Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The Türkiye-Kazakhstan Business Forum was hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu in cooperation with TOBB and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) at TOBB Twin Towers with the participation of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Chairman of Kazakh Invest Yerzhan Yelekeyev, Chairman of DEİK Nail Olpak and many other guests.

Pointing out that Kazakhstan is the shining star and heart of the region and that they approach the relations between the two countries with the understanding of “one nation, two states”, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Kazakhstan's strength, wealth and prestige in the international arena have always made them proud.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Kazakhstan started to build the future of the country on strong foundations from the moment it gained its independence.

- “The idea of a Turkish Investment Desk will be encouraging”

Stating that as the Turkish business world, they will continue to support more investments in Kazakhstan, “the ancestral homeland”, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the idea of a “Turkish Investment Desk” would be encouraging in this sense.

- “We continue our efforts to activate the East-West Central Corridor”

Pointing out that serious opportunities have emerged for better utilization of energy resources in Kazakhstan after the Russia-Ukraine war, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“The number of transit documents for bilateral and transit transportation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan should definitely be increased to a level that will meet the needs. We request that the number of transit documents, which is currently 10,000, be increased to 15,000. The duration of the drivers' visa-free stay in Kazakhstan, which is currently 30 days, should be extended. In Türkiye, this period is 60 days for Kazakh drivers. It seems useful to apply the reciprocity principle. We should also pay special attention to the development of transportation networks between our countries.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they continue their efforts to activate the Caspian trans-Caspian “East-West Central Corridor” and that cooperation should be strengthened to remove obstacles to transportation and trade, enrich transportation networks and facilitate border crossings.

- “We ranked number 2 in companies established in Kazakhstan”

Pointing out that Aktau and Kurik ports have gained great importance in transportation from China to Europe, Hisarcıklıoğlu used the following expressions:

“The annual capacity of 21 million tons in these two ports should be increased to 30 million tons in the first phase. It would be useful to address this issue with a strategic approach. Because these ports in the Caspian Sea are vital for the Central Corridor. We are in the ideal period to carry our relations further. Last year, our trade volume amounted to 10 billion dollars. With a more balanced trade, we can take this figure much higher. Kazakh authorities are working very well in attracting investment. In non-energy investments, Türkiye has provided Kazakhstan with direct investments amounting to 5 billion dollars. Almost every week we receive investment news of one of our companies. We also ranked number 2 in the ranking of established companies. We have nearly 5,000 established companies in Kazakhstan.”

Stating that one of the important issues in trade is customs crossings, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In our region, land customs gates are of great importance. As TOBB, we have great experience and success in renovating and operating customs gates. Modernization of customs crossings in Turkic states should be among the priority projects of the Turkic Investment Fund.”

- “We should not be subject to any licenses when we buy and sell with each other”

Hisarcıklıoğlu, who proposed the establishment of a customs union within the Organization of Turkic States, said, “We are brothers. We should not be subject to any permission when buying and selling with each other. That place is ours and this place is ours. We have no separation. We, as the Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, continue our work with this vision.”

Explaining that the world is undergoing a great change, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The center of gravity of the global economy is shifting from west to east. In such an environment, the cooperation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan will change the fate of the whole region. Because Türkiye and Kazakhstan are the leading actors of this region. Together, we can make the Turkic geography a center of peace and prosperity.”

- Kazakhstan Prime Minister Bektenov

In his speech, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Oljas Bektenov stated that his government is ready to be a reliable and long-term partner of Turkish trade and said, “I invite Turkish investors to establish our sustainable business relations by using the existing opportunities in Kazakhstan.”

“70 major investment projects in mining, metallurgical plant, food industry, pharmaceuticals and other fields with a total value of about 2.8 billion dollars have been successfully completed. Nearly 100 projects with a total cost of 3.8 billion dollars are being implemented.”

Pointing out that there are the necessary resources and opportunities for further development of partnership with Türkiye, Bektenov said, “The Kazakh-Turkish Business Council is working and the Turan International Special Economic Zone was opened in Turkistan, the spiritual capital of the Turkic world. We all know that a joint Turkic investment fund has been established within the Organization of Turkic States.”

- Call for investment in Kazakhstan

Bektenov emphasized that his country offers many areas such as tax advantages, customs duty exemption and incentives for investors and said, “Apart from this, I would like to underline that there are mechanisms such as state-supported financing, loan guarantees, infrastructure provision during the implementation of large projects.”

Explaining that the fields of metallurgy and mining, mechanical engineering, infrastructure projects, health and pharmaceutical sector, agro-industrial services, tourism, defense industry, renewable energy sources, digitalization, innovative technology are promising for Turkish investors, Bektenov said, “At the same time, Kazakhstan's great transit and logistics potential provides a good opportunity to enter the markets of China, Eurasian Union, Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Therefore, we would like to open new areas for the development of comprehensive relations. I invite all Turkish brothers and sisters to invest in Kazakhstan, the homeland of Turks.”

Calling on Turkish investors, Bektenov concluded his words with:

“The government of Kazakhstan is ready to become a reliable and long-term partner of Turkish trade. We are ready to provide investors with the necessary resources, infrastructure and support the export of products. In this regard, I invite Turkish investors to use the existing opportunities in Kazakhstan to establish sustainable business relations.”

- Vice President Yılmaz

In his speech at the meeting, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said, “Last year, our exports reached a record high of 256 billion dollars. Our target this year is to reach 267 billion dollars, and our 2026 target is to exhibit an export performance exceeding 300 billion dollars.”

Stating that the Turkish economy overcame adversities despite global and regional challenges, Yılmaz said that last year, the Turkish economy exceeded the $1 trillion threshold for the first time and the Gross Domestic Product reached $1.1 trillion.

Pointing out that the national income per capita in Türkiye has exceeded 13 thousand dollars, Yılmaz pointed out that when the national income of Kazakhstan and the national income of Türkiye are added together, it reaches 1.4 trillion dollars. Yılmaz noted that this would not be enough, and that the two brotherly countries would continue to grow and expand their economic relations in the coming period.

Stating that growth exceeded the target within the framework of the Medium Term Program last year, with a growth rate of 4.5 percent, Yılmaz said that growth has continued uninterruptedly for 14 quarters.

Yılmaz emphasized that in terms of growth performance, Türkiye ranks second among European Union countries and OECD countries in 2023.

Yılmaz said, “We also wish to cooperate in the best possible exploitation of the hydrocarbon potential of Kazakhstan, which is one of the leading countries in Central Asia in terms of oil and natural gas resources. I believe that you will carry out the necessary work within the scope of the signatures and expand the cooperation agreements.”

Yılmaz stated that among the exemplary sister signatures within the scope of the Business Forum were the cooperation agreement and memorandum of understanding between Kazakhstan Development Bank-Yildirim Group, Jambyl Governorate Governorship- Ardent Plastik, Jambyl Governorate Governorship- Seed Industrialists and Producers Sub-union (TSÜAB), Jambyl Governorate Governorship-Kazakh Turkish Businessmen Association (TUKIB), КazAzot-Midgulf International Ltd. and Zerde Keramika-Fatinoğlu Holding.

Vice President Yılmaz wished that the Türkiye-Kazakhstan Business Forum, which was organized with a wide participation of representatives from different sectors of the business world, would be instrumental in strengthening the cooperation between the countries, creating new opportunities and increasing mutual investments.

DEIK President Nail Olpak also said that they talked about how to provide more of the mutually needed products.

Olpak noted that areas such as logistics, agriculture, digital transformation, mining and tourism offer important opportunities between the two countries.

- Türkiye - Kazakhstan Round Table

Türkiye - Kazakhstan Round Table meeting was held before the Business Forum. The meeting was attended by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Transport Enver İskurt, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Galymzhan Koishybayev, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkalıyev, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of DEIK Nail Olpak, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Ankara Yerkebulan Sapıyev and business people. At the meeting, the opinions and suggestions of the business world were listened to.

After the speeches, a commemorative photo was taken.