Astana: Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov participated in the plenary session of the Berne Union, the largest international association of export credit and investment insurers, Kazinform News Agency reported.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, this forum marks a historic first for the Central Asian region, uniting over 240 high-level representatives from more than 70 countries. It gathers top leadership from export credit agencies, eximbanks, international financial institutions, and global insurance corporations. During his remarks, Prime Minister Bektenov emphasized the significance of the convention in enhancing Kazakhstan’s investment attractiveness, international trade, transport, logistics potential, and export opportunities. He highlighted that under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan is enacting a comprehensive program of political and economic modernization. The new Constitution, adopted through a nationwide referendum, aims to build a Just and Strong Kazakhstan. The meeting participants were informed about the ongoing efforts to enhance investment, export, and business potential in line with the president’s objectives. Building trustworthy dialogues with reliable foreign partners is a cr
ucial component of the country’s foreign economic policy.
Bektenov noted that Kazakhstan’s economy, the largest in Central Asia, is undergoing structural transformation. Foreign direct investment has grown by 14.4%, reaching 20.5 billion US dollars, while fixed capital investment has increased by 13%, hitting a historic milestone of 43.5 billion US dollars. In 2025, the country’s foreign trade turnover rose to 144 billion US dollars, with exports reaching 127 countries and nearly four thousand product categories.
Kazakhstan aims to increase non-commodity exports to 52 billion US dollars by 2030 under the Trade Policy Concept. The country is expanding its network of international free trade agreements, with the UAE, Mongolia, and Indonesia joining existing agreements with Vietnam and Serbia. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) plays a pivotal role in refining transcontinental economic corridors, increasing trade turnover, and enhancing socio-economic well-being. Pursuant to the president’s directives, migration policy is being modernized to attract high-quality foreign human capital, including the introduction of the Altyn Visa for investors and highly qualified professionals. Kazakhstan’s foreign trade representatives and Export Credit Agency offices in priority markets provide targeted support to enterprises. The digital agenda remains strategic for enhancing economic competitiveness and establishing sophisticated business infrastructure.
Bektenov stressed the importance of developing artificial intelligence and transforming Kazakhstan into a digital nation through the Digital Qazaqstan strategy. The Astana International Financial Centre offers unique conditions under English law jurisdiction for the development of green and Islamic financial instruments. The Kazakh Premier invited delegates to collaborate actively in Kazakhstan for business development, trade expansion, and investment presence in the region. Effective insurance mechanisms for cross-border transactions are available through the Export Credit Agency, and Baiterek Holding provides financing for strategic international investment projects.
Yuichiro Akita, President of the Berne Union, focused on current trends and market development amidst changing realities. He remarked on Kazakhstan’s historical role as a key link in global trade and investments, emphasizing the need for strategic and selective approaches by export credit agencies.
In 2025, Berne Union members provided roughly 3.7 trillion US dollars in annual insurance coverage, accounting for about 13 percent of global cross-border trade turnover. The plenary session continued with panel discussions on the global economic agenda, investments, development strategy in Central Asia, and finance and innovation issues.
Earlier, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva explained the Government’s approach to implementing the Presidential Decree aimed at improving migration policy.