26.03.26
On March 25, 2026, the first international forum titled “Central Asia: From Productivity to Prosperity” was held in Tashkent. Kazakhstan was represented by Vice Minister of National Economy Yerlan Sagnaev. This was reported by the business news agency Kapital.kz.
Participants of the forum discussed key areas of development, including increasing labor productivity, modernizing agriculture, digitalization, and developing human capital.
As a key outcome of the meeting, the Tashkent Declaration was signed. The document reinforces the transition of regional countries toward an innovation- and knowledge-based development model.
According to Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of National Economy Yerlan Sagnaev, mutual trade remains a key driver. In 2025, Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with Central Asian countries amounted to $8.8 billion (+14.4%), with exports reaching $6.6 billion (+21.7%). This growth is linked to the simplification of trade procedures and the digitalization of trade.
Among the priority areas is the development of transport infrastructure, including the “Darbaza–Maktaaral” railway project, which is expected to increase route capacity. In the investment sector, it was proposed to actively use the “Turkic Investment Fund” to create industrial zones and production clusters.
Kazakhstan also confirmed its readiness to jointly develop digital projects and share solutions on the basis of the Astana Hub platform. Special attention was also given to the development of human capital through education and cooperation with international organizations, including UN structures.
