BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Kazakhstan and the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have
discussed expanding investment cooperation in infrastructure,
digitalization and finance.
This was reported by the press service of the Kazakh government
following a meeting between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and EBRD
President Odile Renaud-Basso in Astana.
"This year, the EBRD's investments in Kazakhstan's economy will
reach a historic level. Projects worth more than 800 million euros
have already been financed, while total investment is expected to
exceed 1.3 billion euros by the end of the year," the government
quoted Renaud-Basso as saying.
According to the government, the talks focused on investment
cooperation in the construction and modernization of social,
transport, industrial and engineering infrastructure, as well as
digitalization, artificial intelligence, financial sector
development and business support.
Bektenov noted the EBRD's contribution to improving Kazakhstan's
investment climate and supporting sustainable economic growth. The
government said the bank's portfolio in Kazakhstan currently
includes 354 projects worth a combined $12.7 billion across sectors
including SMEs, finance, utilities, energy, agriculture and
information technology.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation
and implementing new joint investment projects, the government
added.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan remains one of the EBRD's largest
investment destinations in Central Asia. In recent years, the bank
has increasingly focused on financing transport connectivity,
renewable energy, municipal infrastructure and private sector
development, while also expanding support for digital
transformation and climate-related projects.
In 2025, the EBRD ranked Kazakhstan among its leading countries
by annual investment volume. The bank has also deepened cooperation
with the government on policy reforms aimed at attracting private
capital and improving the business environment.
