Kazakhstan and the United States have signed new cooperation agreements. The agreements followed negotiations held during the Kazakhstan–U.S. Business Forum on the sidelines of the B20 Summit, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
The forum, titled “From Strategic Partnership to Concrete Projects,” was organized by Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry together with the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, DKNews.kz reports.
Held ahead of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's planned visit to Miami for the G20 Summit at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, the event brought together senior government officials, investors, financial institutions and business leaders from both countries.
The discussions focused on turning long-standing economic relations into new investment projects, industrial partnerships and technological cooperation.
Kazakhstan sends major business delegation to B20
Kazakhstan was represented by one of the largest business delegations at the summit, reflecting the country's efforts to expand its economic presence in the United States and attract American investment.
The Kazakh delegation included:
- Erzhan Kazykhan, Special Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for negotiations with the United States on priority bilateral cooperation issues.
- Assel Zhanassova, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport.
- Timur Suleimenov, Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan.
- Kanat Sharlapayev, Chairman of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs.
Senior officials from relevant ministries, representatives of the Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, national and private companies, and financial institutions also participated.
The U.S. delegation included Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark, executives from the U.S.–Kazakhstan Business Council and representatives of more than 100 American enterprises.
The American businesses represented industries ranging from transport and logistics to energy, manufacturing, agriculture, digital technologies and finance.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State highlights Kazakhstan's role
Opening the forum, Christopher Landau welcomed Kazakhstan's participation and emphasized the scale of its business delegation.
«It gives me a real pleasure to be here and to welcome Kazakhstan’s participation in this event. The fact that Kazakhstan is represented by the largest delegation is s the sign that Kazakhstan has really arrived at the world stage as a major economic player. I am also delighted to see so many representatives of the American private sector interested in opportunities Kazakhstan has to offer.»
His remarks highlighted the growing interest among American companies in Kazakhstan's investment opportunities and economic development plans.
The forum provided an opportunity for government representatives and private-sector executives to discuss practical steps toward expanding bilateral cooperation.
Five sectors at the center of investment discussions
The business programme was organized around four thematic sessions involving government agencies, national companies and private businesses from both countries.
Participants examined opportunities in several priority sectors:
- Transport and logistics: infrastructure development, connectivity and new transport projects.
- Energy: industrial cooperation and investment opportunities.
- Critical minerals and manufacturing: processing industries, localization of production and integration into international supply chains.
- Agriculture: new partnerships and opportunities for cooperation in agricultural production.
- Digital technologies and finance: technological innovation, artificial intelligence and financial services.
Particular attention was paid to moving beyond traditional investment relationships by developing production facilities, introducing advanced technologies and expanding the participation of Kazakh enterprises in global value chains.
These areas were presented as opportunities for future projects rather than completed investment commitments.
American investors invited to Kazakhstan's infrastructure projects
During the discussions, the Kazakh delegation presented plans for infrastructure development and new construction programmes outlined by President Tokayev in his State of the Nation Address.
American companies and investors were invited to explore participation in the implementation of these initiatives.
For Kazakhstan, the proposed cooperation is intended to support industrial development, attract technological expertise and create new opportunities for domestic companies.
For American businesses, the projects could provide opportunities to expand operations and establish longer-term partnerships in Kazakhstan.
Erzhan Kazykhan calls for partnerships across new industries
Addressing the forum, Presidential Special Representative Erzhan Kazykhan emphasized the history of economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and American companies.
«American and Kazakhstan’s companies have built successful partnerships that have lasted for decades, bringing together investment, technology, and generations of skilled professionals. We now have an opportunity to build similarly lasting partnerships across new sectors.»
His remarks reflected the forum's central objective: building on established commercial relationships while expanding cooperation into emerging industries.
The discussions also addressed the localization of production and the transfer of advanced technologies, which could help Kazakh companies participate in more stages of international production and supply chains.
Why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce matters
The Kazakhstan–U.S. Business Forum builds on cooperation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an organization representing the interests of more than three million American businesses.
Kazakhstan is the only country in the region with a dedicated business council within the Chamber's structure.
The U.S.–Kazakhstan Business Council serves as a platform for establishing direct contacts between companies, promoting joint projects and organizing American trade missions to Kazakhstan.
This institutional relationship gives businesses from both countries an established channel for discussing investment opportunities and addressing practical cooperation issues.
Meetings with U.S. officials and financial institutions
Alongside the business forum, members of Kazakhstan's delegation held bilateral meetings with representatives of the U.S. Administration, Congress and leading financial institutions.
The meetings focused on priority issues in the bilateral economic agenda and opportunities to deepen trade and investment cooperation.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the negotiations resulted in the signing of several agreements covering priority areas of economic cooperation.
The information provided did not specify the number of agreements, their financial value, the companies involved or detailed implementation schedules.
Those details will be important for assessing how the commitments translate into actual investment and business activity.
What the forum means for Kazakhstan–U.S. relations
The B20 discussions demonstrated continued interest in expanding economic cooperation beyond established sectors.
Infrastructure, critical minerals, manufacturing, artificial intelligence and financial technologies were among the areas identified for potential joint projects.
The presence of senior government officials and representatives of more than 100 American enterprises provided a platform for direct engagement between policymakers and investors.
The next stage will be the implementation of the agreements and the development of specific projects, including investment decisions, production partnerships and technological cooperation.
For Kazakhstan, the forum represents another step in efforts to attract international investment, diversify industrial partnerships and strengthen economic ties with the United States.
