Kazakhstan and South Korea have stepped up efforts to strengthen their economic partnership, with officials discussing measures to boost trade, expand exports, and eliminate barriers facing businesses during a meeting in Astana.

The talks took place during the 11th session of the Kazakhstan-South Korea Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation on June 8, bringing together representatives from both countries to chart a new course for bilateral relations.

Kazakh Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Zhanel Kushukova highlighted the steady growth of trade ties, noting that bilateral trade turnover surpassed $3 billion in 2025. She stressed the importance of diversifying the range of traded goods and creating new opportunities for exporters.

A key focus of the discussions was increasing Kazakhstan’s exports to South Korea while reducing administrative and regulatory obstacles that can hinder business activity. Officials also explored cooperation in critical minerals and rare earth metals, including projects aimed at deeper processing and value-added production.

The commission emphasized the importance of Kazakhstan’s participation in the South Korea Import Fair 2026 in Seoul, viewing the event as a valuable platform for promoting Kazakh products and establishing direct connections between companies.

South Korean representative Bae Jung Hyun called for a new format of economic cooperation and proposed accelerating work on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.