Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council Held in Astana
The 7th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council (KCBC), co-chaired by Kazatomprom JSC and Cameco Corporation, was held in Astana on June 10, 2026.
The event brought together more than 100 participants, including senior representatives of Kazakhstani government agencies, the business communities of Kazakhstan and Canada, as well as experts and academics.
The event was opened on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov. Welcoming remarks were also delivered by the KCBC co-chairs – Chairman of the Management Board of Kazatomprom JSC Meirzhan Yussupov and Chief Executive Officer of Cameco Corporation Tim Gitzel (via prerecorded video address).
The business programme featured two thematic sessions dedicated to artificial intelligence development and trade and investment cooperation in the key sectors of the bilateral agenda.
During the first session, Vice-Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan B.Mukhametkaliyev outlined state policy priorities in digital transformation and AI, identifying concrete opportunities for foreign technology companies in the Kazakhstani market. Chris Terris, President of Telus Agriculture & Consumer Goods, shared the company's experience applying AI solutions in the agro-industrial sector. Speakers also addressed AI implementation practices in telecommunications, big data management, manufacturing processes, and other areas. The discussion illustrated the broad range of opportunities for Kazakhstan-Canada cooperation in digital technologies and confirmed mutual interest in pursuing joint initiatives in this field.
At the second panel session, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” K.Sharlapaev briefed participants on the current state of Kazakhstan’s business environment and its development outlook, drawing Canadian partners’ attention to systemic reforms aimed at improving conditions for investors. The management of QazTrade JSC presented existing tools for stimulating bilateral trade and expanding Kazakhstani exports to Canada. Vice-President of B2Gold N.Reeder, Director of CanAgro R.Minin and Vice-President of Xena Distribution E.Purdy discussed prospects for joint projects in Kazakhstan's mining, energy, and agro-industrial sectors.
At the conclusion of the event, the parties reaffirmed their mutual commitment to deepening cooperation and expressed their intention to consistently implement the agreements reached during the meeting.
The strong representation of Canadian business at the forum reflects growing interest from Canadian business circles in the Kazakhstani market and underscores the country's appeal as the most reliable and secure investment jurisdiction in the region.
The 7th KCBC meeting marked another significant step in advancing the bilateral business dialogue and provided fresh impetus for the development of trade and economic relations between Kazakhstan and Canada.
The Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council is the key mechanism for advancing trade and economic dialogue between the business communities of the two countries. The Council was established in 2015 and operates under the co-chairmanship of Kazatomprom JSC on the Kazakhstani side and Cameco Corporation on the Canadian side. The 6th KCBC meeting was held in Toronto in March 2024.