HE, Mr. Yerlik Ali, Ambassador of Kazahstan: „My Country is seen as the “gateway to Central Asia, while Romania serves as the gateway to Europe.”

What are the most important economic achievements with Romania in recent years?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your presence and participation in our National Day celebration. As I highlighted in my speech, Romania holds a special place in Kazakhstan’s foreign policy priorities. Your country was the first among European nations and the second in the world to recognize our Independence (December 17, 1991). Therefore, Romania has been and will remain one of Kazakhstan’s important foreign policy priorities and key partners within the European Union.

The meeting between the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Romania on the margins of the 2023 UN General Assembly, along with the first official visit to Bucharest by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, has greatly contributed to revitalizing our bilateral relations. We note with satisfaction the effective implementation of the agreements reached following negotiations of Heads of State and Foreign Ministries.

Firstly, in January 2024, the Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan paid a working visit to Bucharest. Negotiations with the Romanian Minister of Transport and the Kazakh-Romanian Business Forum in the Port of Constanța highlighted the growing role of the two countries in unlocking the full potential of the Middle Corridor.

Secondly, in February 2024, the 17th meeting of the IGC on trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation was held, during which the parties adopted an Action Plan for the development of cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture, IT, ecology, labor, and social protection. The return meeting of the IGC is expected in early 2026.

The ongoing exchange of visits between local officials and business representatives reflects the common desire for closer regional collaboration. Last year, a working visit of the Kazakh delegation from the Karaganda Regional Akimat was organized to Cluj-Napoca. A reciprocal visit by the leadership of Cluj-Napoca’s City Hall to the Karaganda Region is being planned, along with the participation of Romanian entrepreneurs in the regional business forum.

What is the total trading volume?

Romania confidently maintains its status as Kazakhstan’s main trade and economic partner in Eastern Europe and ranks 8th in the world among our trading partners. By the end of last year, the trade turnover between our countries amounted to USD 2.92 billion, which is 1.6% higher than in 2023. Moreover, in the first eight months of 2025, the volume of mutual trade reached USD 1.6 billion, with exports from Kazakhstan growing by 9%.

At the same time, over the past years, Kazakhstan’s largest investment asset in Europe and a key strategic investor in Romania’s oil refining sector — KazMunayGas International — has directed investments of USD 4 billion into the development of its Romanian assets. Moreover, the company is the third-largest taxpayer in the country and diligently fulfills its tax obligations, having contributed over USD 27 billion to Romania’s budget over the past 18 years.

What are the priority areas on the Romanian market from a commercial point of view — products, services, imports, exports, investments?

With 97% of our bilateral turnover reliant on Kazakh oil, we are committed to unlocking untapped potential. Today, our ministries and embassies — in Astana and Bucharest — are actively working on diversifying the bilateral agenda.

Our market analysis has revealed substantial potential, which, according to our preliminary estimates, ranges from USD 300 to 500 million. Promising sectors of mutual interest include metallurgy, petrochemicals, the food industry, mechanical engineering and construction, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and the IT industry.

We offer Romanian businesses opportunities in infrastructure, industrial modernization, and rare earth metal development, as well as, more broadly, the localization of joint projects. I am convinced that Romania’s experience in such sectors as mechanical engineering, metallurgy, construction, and the food industry can be effectively utilized in the implementation of joint projects.

Great opportunities are emerging in the agricultural sector. Kazakhstan ranks among the world’s ten largest countries by territory and holds third place globally in per capita availability of agricultural land. The total area of farmland exceeds 220 million hectares, including over 180 million hectares of pastures. Kazakhstan consistently ranks among the world’s top ten wheat exporters and is a leading exporter of flour.

Romania, in turn, remains an important player on Europe’s agricultural map, with about 12% of its population employed in agriculture and accounting for around 10% of the EU’s grain and oilseed production. Kazakhstan can become a reliable partner in supplying organic agricultural products to the Romanian market.

Transportation and logistics remain a key priority in our cooperation. Kazakhstan is seen as the “gateway to Central Asia,” while Romania serves as the “gateway to Europe.” We welcome Romanian companies’ active involvement in developing the Middle Corridor and the growing ties between our freight operators, as highlighted by the recent visit of a Romanian delegation to Kazakhstan’s key transport hub, Mangystau and Port Aktau.

I am confident that, owing to our joint efforts, Kazakh-Romanian relations will receive an additional impetus and continue their dynamic development.