ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Denmark are moving to deepen economic cooperation through new institutional mechanisms, investment projects and expanded collaboration on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on Oct. 2.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on Oct. 2. Photo credit: Akorda
The talks focused on strengthening political dialoguе, trade and economic ties, as well as regional and global topics and cooperation within the United Nations, reported Akorda.
New framework for economic cooperation
Tokayev described Denmark as a reliable partner in Northern Europe and the European Union, noting that the two countries will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
“We regard Denmark as an authoritative and influential European country and a reliable partner. I am convinced that our relations have enormous potential that needs to be unlocked, provided that both sides work actively and purposefully in this direction,” he said.
Trade between Kazakhstan and Denmark reached $163 million in 2025, while cumulative Danish investment in Kazakhstan since 2005 exceeded $394 million, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
During talks between Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and Rasmussen, the officials signed memoranda of understanding, including one on establishing a bilateral commission on trade, economic and investment cooperation.
The agreements followed the Kazakhstan-Denmark Business Forum on Oct. 1, which brought together more than 70 representatives of government agencies, development institutions and businesses. Kazakhstan highlighted opportunities for joint projects, production localization and technology transfer in logistics, water management, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and energy.
Investment and the Middle Corridor
A major example of bilateral investment cooperation is the Carlsberg Group plant producing PepsiCo non-alcoholic beverages in the Almaty Region, opened on Oct. 1.
The project represents $344 million in investment, with an annual production capacity of up to 1 billion liters and 230 jobs.
Transport and logistics were another priority. Kazakhstan and Denmark discussed cooperation with Danish logistics company Maersk to increase trade flows along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or the Middle Corridor.
The discussions built on a Sept. 30 roundtable in Almaty involving Maersk and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, where container traffic and multimodal transport solutions were discussed.
Denmark’s growing interest in Central Asia
Rasmussen reaffirmed Denmark’s interest in expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan and highlighted Central Asia’s growing importance in Denmark’s foreign policy and economic agenda. The Danish side also pointed to the appointment of Lars Thuesen as Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Special Representative of the Danish Foreign Ministry for Central Asia.
Fabienne Bossuyt, associate professor and co-coordinator of the Ghent Institute for International and European Studies, said the visit reflected Kazakhstan’s growing importance for EU member states.
“An increasing number of EU member states, including Denmark and Belgium, which have traditionally not shown an interest in Kazakhstan, are now drawn to Kazakhstan for economic and investment cooperation opportunities,” Bossuyt told The Astana Times.
She attributed the heightened economic interest in Central Asia partly to the need to diversify economic partnerships amid a tense global economic environment, while noting that it remains to be seen whether stronger EU economic engagement will translate into greater political influence.
The officials also discussed cooperation in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, agriculture and water security.
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Denmark and Sweden, Olzhas Suleimenov, previously told The Astana Times that the partnership was entering a more dynamic stage, focusing on translating political goodwill into concrete projects and investment.
