Ankara, 28 October. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan in Ankara that the two countries intend to raise mutual trade to $15 billion and invest more in each other, Akorda reported.
The talks took place at the Presidential Palace on the first evening of Tokayev’s official visit. First an official welcome ceremony was held for the guest: a guard of honour, a mounted guard escorting the motorcade, the national anthems of both countries and a 21-gun salute. The presidents then talked one-on-one, and afterwards together with their official delegations.
At the expanded meeting Tokayev noted that Turkey is one of Kazakhstan’s five largest trading partners and among the ten largest investors that have put significant funds into its economy. “There are no contradictions or disagreements between us,” the Head of State said, promising Turkish companies full support and favourable conditions. According to Akorda, the presidents discussed transport and logistics, energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture, the defence industry and cultural ties.
Erdogan recalled his state visit to Astana in May, when the sides signed a Declaration on Eternal Friendship and Enhanced Strategic Partnership. “We intend to back up our cooperation with practical steps at the next meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council,” he said. The High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council is a regular meeting of the two countries’ presidents and ministers; its sixth session was held in Astana in May.
The $15 billion target is not new: back in May, during Erdogan’s visit to Astana, the sides confirmed their intention to bring mutual trade to that level. The current level is almost three times lower. According to Kazakhstan’s Consulate General in Istanbul, trade amounted to $5.4 billion in 2025, up 8.8% on the previous year; Kazakhstan’s exports to Turkey grew by 17.7% to $3.9 billion, mostly copper and copper cathodes ($1.7 billion) and crude oil ($1.5 billion; the consulate does not specify the grade). Imports from Turkey thus came to about $1.5 billion. Trade accelerated in early 2026: in January and February it rose by 45% year on year.
Cultural news came alongside the figures. Erdogan said that a book on the history of Kazakh statehood, “The Kurultai Phenomenon”, had recently been presented in Ankara, and that the book “Nauryz: the Common Heritage of the Turkic World” had been translated into Kazakh. The Turkish President congratulated Tokayev on Republic Day, which Kazakhstan marked on 25 October, and Tokayev congratulated Erdogan on Turkey’s Republic Day, which falls on 29 October.
What it means: The presidents confirmed the course set in the spring, but the gap between the target and reality remains wide: reaching $15 billion would require almost tripling trade. Akorda did not mention any specific new agreements from the talks; according to Erdogan, they are expected at the next meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council.
Who benefits: Kazakh exporters of copper, oil, aluminium and farm produce gain one of their largest markets, where sales are already growing faster than overall trade. Turkish construction, textile and industrial companies working in Kazakhstan gain the support and favourable conditions Tokayev promised. Both countries gain a basis for cooperation in transport and logistics: Turkey sits at the western end of the Middle Corridor, which carries goods from China to Europe via Kazakhstan and the Caspian.
Background: On 29 October Ankara hosts the 13th summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which unites Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, with Hungary and Turkmenistan among its observers. Tokayev also said he intends to attend the COP31 Climate Forum, the UN climate change conference that the Turkish city of Antalya will host shortly.
We have also reported that Tokayev would visit Turkey on 28–30 October and attend the OTS summit and that Erdogan met Tokayev at Ankara airport.
