Kazakhstan and Sweden have established a Bilateral Commission on Trade, Economic, and Investment Cooperation

June 10-12, 2026, Astana – State Secretary for Foreign Trade at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diana Jance, visited Kazakhstan at the head of a high-level business delegation.

The main event of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum on the establishment of the Kazakhstan-Sweden Bilateral Commission on Trade, Economic, and Investment Cooperation, as well as the holding of the Commission’s inaugural meeting with the participation of representatives of government agencies, development institutions, and the business communities of both countries. The Commission was co-chaired by Olzhas Saparbekov, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan, and State Secretary Diana Janse.

The Swedish delegation included leading companies such as Epiroc, Volvo Trucks, Scania, Sandvik, SKF, ABB, Ericsson, Elekta, AstraZeneca, and others.

During the Commission’s first meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation in priority sectors, including the mining and metallurgy sector, rare earth metals, machinery manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, sustainable development, and digitalization. Special attention was given to the practical advancement of projects involving Swedish companies, including Epiroc, Sandvik, Scania, Volvo Trucks, and Väderstad.

The parties noted that the establishment of the Commission marked an important step toward institutionalizing the Kazakhstan-Sweden economic dialogue. The new framework is intended to serve as an effective mechanism for supporting joint initiatives, removing practical barriers, and deepening sectoral cooperation.

As part of the visit, Diana Jansen also spoke at the high-level panel discussion titled “International Dialogue on Development Cooperation in the Mining and Metallurgy Sector” during the 16th International Mining and Metallurgy Congress (AMM 2026).

The visit’s agenda included a series of bilateral meetings with the leadership of key government agencies in Kazakhstan. In particular, meetings were held with Alexey Tsoy, Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan on Social Issues, Yersaiyn Nagaspayev, Minister of Industry and Construction, Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Trade and Integration and Akmaral Alnazorova, Minister of Health.

Separate talks were held with Alibek Kuantyrov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, during which the parties discussed prospects for trade and economic cooperation, coordination of efforts through the new Commission, and the implementation of joint projects in the field of industrial cooperation.

Reference: Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Sweden in 2025 amounted to $361.7 million, representing a 10.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024 ($328.3 million). Exports totaled $76 million, while imports amounted to $285.7 million.

There are 60 companies with Swedish capital operating in Kazakhstan, active in the fields of healthcare, telecommunications, energy and the environment, transportation, agriculture, the extractive industry, security, education, and others.

According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, FDI from Sweden to Kazakhstan between 2005 and 2025 amounted to $705.6 million. By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan had attracted $29.9 million in FDI (-37.4%).