Bavaria wants deeper economic ties with Kazakhstan.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed combining the German region’s technological capabilities with Kazakhstan’s resources and industrial potential, while strengthening transport links between the two countries, DKNews.kz reports.
Tokayev met Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder in Munich on September 30 during his official visit to Germany. The talks focused on turning agreements reached in Berlin into concrete economic cooperation.
Bavaria could help turn Berlin agreements into projects
Tokayev directly linked the Munich talks to his meetings with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The President said the next task is to translate those agreements into tangible results, with Bavaria playing a key role in that process.
«I highly value Bavaria’s unique character, economic strength and innovation potential. Yesterday, I held substantive talks with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. I am firmly committed to translating our agreements into concrete results and regard Bavaria as a key partner in this effort. The region combines advanced achievements in industry and science with a deep respect for tradition. These qualities make Bavaria one of the main engines of Germany’s economy and a reliable partner for Kazakhstan in modernizing and diversifying its economy», Tokayev said.
The message places Bavaria within Kazakhstan’s broader effort to move its relationship with Germany from political agreements toward specific industrial and technology projects.
Kazakhstan wants to pair its resources with Bavarian technology
The economic logic discussed in Munich is based on complementary strengths.
Kazakhstan has substantial natural resources and industrial capacity, while Bavaria has advanced engineering, manufacturing and technology expertise.
Tokayev said there is significant potential to bring the two together.
For Kazakhstan, the model goes beyond attracting foreign capital. It is also about bringing technology and industrial expertise into sectors that can support the modernization and diversification of the economy.
That approach has emerged repeatedly during the Munich leg of Tokayev’s visit, including in talks with major German companies: Kazakhstan is positioning itself not only as a market for imported equipment but also as a location for manufacturing, engineering and service operations.
Transport links could support new industrial cooperation
Connectivity was another part of the talks.
Tokayev emphasized the importance of strengthening transport links between Kazakhstan and Germany, saying better connectivity could bring both the economies and people of the two countries closer together.
The issue also has a practical industrial dimension.
New manufacturing and investment projects require reliable routes for moving equipment, raw materials and finished products between Central Asia and European markets.
Transport infrastructure therefore becomes part of the broader economic model rather than a separate area of cooperation.
Markus Söder sees Kazakhstan as a source of new growth
The Bavarian side also signaled interest in expanding economic ties.
Söder said Bavaria places strong emphasis on identifying new drivers of growth and is interested in developing multifaceted cooperation with Kazakhstan.
He also thanked Tokayev for supporting Bavarian companies already operating in the Kazakh market.
For Kazakhstan, direct engagement with Bavaria provides access to one of Germany’s major industrial and technology centers alongside cooperation with the German federal government.
Tokayev invites Söder to Kazakhstan
The meeting ended with an invitation to continue the dialogue in Kazakhstan.
Tokayev said he would be pleased to welcome the Bavarian Prime Minister to the country.
The Munich talks followed a broader investment agenda discussed earlier during Tokayev’s visit. We previously reported how Tokayev pledged particular attention to protecting German investments in Kazakhstan, as the two countries work with a portfolio of 40 industrial projects worth approximately $54 billion. Bavaria could now become one of the regions helping translate that investment pipeline into technology, manufacturing and new business partnerships.
