German investments will receive particular attention in Kazakhstan. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz that protecting German investment remains a priority as the two countries work with a joint portfolio of 40 industrial projects worth approximately $54 billion, DKNews.kz reports.
The talks took place in Berlin on September 29 during Tokayev’s official visit to Germany. The two leaders discussed industry, critical minerals, transport and logistics, digital technologies and production of higher-value goods, including machinery and chemicals.
German investment reaches $8 billion
Tokayev described the relationship with Germany as being built on political trust, shared economic interests and strong people-to-people ties.
He put particular emphasis on investment security.
«Last year, bilateral trade reached 4.5 billion US dollars, increasing by 13.4%. Total investment inflows from Germany over the past 21 years have reached 8 billion dollars. I would like to assure you that ensuring the security of German investments remains under our particular attention», — Tokayev said.
The figures put the scale of the relationship into perspective: alongside $4.5 billion in annual trade, German investment accumulated over 21 years has reached $8 billion.
Forty industrial projects are worth about $54 billion
The larger figure discussed during the talks concerns projects that Kazakhstan and Germany are seeking to implement.
Their joint investment portfolio currently includes 40 industrial projects worth approximately $54 billion.
The Intergovernmental Working Group and the Kazakhstan-German Business Council were highlighted as mechanisms for advancing this portfolio.
The sectors under discussion show where Kazakhstan wants German capital and technology to play a larger role:
- industry and advanced manufacturing;
- critical minerals;
- transport and logistics;
- digital technologies;
- machinery;
- chemical production.
The emphasis on higher-value production reflects Kazakhstan’s broader goal of moving beyond raw-material exports and attracting investment into processing and manufacturing.
Critical minerals remain a strategic area
Critical minerals were again singled out during the meeting with Merz.
The issue has become one of the central themes of Tokayev’s German visit. Kazakhstan is seeking investment and technology for deeper processing, while Germany is interested in secure and diversified supplies for its industrial economy.
The economic agenda discussed with the Chancellor therefore extends beyond trade volumes. It includes where goods are produced, how much processing takes place in Kazakhstan and whether German companies establish longer-term industrial operations in the country.
Kazakhstan and Germany want stronger international coordination
The talks also covered cooperation beyond bilateral economics.
Tokayev and Merz agreed to intensify engagement within international organisations and multilateral formats, including Central Asia-Germany.
That format has become part of Germany’s broader engagement with the region, alongside direct bilateral relationships with individual Central Asian states.
The two governments also reaffirmed their intention to create favourable conditions for expanding cooperation.
Education and science added to the agenda
Tokayev and Merz discussed cultural and humanitarian cooperation, with education and science identified as areas for new joint initiatives.
This complements the industrial agenda because Kazakhstan has increasingly linked foreign investment projects with specialist training, engineering education and technology transfer.
During other meetings in Germany, Tokayev has also promoted stronger connections between German companies and Kazakh universities and technical specialists.
Merz invited to Kazakhstan
The meeting ended with a diplomatic signal about the next stage of the relationship.
Tokayev invited Friedrich Merz to make a state visit to Kazakhstan.
The invitation follows an extensive series of political and business talks in Berlin covering investment, manufacturing, finance, logistics, energy and technology.
For German businesses, one message from the Chancellor-level meeting was particularly explicit: Kazakhstan is seeking more German investment while putting the security of existing and future German investments under special attention.
DKNews.kz has also examined the investment guarantees discussed by Tokayev and Merz and the $54 billion portfolio behind the talks. The meeting adds a government-level commitment to the wider investment agenda being developed during Tokayev’s German visit.
