Kazakhstan and the U.S. state of Illinois are exploring new opportunities for cooperation in innovation, technology, and investment following high-level meetings at the Central Asia Business Expo Chicago 2026 (CABXPO).

The event, one of the leading platforms connecting business communities from Central Asia and the United States, brought together government officials, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss trade, investment, innovation, and international business partnerships, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

As part of the forum, the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in New York held meetings with Kazakh entrepreneurs operating in the United States across sectors including logistics, finance, legal services, digital technologies, and consulting. Their growing presence was highlighted as an important factor in strengthening bilateral economic ties.

Kazakhstan’s Consul General Rauan Tleulin also met with senior Illinois officials and business leaders, including Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Margo Markopoulos, and Jessica Andujar-Redman, Executive Vice President of Business Development at World Business Chicago.

The discussions focused on expanding economic cooperation, attracting U.S. companies to projects in Kazakhstan, and enhancing interregional partnerships. Participants identified agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics, digital technologies, and innovation as some of the most promising areas for future collaboration.