Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have set a goal to boost their bilateral trade to $3 billion, as reaffirmed during the 14th Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Intergovernmental Council meeting in Bishkek on October 30. Key discussions, led by Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Kyrgyz Cabinet Chairman Adylbek Kasymaliyev, focused on enhancing economic relations across multiple sectors, including agriculture, transport connectivity, water management, digitalisation, and cultural cooperation.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, emphasized Kyrgyzstan’s role as a significant regional partner and noted that enhanced cooperation in sectors such as transport and agriculture is crucial to achieving the trade target. Kyrgyz Cabinet Chairman Adylbek Kasymaliyev highlighted the historical and cultural ties between the two nations and the positive trajectory of their bilateral relations.
Trade growth has been evident, with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, reporting a nearly 20% increase in bilateral trade from January to August, reaching $1.75 billion. The agricultural sector, in particular, saw a substantial rise in trade, with a 41.5% increase in 2025, amounting to over $500 million. Kazakhstan aims to further this trend by expanding its supply of grain, oilseeds, sunflower oil, and other food products to Kyrgyzstan under a bilateral roadmap.
Transport cooperation was another focal point, with both countries experiencing growth in rail and road freight volumes. They agreed to enhance the number of electronic transport permits exchanged at their shared border to 5,000, alongside ongoing modernization projects for eight road border checkpoints. Additionally, the frequency of scheduled flights between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan has increased by 19% to 19 per week, facilitating business and tourism connectivity.
The meeting also addressed shared water resource management, environmental protection, and the exchange of hydrometeorological data, alongside discussions on digital cooperation, artificial intelligence, and space-related initiatives. These efforts aim to foster stronger economic links and improve trade flows, particularly in border regions, through the development of a cross-border industrial, trade, and logistics complex.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the final protocol, with both sides committing to implement the agreements and deepen cooperation across the discussed sectors, marking a step forward in strengthening Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan relations.