In his address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that bilateral trade turnover continues to demonstrate stable growth. He expressed confidence that today’s forum would strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy and investment.

“Last year, the volume of mutual trade exceeded USD 340 million. According to forecasts, this figure is expected to increase several-fold in the current year. We have agreed on a significant expansion of trade between our countries, with the aim of increasing it to USD 1 billion at the initial stage and to USD 2 billion at the next stage. We have the necessary potential to achieve this. In this context, the initiative to open a Kazakhstan Trade House in Tehran is of particular importance, as it will make it possible to supply domestic products to the Iranian market on a systematic basis. Our investment ties are also strengthening. Over the past 20 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has invested more than USD 226 million in Kazakhstan’s economy. At present, more than 350 enterprises established by the Iranian business community are successfully operating in our country. I am confident that this meeting will contribute to an increase in the number of such enterprises,” the Head of State stated.

According to the President, a special role in strengthening economic partnership is assigned to the Kazakh–Iranian Intergovernmental Commission. Practical measures have been taken in Kazakhstan to create a favourable investment climate, including the establishment of a dedicated Investment Headquarters and the introduction of a National Digital Platform operating on a ‘one-stop-shop’ principle. Kazakhstan stands ready to jointly implement a wide range of projects with Iran.

The Head of State outlined key sectors intended to give new impetus to bilateral cooperation, with priority placed on the expansion of transport and logistics links.

“Kazakhstan is one of the key transport and logistics hubs in the Eurasian space. At present, 85 per cent of cargo turnover between China and Europe passes through our territory. We attach particular importance to the further expansion of our transit potential and therefore regard Iran as an important partner in this area. Kazakhstan is ready to work jointly on the development of port terminals, the improvement of logistics, and the increase in transit cargo volumes. A number of joint projects are already being implemented. In particular, we plan to construct a transport and logistics terminal at the Shahid Rajaee seaport. This will open the way for the direct delivery of Kazakh products to global markets. We are interested in establishing links between the ports of Aktau and Kuryk and the Iranian ports of Amirabad and Anzali. There are also plans to develop partnerships with the seaports of Bandar Abbas and Chabahar. It is important for us to develop multimodal corridors linking Central Asia with the Persian Gulf, and the Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran railway plays a special role in this regard. Freight volumes along this route could double by 2030, which would undoubtedly have a substantial economic effect. Revitalising trade relations in the region will enable the launch of new industrial projects and create conditions for the establishment of service centres and production facilities,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised.

The President also proposed strengthening cooperation in the agricultural sector.

“Iran is one of the main buyers of Kazakh grain. Last year, trade turnover in the agro-industrial sector amounted to USD 220 million, while over the first ten months of this year grain exports reached USD 280 million. We provide support to entrepreneurs investing in agriculture, and a number of joint projects are currently being implemented. As an example, the Iranian company Solico Group plans to build a dairy plant in our country with a capacity of 200,000 tonnes of output per year, as well as to launch the production of baby food. As is known, Kourosh Food Industry has also expressed interest in entering the Kazakh market. It intends to establish facilities in Kazakhstan for the production of vegetable oil and the development of poultry farming. I would like to reiterate that we are always open to cooperation. I invite Iranian entrepreneurs to launch joint projects and establish modern production facilities in Kazakhstan,” the Head of State said.

In his speech, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid particular attention to the preservation of the Caspian Sea and its ecosystem.

“Today, the fate of the Caspian Sea is becoming one of the most pressing issues requiring urgent action. The decline in sea levels is already having a serious impact on both the environment and the economy of the region. Addressing this common challenge is possible only through the consolidation of efforts by all five littoral states. It is important to actively involve international organisations and financial institutions in this process. As you know, at the expanded meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, I put forward an initiative to establish a Centre for the Study of Water Issues. In this context, in order to preserve the water resources of the Caspian Sea, it is necessary to adopt an intergovernmental programme and begin implementing joint measures. Next year, Kazakhstan plans to take part in the Seventh Caspian Summit in Tehran. In addition, we propose holding the Fourth Caspian Economic Forum within the next two years. These events provide broad opportunities for a comprehensive consideration of Caspian-related issues and for developing effective solutions. We invite our Iranian colleagues to take an active part in these initiatives,” the President of Kazakhstan noted.

The Head of State identified large-scale digitalisation as one of the key areas of cooperation.

“Kazakhstan is consistently implementing measures to develop the digital economy and introduce artificial intelligence technologies. We have set ourselves an ambitious goal of becoming the leading digital country in the region within the next three years. This commitment was underscored by the establishment of the first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development in the region. This year, Kazakhstan launched Central Asia’s first supercomputer and opened the Alem.AI International Centre for Artificial Intelligence. In addition, we are paying special attention to the development of the city of Alatau, which has been granted the status of a city of advanced development by my decree. This project is aimed at fostering the crypto industry, innovation and technology-based business. We are interested in close cooperation with Iranian companies in these areas,” he said.

According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan and Iran are entering a qualitatively new stage of cooperation, creating a solid foundation for expanding economic partnership in trade, investment, logistics and technology. In conclusion, the President of Kazakhstan expressed confidence that today’s Forum would represent an important step towards further strengthening relations between the two countries.

In his remarks, Masoud Pezeshkian noted that the meeting was not only a symbol of the centuries-old friendship between the peoples of Iran and Kazakhstan, but also a meaningful step towards expanding trade and economic cooperation.

“The private sectors of both sides have already identified a number of promising areas for cooperation, including the establishment of a joint Iranian–Kazakh shipping consortium in the Caspian Sea; the construction of warehouses and an agricultural distribution centre at the port of Aktau; the creation of a joint food and packaging plant in Kazakhstan; the opening of an export park for Iranian construction materials in Almaty; and the development of cooperation in mineral resources, raw material processing and regional exports. We also support the establishment of a Joint Iranian–Kazakh Trade Council, the opening of direct air services, the simplified issuance of business visas, and the organisation of trade exhibitions in both countries,” the President of Iran said.