New Horizons of Cooperation in Investments, Innovation, and Sustainable Development with Flanders and Brussels. A Belgian business mission will visit Astana and Almaty on November 19-21 this year

Brussels, October 1, 2025 – Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium Roman Vassilenko held meetings with Mr. Piet Demunter, CEO of Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), and Ms. Isabelle Grippa, CEO of the Brussels business support agency Hub Brussels.

During the meetings the parties discussed prospects for expanding trade and economic cooperation and collaboration in key areas such as critical minerals and petrochemicals, agriculture and agri-tech, logistics and development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, digitalization and artificial intelligence, green energy, as well as science, education and tourism.

The Ambassador underlined that Kazakhstan remains a reliable partner for the EU and Belgium, actively pursuing a policy of economic diversification and investment promotion. He emphasized that Kazakhstan accounts for 43% of global uranium production, produces 18 out of the 34 critical raw materials identified by the European Union and is determined to develop cooperation with Flemish and Brussels-based companies in these areas.

Special attention was paid to digitalization and innovation. It was noted that Kazakhstan is implementing its national Digital Qazaqstan strategy and has established the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, which opens wide opportunities for partnerships with research and business clusters in Flanders and Brussels.

The parties also stressed the particular importance of developing cooperation in the green transition and sustainable growth. Kazakhstan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and is actively advancing renewable energy development, where the expertise of Flanders and Brussels in hydrogen technologies, offshore wind energy and sustainable urban planning can prove highly relevant.

The interlocutors also discussed the importance of strengthening direct contacts between entrepreneurs, including the upcoming Belgian business mission to Astana and Almaty on 19-21 November 2025, which is being jointly organized by the three Belgian regional agencies for business cooperation – FIT, Hub Brussels, and AWEX from Wallonia.

FIT and Hub Brussels confirmed their readiness, in cooperation with the Embassy of Kazakhstan, to organize thematic business forums and sectoral meetings aimed at strengthening mutual trade and investment ties.