Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev on 22 September held a meeting with the UK Government’s Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, Lord John Alderdice. The parties discussed bilateral trade, expansion of Kazakh exports, development of industrial cooperation, investment, and scientific-educational collaboration, according to the Ministry of Trade and Integration.
By the end of 2025, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom reached 1.63 billion US dollars, an increase of 83.7% compared to 2024. For January–July 2026, the figure reached 1.25 billion US dollars, 68.5% higher than in the same period in 2025.
At the same time, Kazakhstan is interested not only in maintaining growth rates but also in diversifying the trade structure and increasing supplies of high value-added products. Currently, the basis of exports consists of silver, crude oil, copper, and copper cathodes.
“It is important for us to move from the achieved growth to deeper and more diversified trade. First and foremost, we are interested in expanding the export of Kazakh products to the British market beyond raw materials,” noted Shakkaliyev.
The minister proposed organizing a trade and economic mission of British importers and retail chain representatives to Kazakhstan for direct interaction with domestic producers. The parties also discussed the requirements of the British market for quality, certification, packaging, and standards for potential export products.
Special attention was paid to critical minerals and the development of processing. Lord Alderdice noted the promising prospects for cooperation between British companies and universities with Kazakhstan, not only in the extraction sector but also in the field of mineral processing and the creation of high value-added products.
“Kazakhstan has significant natural resources, but it is especially important that you set the task not to limit yourselves to their extraction, but to create added value and develop processing. It is precisely here that we see great opportunities for cooperation,” said Lord Alderdice.
The parties also considered opportunities for attracting British investment into the manufacturing industry, energy, logistics, and high-tech sectors, as well as expanding direct contacts between companies of the two countries.
Lord Alderdice also noted the potential for cooperation between universities and research centers of the two countries, including in the field of mining, mineral processing, and the nuclear industry.
Photo: gov.kz
