ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have discussed expanding bilateral trade, agricultural cooperation and transport connectivity at the 14th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Intergovernmental Council in Bishkek on Oct. 30, reaffirming their goal of increasing bilateral trade to $3 billion.
From L to R: Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Chairman and Presidential Administration Head Adylbek Kasymaliyev. Photo credit: PM’s press service.
Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Chairman and Presidential Administration Head Adylbek Kasymaliyev attended the meeting, held in restricted and expanded formats. The talks covered trade and economic relations, agriculture, water management, transport and transit, space, aviation, digitalization, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
Bektenov described Kyrgyzstan as a friendly neighbor, a brotherly nation and an important trade and economic partner. According to him, expanding transport cooperation, agricultural ties and collaboration across other economic sectors would help achieve the leaders’ $3 billion trade target.
“Thanks to joint efforts and the direct support of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, allied relations between our countries have reached a new level,” Bektenov said, adding that Kazakhstan was ready to deepen cooperation across all areas of bilateral relations.
Kasymaliyev highlighted the countries’ historical and cultural ties, saying that cooperation in political, trade, economic and humanitarian affairs had developed constructively in recent years.
Trade and agricultural cooperation
Agriculture remains an important area of bilateral cooperation. Mutual trade in agricultural products increased 41.5% in 2025 to more than $500 million, according to the Kazakh government.
Under a bilateral roadmap, Kazakhstan plans to expand the range of agricultural products supplied to Kyrgyzstan, including grain, oilseeds, oilseed meal, sunflower oil and ice cream.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, also said mutual trade rose nearly 20% in January-August 2026 to $1.75 billion.
“We are ready to increase supplies of food products and goods from the chemical, petrochemical and metallurgical industries,” he said.
The two sides also discussed the planned development of a cross-border industrial, trade and logistics complex, which is expected to support trade flows and strengthen economic cooperation between neighboring regions.
Transport, water and digital cooperation
The meeting also addressed managing shared water resources and environmental protection. Officials discussed cooperation under a program for the rapid exchange of hydrometeorological data, signed in Astana in February 2026, as well as improvements to the legal framework governing shared water infrastructure.
In transport, the countries reported growth in rail and road freight volumes. The countries introduced electronic exchanges of transport permits at the shared border and agreed to increase the number of permits to 5,000. Modernization of the eight road border checkpoints is also underway in stages.
The number of scheduled flights between the countries increased 19% to 19 per week, supporting business and tourism links. Digitalization and artificial intelligence were also on the agenda. Kazakhstan presented opportunities for cooperation in digital infrastructure, AI applications and the exchange of satellite data, alongside broader regional collaboration in the space sector.
Cultural ties and agreements
The two countries also highlighted cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including the fourth Congress of Museums of Kazakhstan, the second international vocal competition named after Roza Baglanova, the fourth Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan youth forum, Digital Nomads: Sana & Future, and film days.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the final protocol of the 14th session of the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Intergovernmental Council. Both sides confirmed their commitment to implementing the agreements reached and strengthening bilateral ties.
During his official visit, Bektenov also attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ata-Beyit memorial complex and the monument to writer Chingiz Aitmatov in Kyrgyzstan.
