On September 15 in Seoul, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung.
Tokayev noted the progressive dynamics of the development of bilateral cooperation.
“Last year, we had our first telephone conversation, during which we agreed to continue developing our strategic partnership based on mutual trust and friendship. Today, we have reached an agreement to elevate bilateral relations to a Future-Oriented Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Tokayev stated.
The Kazakh president addressed prospects for intensifying trade and economic ties.
“To date, Korea has invested more than $12 billion in Kazakhstan’s economy. World-renowned Korean companies are successfully operating in the Kazakh market. We are creating all the necessary conditions for them and will continue to do so in the future,” Tokayev said.
“Last year, around 51,000 Korean citizens visited Kazakhstan. This has been facilitated to a significant extent by the rapid development of direct air connectivity between our two countries. We now have a major joint project – the construction of Alatau City. Today, we are signing an agreement to open a branch of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Alatau. I am confident that this step will give fresh impetus to deepening our cooperation in education and science,” Tokayev said.
On the same day, Tokayev attended the Kazakh-Korean Round Table, bringing together representatives of the business communities of both countries.
Tokayev noted that bilateral trade exceeded 3 billion US dollars last year. In his view, it may be doubled by having both governments and companies to come together.
“The total volume of foreign direct investment from Korea to Kazakhstan has exceeded 12 billion dollars. More than 1,000 companies with Korean capital operate in our country, including Samsung, Kia, Hyundai, Lotte, Doosan Enerbility and Shinhan Bank. We are determined to take our relations to a new level and further strengthen the bonds of friendship and partnership between our countries. This visit marks an important opportunity to build on this momentum and give fresh impetus to our cooperation,” Tokayev said.
Tokayev outlined priority areas for deepening Kazakh-Korean relations.
“Industrial cooperation has become one of the strongest pillars of our economic partnership. Today, our joint portfolio includes 51 projects worth over 4 billion dollars, covering car manufacturing, engineering, metallurgy and other sectors. Korean companies have already demonstrated that Kazakhstan is a competitive and reliable manufacturing base. In 2025, our country produced around 170,000 vehicles – a national record. Korean consumer electronics are also increasingly manufactured in Kazakhstan. Samsung household appliances are now produced locally, further expanding the industrial footprint of Korean companies. Our goal is to build a fully integrated industrial ecosystem encompassing localized components, advanced materials, electrical equipment and electronics, with a focus of serving the broader Eurasian market. I invite Korean companies to further seize these opportunities and expand their manufacturing presence in Kazakhstan,” Tokayev said.
Photo: akorda.kz
