Russia-Kazakhstan trade could surpass $30 billion, ambassador says

Trade turnover between Russia and Kazakhstan could surpass $30 billion, Russian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Alexey Borodavkin said in an interview with Russia 24, highlighting the expanding scale of bilateral economic cooperation.

According to the ambassador, the current portfolio of joint Russian-Kazakh projects is valued at approximately $52.7 billion.

Borodavkin also described the upcoming state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kazakhstan as substantial and wide-ranging rather than ceremonial, noting that the agenda is expected to include negotiations, the signing of agreements and direct talks between the two leaders.

The ambassador identified the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) as strategically important infrastructure through which a significant share of oil exports is transported, adding that Russia remains ready to increase the transit volume of Kazakh oil.

A major strategic initiative, according to Borodavkin, is the planned construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan involving Rosatom. He noted that the project is expected to feature a high level of localization alongside an educational component aimed at developing specialist expertise.

Borodavkin also pointed to the importance of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, where a recent successful rocket launch was viewed as another step toward the development of commercial space launches.

The ambassador said that the visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Moscow for events marking the 81st anniversary of Victory Day was regarded as confirmation of the reliable alliance between Kazakhstan and Russia despite discussions surrounding potential security threats.

He additionally highlighted prospects for cooperation within the North–South transport corridor project, as well as in petrochemicals, mechanical engineering, digitalization and artificial intelligence.

In the humanitarian sphere, Borodavkin emphasized the continued expansion of educational cooperation between the two countries. He noted that nine branches of Russian universities are currently operating in Kazakhstan, with further development of educational centres planned in Almaty and Astana.

By Vafa Guliyeva