BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 31. The next phase of
the relationship between Kazakhstan and the U.S. can increasingly
be about bringing American technology and expertise to Kazakhstan,
not simply American products, Executive Director of AmCham
Kazakhstan Jeff Erlich told Trend in an exclusive interview.


"We see significant potential in agriculture and food
processing, transport and logistics, mining and critical minerals,
IT and AI, healthcare, and education. Agriculture in particular
remains underinvested relative to Kazakhstan’s potential, and
American companies can bring not only equipment, but technology,
data, expertise, and more efficient approaches to production.
Kazakhstan’s geography, natural resources, growing population, and
strong human capital create opportunities across all of these
sectors. The next phase of the relationship can increasingly be
about bringing American technology and expertise to Kazakhstan, not
simply American products," Erlich said.


Erlich noted that Kazakhstan has long been an attractive market
for American companies due to political stability, an educated and
growing population, significant natural resources, and a strategic
location between major global markets. He added that Kazakhstan is
now seeing increasing diversification beyond oil and gas.


"At the same time, Kazakhstan is competing for investment not
only with its neighbors, but with countries around the world.
Investors value predictability: if a company is committing
significant capital for the long term, it needs confidence that the
rules of the game will remain reasonably stable," Erlich said.


He added that AmCham maintains a constructive dialogue with the
government and sees continued opportunities to strengthen
consultation with business and make the regulatory environment more
predictable.


The Executive Director of AmCham Kazakhstan also emphasized the
strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport
Route (Middle Corridor) for American companies operating in or
trading with Central Asia, as it gives the region a direct
connection to global markets across the Caspian, the South Caucasus
and onward to Europe.


"Last year, AmCham Kazakhstan organized a three-country business
mission along the route together with the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber
of Commerce and the America Georgia Business Council, giving U.S.
companies and government officials firsthand access to ports,
logistics infrastructure and the businesses operating the
corridor," Erlich said.


According to him, the mission showed that the opportunities are
very practical.


He noted that since then, a major U.S. construction company has
been shortlisted for projects in Kazakhstan, the U.S. International
Development Finance Corporation launched its first port
infrastructure project in Kazakhstan, and U.S. companies are
exploring opportunities in refining and regional aviation.


"We see further potential in ports, logistics, rail, aviation,
energy infrastructure and digital systems that can make the route
faster, more reliable and better integrated," Erlich said.







At the same time, he noted that further development of the
Middle Corridor requires infrastructure improvements.


"Port capacity remains limited, ferry availability is a
bottleneck, and Kazakhstan currently depends heavily on Azerbaijani
vessels for Caspian crossings. Falling Caspian Sea levels also
present a serious long-term infrastructure challenge. The potential
is clearly there, but for the route to flourish, it will require
significant investment, stronger cross-border coordination and
continued development of infrastructure on both sides of the
Caspian Sea," Erlich said.


Erlich noted that, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, gross U.S. direct investment inflows since independence
have exceeded $60 billion, making the United States one of
Kazakhstan’s largest long-term investors.


According to him, last year brought significant new momentum to
cooperation. During President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s
visit to Washington, Kazakhstan and the United States signed 29
agreements worth nearly $17 billion, including major projects in
agriculture, critical minerals, transportation, aviation and
technology.


"But signing a deal is only the first step. The more challenging
part is implementation, when companies begin investing capital,
building operations and navigating the regulatory environment. This
is where AmCham has an important role: we work with our members to
identify investment and business barriers and engage with the
government on practical solutions so that announced projects can
become successful long-term investments," Erlich said.


Erlich added that there is a very active level of engagement
between American and Kazakh businesses at present.


He noted that in May, AmCham led a business delegation to
Washington, D.C., where its members met with Congress, U.S.
government agencies, development finance institutions, and business
partners. U.S. Senator Steve Daines has also recently visited
Kazakhstan.


According to Erlich, in late June and early July, the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce in Washington visited Kazakhstan with both
current and prospective investors, participated in the President’s
Foreign Investors’ Council, and signed a memorandum with Atameken,
Kazakhstan’s National Chamber of Entrepreneurs.


"We are also seeing increasingly frequent visits from the U.S.
International Development Finance Corporation and the U.S.
Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program. The
interest is certainly there, and AmCham’s role is to help turn that
interest into concrete business relationships and successful
long-term investments," Erlich said.