Iran Serves as Key Gateway for Kazakhstan’s Trade Expansion

(MENAFN) Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated on Thursday in Astana that Iran acts as a “gateway” for Kazakhstan to access Southeast Asian countries and the African continent. The remarks were made during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian.

Tokayev emphasized the significance of advancing the North-South Transport Corridor and the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway connection, according to Kazakhstan’s presidential press service Akorda.

Pezeshkian visited Astana for the first time, with discussions between the two leaders focusing on boosting Kazakh-Iranian collaboration across trade, economic development, transport, logistics, and cultural and humanitarian initiatives.

During the talks, Tokayev highlighted that over the past 10 months, trade between Kazakhstan and Iran has grown by 40% compared to the previous year.

“Today, approximately 700 Iranian companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstan, primarily in sectors such as industry, infrastructure and agriculture,” he noted, adding that Kazakh investors are also actively contributing to Iran’s mining, transport, logistics, and food production industries.

Tokayev further expressed appreciation to Iran for providing Kazakhstan with land at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran and welcomed the idea of creating a joint Free Economic Zone in the Mangystau region.

“I am confident that this step will enable the establishment of finished goods production from Iranian raw materials in Kazakhstan and ensure their subsequent delivery to countries in the region,” he concluded.

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