BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 18. The B5+ITALY
business platform was officially launched in Kazakhstan's Astana
today during the B5+ITALY Business Forum.
This was announced in a statement published by Kazakhstan's
Ministry of Trade and Integration.
According to the Ministry, specific areas for further
cooperation within the platform include increasing non-resource
exports from Kazakhstan to Italy, launching joint production,
developing regional trade and logistics hubs, and expanding direct
transport links.
In the course of the Business Forum, Kazakhstan's Minister of
Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev noted that Italy is
Kazakhstan's third-largest trading partner globally and its largest
trading partner among European Union countries. Trade turnover
between Kazakhstan and Italy reached $16.9 billion in 2025,
including about $15.6 billion in Kazakh exports.
Kazakhstan has identified around 100 product categories with
potential to increase exports to Italy by $307 million. The list
includes products from the metallurgical, chemical, food,
construction and machinery industries.
"We are interested in making the platform a practical mechanism
for direct interaction between Italian businesses and Central Asian
countries, covering trade and investment, industrial cooperation,
transport, logistics and new technologies," Shakkaliyev said.
More than 300 companies with Italian capital currently operate
in Kazakhstan, while Italian investments in the country have
exceeded $9.5 billion since Kazakhstan gained independence.
"Our task is to move from the 'supplier-buyer' model to a deeper
partnership model based on production localization, the creation of
joint ventures, technology transfer and the formation of new
production chains," Shakkaliyev said.
The sides are also considering establishing a trade and
industrial hub in Shymkent to distribute products to other regions
of Kazakhstan.
"The issue of establishing a hub for trade and industrial goods
in Shymkent, followed by the distribution of products to other
regions, is under consideration," Shymkent Deputy Akim Aidyn
Karimov said.
Furthermore, it was noted that Kazakhstan and Italy plan to
continue work on the possibility of launching direct flights
between the two countries.
The forum participants also discussed the development of the
Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and the creation
of regional production and logistics hubs.
Kazakhstan is also interested in increasing agricultural exports
to Italy beyond grain and oilseeds to include processed vegetable
oils, protein products, flour and other higher value-added
products.
The forum also covered cooperation in critical minerals, green
energy and sustainable development, agribusiness, deep agricultural
processing, energy and oilfield services.
The Kazakhstan-Italian Trade House, opened in Almaty in February
2026, is another platform for developing business ties between the
two countries.
The forum was attended by deputy ministers from Italy,
Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the Ambassador of
Tajikistan to Kazakhstan, and
