BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 14. Trade turnover
between Kazakhstan and South Korea reached $1.3 billion in the
first six months of 2026, the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and
Construction said.
The figure was discussed during talks between Kazakhstan's
Minister of Industry and Construction Yersaiyn Nagaspayev and South
Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan
on the sidelines of the C5+1 meeting.
The sides also reviewed industrial cooperation between the two
countries. The portfolio currently includes 51 joint projects, of
which 23 production facilities have already been launched, creating
4,400 jobs.
Particular attention was paid to Kazakhstan's automotive
industry, including projects to manufacture KIA vehicles in
Kostanay region and Hyundai vehicles in Almaty region. The
ministers noted prospects for further localization of production
and expansion of the range of locally manufactured vehicles.
The sides also discussed plans to launch a Kazakh-Korean joint
venture for a research and development park in the elevator
industry. The Korean side has previously provided a grant for the
project.
“The parties confirmed their intentions to develop and
strengthen bilateral ties across all key areas,” the ministry
said.
Ahead of the first summit of the heads of state of Central Asia
and South Korea, Seoul hosted the first meeting of the C5+1
Consultative Mechanism of Ministers of Industry. Kazakhstan's
Minister of Industry and Construction Yersaiyn Nagaspayev took part
in the meeting.
Following the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding between
South Korea and the Central Asian countries on cooperation in
industry and supply chains was signed, along with a Joint
Declaration.
