Thanks to the active political dialogue and mutual trust between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries is developing dynamically, Kazakh political scientist Almat Tokein said in an interview with APA.
According to him, the partnership between the two countries covers a wide range of areas — from trade and transport to energy and the humanitarian sphere.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan boost Middle Corridor cooperation
“Last year, the trade turnover between our countries exceeded $530 million, and this is not the limit yet. In particular, cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) increased by 62%, reaching 4.5 million tons. This demonstrates the efficiency of our cooperation and the growing importance of the Middle Corridor. Within the framework of the ‘East–West’ international transport corridor, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are key links in the region’s transport infrastructure on the western and eastern shores of the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan is modernizing its Caspian ports, while Azerbaijan is expanding the Alat Free Economic Zone to handle growing transit volumes,” Tokein said.
Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway modernization strengthens Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan cooperation
The expert noted that this year, the modernization of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway was completed, increasing its annual capacity from 1 million to 5 million tons: “All this indicates significant progress in key areas of bilateral cooperation and strengthens the strategic economic interdependence between our countries. Currently, more than 1,500 Azerbaijani business representatives operate in Kazakhstan, while about 150 Kazakh companies successfully work in Azerbaijan. Regular intergovernmental meetings, business forums, and direct dialogue platforms between entrepreneurs are driving the development of our relations.”
Digital cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan
The Kazakh political scientist emphasized that trade turnover will continue to grow, bringing tangible benefits to both economies and expanding business and investment opportunities: “In particular, cooperation in transit and logistics within the framework of the Middle Corridor and TITR has become the main driver of bilateral relations. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have invested significant financial resources in the development of port infrastructure, access roads, and the renewal of their maritime fleets. The opening of the Zangezur Corridor will further deepen cooperation in this direction. In addition, the operation of the Kazakh logistics center in the Alat Free Economic Zone will expand export–import operations by increasing storage and processing capacities in the region. Against the backdrop of occasional interruptions in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, one of the key directions of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the oil and gas sector is the use of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to deliver Kazakh oil to world markets. At the same time, the planned fiber-optic communication line (FOCL) along the bottom of the Caspian Sea will create new transit opportunities in the field of information technology between the two countries. This means that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan will serve as a digital bridge connecting Europe, Asia, and China.”
Joint investments to boost Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan integration
Tokeyin underlined that the introduction of digital technologies and electronic data exchange will make transport projects more efficient and flexible.
“At the same time, mutual investments in agriculture, energy, and industry will deepen economic integration between the two countries. The Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan Investment Fund will serve as a practical platform for this cooperation. Through this fund, joint projects in energy, transport, agriculture, and IT are planned to be implemented,” he concluded.
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