On 13 October 2026, President of Kazakhstan–EU Gateway (KEG), Valikhan Bakhretdinov, participated in the fourth meeting of the Kazakhstan–Belgium Business Council in Astana, held within the framework of the historic State Visit of Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The high-level event took place with the participation of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, bringing together senior government officials, business leaders, representatives of industry associations and private sector stakeholders from both countries. The meeting provided an important platform for advancing bilateral trade and investment cooperation and transforming existing agreements into concrete joint projects.
During the Business Council, representatives of Kazakhstan and Belgium highlighted the growing potential for cooperation in key sectors, including:
• 🔹 Trade and investment facilitation
• 🔹 Transport connectivity and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor)
• 🔹 Agriculture, food processing and industrial technologies
• 🔹 Sustainable infrastructure and innovative manufacturing
• 🔹 Healthcare, research and technological cooperation
Ahead of the meeting, Kazakh and Belgian partners signed 16 cooperation documents, including nine agreements related to the agro-industrial sector. The agreements covered agricultural exports, industrial processing, technological modernisation, construction and healthcare, demonstrating the increasing diversification of bilateral economic relations.
The Business Council also featured presentations and discussions involving the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan Atameken, the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan and representatives of Belgian businesses. Particular emphasis was placed on facilitating direct business-to-business contacts, encouraging investment and creating practical mechanisms for implementing joint projects.
Kazakhstan–EU Gateway’s participation reflected the organisation’s continued efforts to strengthen economic diplomacy and facilitate connections between Kazakh and European stakeholders. As a Brussels-based platform, KEG actively promotes dialogue in strategically important sectors, including critical raw materials, sustainable transport, investment facilitation and technological innovation.
In this context, Kazakhstan–EU Gateway expresses its sincere gratitude to Mr. Brent Van Tassel, Economic Advisor to His Majesty the King of the Belgians, for the constructive dialogue, mutually beneficial cooperation and continued engagement in advancing Kazakhstan–Belgium relations. Previous exchanges between KEG President Valikhan Bakhretdinov and Mr. Van Tassel in Brussels, including discussions ahead of the Royal State Visit, contributed to maintaining dialogue on opportunities for strengthening bilateral economic and institutional cooperation.
The historic Royal State Visit and the fourth meeting of the Kazakhstan–Belgium Business Council marked an important milestone in relations between the two countries, providing new momentum for investment, industrial partnerships and business cooperation.
Kazakhstan–EU Gateway remains committed to serving as a bridge between Kazakhstan and European institutions, businesses and expert communities, supporting the development of sustainable partnerships and facilitating practical cooperation across key sectors of mutual economic and strategic interest.
