Kazakhstani businesses are recording growing demand from Iran for processed goods, food products and construction materials. The combined export potential in these areas exceeds $20 billion.
In Astana, QazTrade and the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan held the Kazakhstan–Iran Information and Business Seminar. The event brought together government agencies, industry associations and companies from both countries to discuss logistics, industrial cooperation and new export opportunities for Kazakh producers.
QazTrade CEO Aitmukhamed Aldazharov emphasized that Kazakhstan and Iran are shifting to more systematic economic cooperation. During the trade mission to Tehran in February alone, Kazakh companies held **230 negotiations** and signed **10 agreements worth about $92 million**. He noted that the next goal is to bring bilateral trade to **$3 billion**.
Samad Hassanzadeh, President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), confirmed the Iranian business community’s interest in expanding purchases of Kazakh products and launching joint industrial projects.
During the discussions, participants noted a growing shift in Iranian demand toward Kazakh processed products, packaging, construction materials and technological solutions. Companies and industry unions from both countries presented proposals for developing new supply chains, expanding wholesale distribution centers, modernizing the Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran route and enhancing container services through the ports of Aktau and Kuryk.
Zhibek Azhibayeva, President of the Kazakhstan Association of Trade Enterprises, emphasized that the Iranian market is becoming one of the key destinations for Kazakhstan’s non-resource exports:
“Iran is a market with strong demand and significantly lower competition compared to China or Southeast Asia. We see at least ten sectors where joint production is possible — from the oil and fat industry and fermented beverages to packaging and construction materials. With the establishment of modern logistics centers and distribution hubs, bilateral trade could exceed **$1 billion** in the coming years and grow toward **$3 billion**,” she noted.
Gulnar Bizhanova, Deputy Chair of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken”, highlighted the potential of deep processing:
“Iran is not a destination for raw material exports. Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical complex produces more than **14.3 trillion tenge** worth of products annually and exports over **$22 billion** — and the priority is processing. We have accumulated more than **55 billion tons** of TMO, but only **11%** is processed, whereas in developed countries this rate reaches up to 80%. Therefore, the key to cooperation with Iran is not exporting raw materials but developing processing projects, returning metals to the economy and supplying high value-added products. These are the solutions that interest Iranian processors and open opportunities for long-term industrial projects,” she emphasized.
The participants also discussed expanding cooperation in agriculture, industrial zones, deep processing and digital solutions. The seminar concluded with **B2B meetings** and a presentation of the Astana SEZ opportunities for joint industrial projects.