Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are stepping up efforts to expand bilateral trade, with their trade turnover approaching $2 billion, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said following talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

Tokayev said the negotiations reaffirmed both countries' commitment to strengthening multifaceted cooperation and identified key priorities for further partnership, according to Qazinform.

“Thanks to our joint efforts, bilateral trade is steadily approaching $2 billion. This places Kazakhstan among Tajikistan’s three largest foreign trading partners,” Tokayev said.

The two leaders agreed to take additional steps to increase trade and adopted a Roadmap for Increasing Trade through 2030. Both governments have been tasked with ensuring its effective implementation.

Tokayev also highlighted the growing role of agricultural cooperation. Last year, bilateral trade in agricultural products rose by 11% to approximately $600 million, accounting for around half of total trade between the two countries.

Following the talks, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan expressed their readiness to expand mutual supplies of food products and explore the establishment of integrated production chains for agricultural processing.

The Kazakh president also emphasized the importance of launching joint projects that could serve as new drivers of economic growth in both countries.

He identified energy, oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, and processing industries as promising areas for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Tokayev added that the Kazakhstan-Tajikistan Business Forum, held ahead of Rahmon's visit, demonstrated strong interest among entrepreneurs from both countries in developing business ties across various sectors.