreign direct investment flows into Central Asia
These indicators reflect strong economic fundamentals and long-term investor confidence.
UK interest in new cooperation areas
Chris Bryant pointed to the successful track record of British investors in Kazakhstan and confirmed the UK’s interest in expanding cooperation.
Priority areas identified during the discussions included:
- green economy projects
- rare earth and critical minerals
- transport and transit development
- education partnerships
- artificial intelligence and digital technologies
Participants noted that such cooperation could strengthen global supply chains and support sustainable economic development.
Agreements and new education projects
The meeting concluded with the signing of several key documents aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation.
These included:
- a roadmap on strategic partnership in critical minerals through 2027
- a memorandum on expanding partnership between Coventry University and its Kazakhstan campus
Officials also announced plans to expand the presence of British educational institutions in Kazakhstan.
Upcoming initiatives include:
- opening of Charterhouse School in Almaty
- launch of an AI Centre by Cardiff University
- establishment of a new Heriot-Watt University campus in Aktobe
Why the meeting matters
Analysts say the dialogue reflects a shift toward practical cooperation and concrete investment projects between Kazakhstan and the UK.
The United Kingdom remains among the top ten largest investors in Kazakhstan. In 2024, British investments reached 723.7 million US dollars, while in the first nine months of 2025 they totaled more than 471 million US dollars.
Experts note that expanding cooperation in critical minerals, education, and technology is increasingly important as global demand for strategic resources and innovation continues to grow.
