Kazakhstan and Belgium have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation through dynamic and multifaceted partnerships. A recent meeting between Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Belgium, Margulan Baymukhan, and Birgit Stevens, the Director General for Bilateral Relations at the Federal Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development of Belgium, marked significant strides toward enhancing political dialogues and economic ties.
During the discussions held on February 24, both parties acknowledged the solid momentum of bilateral engagement across various sectors, especially focusing on their strong political, economic, and parliamentary relations. Enhancing trade and economic collaboration was highlighted as pivotal, with Belgium acknowledged as one of Kazakhstan's key investment partners. The meeting paved the way for the announcement of economic events slated for the future, including the third Kazakh-Belgian Business Council meeting scheduled for June 2025, which will take place in Brussels.
Efforts to deepen cooperative frameworks were particularly emphasized, including partnerships within the European Union (EU). Topics of priority included transportation links, access to strategically important raw materials, digitalization, technological exchanges, innovation, green energy initiatives, climate efforts, and environmental protections. Specific attention was also drawn to the review of bilateral agreements and consular matters, with both sides expressing eagerness to fortify these foundations.
Exchange of views concerning the multilateral cooperation sphere was also on the agenda. Of note, Ambassador Baymukhan invited his Belgian counterparts to take part in the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled for March 2025 in New York, with Kazakhstan chairing this significant convening. The ambassador also set the stage for discussions around the upcoming International Astana Forum set for May 2025, which is anticipated to solidify global dialogues on pressing issues.
An impressive statistic showcases the growing trade volume between Kazakhstan and Belgium, reflecting mutual interest and fruitful collaboration. It was noted during discussions this year, the bilateral trade volume reached USD 456 million, with Kazakhstan exporting goods worth USD 210 million and importing products worth USD 247 million. This financial interaction positions Belgium among Kazakhstan's most prominent investors, noting the direct foreign investment level hitting USD 1 billion by the end of 2023, ranking Belgium as the seventh-largest investor within the country.
Belgian corporations have increasingly been establishing and extending their influence across Kazakhstan, with businesses such as Ahlers, Kilfrost Europe NV, and Sarens working diligently to expand their presence. To date, there are 76 registered companies with Belgian assets actively contributing to the Kazakh economy.
Furthering the dialogue on renewable energy, transportation, and aviation, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, David Khudatyan, recently highlighted the necessity of collaborative engagements with Belgium, reinforcing the momentum from prior meetings. On February 24, he convened with Eric de Muynck, the Ambassador of Belgium to Armenia, discussing the significance of establishing cooperative frameworks across diverse sectors, which showcases the wide-reaching aspirations of both nations to collaborate on global challenges.
Both Kazakhstan and Belgium are recognizing the wealth of opportunities derived from solid partnerships as they work to address pressing global issues such as climate change, technological advancements, and economic stability. Their commitment to strengthening collaboration through sectors of mutual interest lays the groundwork for enhanced trade routes and burgeoning investments focused on sustainable growth.
At this stage, as Kazakhstan and Belgium navigate their paths toward stronger bilateral relations, the foundation for future endeavors appears promising. The anticipated businesses council meeting and various multilateral events suggest the continuation of fruitful collaboration, demonstrating both nations' enthusiasm for engaging more deeply across all dimensions of international relations.