Today, a Kazakhstan–Pakistan business forum is being held in Karachi, bringing together government officials and business representatives from both countries.
At the forum, Aynur Amirbekova, Managing Director of the national operator for foreign trade support, QazTrade, presented Kazakhstan’s export potential and a range of support tools available to entrepreneurs.
“Kazakhstan is actively developing foreign trade and creating conditions for national businesses to access international markets. QazTrade supports exporters at all stages — from identifying opportunities to signing contracts. We provide acceleration programs, reimburse part of the costs, organize business missions and trade and economic missions, assist companies in entering international marketplaces, and protect their interests within the EAEU and WTO frameworks.”
The speaker placed special emphasis on the export acceleration program:
“Kazakhstan is successfully implementing an export acceleration program under which small and medium-sized businesses receive expert support at all stages of entering foreign markets — from diagnostics to finding reliable international partners. All services are provided free of charge. The program’s geography covers Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, China, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. Our goal is not only to increase export volumes but also to build long-term partnerships based on trust and mutual interests,” noted Amirbekova.
The forum welcomed participants from Kazakhstan’s key economic sectors, including agriculture, logistics, food industry, textile manufacturing, finance and investment services, engineering, energy, medical devices, tourism, and environmental services.
Trade Growth and New Opportunities
The growing economic ties confirm the sustained interest of both sides in strengthening their partnership. Special attention at the forum was paid to developing relations with Pakistan, with bilateral trade increasing by 2.1% in 2023–2024, reaching USD 53.6 million.
According to QazTrade:
- Kazakhstan’s exports to Pakistan increased 2.1 times, totaling USD 11.8 million.
- The main exports included agricultural products: onions, garlic, flax seeds, legumes, and metal structures.
- Imports from Pakistan reached USD 41.9 million — primarily citrus fruits, pharmaceuticals, and textiles.
These figures reflect growing mutual interest and a strong potential for further development of trade relations.
Logistics — the Key Challenge
Forum participants noted Pakistan’s high potential as a promising market for Kazakhstani products. At the same time, it was emphasized that logistics remains one of the main challenges.
“As of today, logistics remains one of the main barriers to working with Pakistan. The high cost of delivery raises certain concerns among Kazakhstani suppliers. At the same time, certification and customs procedures are progressing fairly smoothly — with quality products, there are no significant difficulties,” said Gulmira Uakhitova, Chairwoman of the Board of the Self-Regulatory Organization ‘QazTextileIndustry’.”
B2B Negotiations and Future Plans
More than 60 companies from Kazakhstan and about 200 companies from Pakistan took part in the forum. The event featured active B2B negotiations focused on building direct business connections, discussing export opportunities, and launching joint projects.
QazTrade aims to develop a long-term partnership with Pakistan, not limited to increasing trade volumes but also creating opportunities for joint infrastructure, production, and logistics projects that will contribute to the further economic prosperity of both countries.
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