Kazakhstan and South Korea have agreed to cooperate on localizing pharmaceutical production and launching joint manufacturing projects in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova met with Kim Kyung-hoon, CEO of Kyungdong Pharmaceutical, in Seoul on September 14 and toured the company’s production facilities, Qazinform reports.

The sides signed a document between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare and Kyungdong Pharmaceutical outlining key areas for further cooperation.

The agreement covers the localization of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Kazakhstan, technology transfer, clinical trials, registration of Kyungdong Pharmaceutical products in the Kazakh market and the creation of joint production facilities.

Kazakhstan is seeking to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry as a key part of the national healthcare system while attracting investment, expanding domestic manufacturing and creating new jobs.

Alnazarova said foreign investors can benefit from several opportunities in Kazakhstan, including mechanisms guaranteeing long-term demand for locally manufactured products, government support for major investment projects and access to export markets across the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Organization of Turkic States.

She also highlighted Kazakhstan’s efforts to improve the regulatory environment for pharmaceutical companies.

In February 2026, Kazakhstan became the first country in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to reach Maturity Level 3 under the World Health Organization’s national regulatory system. It was also the fourth country in the WHO European Region to achieve this level.