Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with the UK grew up to $1.6 billion

The United Kingdom and Kazakhstan have signed a new agreement expanding cooperation in energy, trade, and technology, as both sides look to surpass last year’s $1.6 billion trade turnover in 2025. Also, Kazakhstan is set to host branches of British universities.
As Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov said during the April 16 session, Kazakhstan’s Senate (Parliament’s upper chamber) outlined the plans and ratified a strategic partnership and cooperation agreement.
Another issue Kazakhstan is working on is simplifying visa procedures with the UK. Students, academics, business representatives, and official delegations will be the target audience. According to Issetov, there is an imbalance, especially when the UK has tightened migration requirements.
As Isetov said, the presence of British oil majors Shell and BP in Kazakhstan is expanding. He denied previous reports of Shell’s potential withdrawal from the Kazakh market.
The Minister said that the Ministry of Energy and Shell signed a new exploration contract in the Aktobe Region in March, which will run until 2032.
He also mentioned BP’s activity: KazMunayGas and BP recently signed an agreement on geological exploration in the Mangystau Region.
As Isetov highlighted, the bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and the UK attained $1.6 billion last year. It is a great progress compared with $886 million in 2024 and $1.2 billion in 2023.
Raw materials, including oil and rare earth metals are main Kazakhstan’s export items. Meanwhile vehicles, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and construction equipment come from the UK.
Education is another important field of cooperation. The sides signed the agreement that lets UK universities open branches in Kazakhstan. This will help strengthen academic exchange, train specialists, and improve access to international education.
Recent agreements signed in London, such as a memorandum on university cooperation, are the basis of the initiative. They expect it to enhance the country’s human capital development.

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