Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

1. Korea-Kazakhstan Economic Joint Committee

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and Yersaiyn Nagaspayev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction, held the 11th meeting of the Korea–Kazakhstan Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 8, 2026.

Established under the bilateral trade agreement that entered into force in 1992, the Joint Committee is the highest-level consultative body between the Korean and Kazakh governments. Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction serve as chief delegates, with relevant ministries and agencies also taking part. The meeting was the first in two years, following the 10th meeting in May 2024.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed cooperation across trade and investment, energy and resources, construction, digital affairs and intellectual property, and the environment. On trade and investment, they discussed ways to move toward concluding the Korea-Kazakhstan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to upgrade bilateral economic cooperation. They also agreed to work together to resolve issues affecting Korean companies operating in Kazakhstan, including in electronics, automobiles, and plant projects, and to support smoother business operations.

On energy and resources, the two sides agreed to cooperate to secure stable crude oil imports as the war in the Middle East has increased uncertainty over energy supplies. They also agreed to expand cooperation on building Kazakhstan’s power infrastructure and modernizing aging power plants.

On construction, the two sides discussed sharing Korea’s smart city development experience and expanding business participation in Alatau, a new city project the Kazakh government is prioritizing. They also agreed to continue discussions on cooperation between Korean and Kazakh companies in urban air mobility (UAM) as part of the project.

The two sides also agreed to continue cooperation on digital affairs and intellectual property, including IP protection and efforts to combat counterfeit goods. On the environment, they discussed international greenhouse gas mitigation projects under the Paris Agreement, water management technologies, forest restoration, and climate action.

“Korea and Kazakhstan are broadening cooperation beyond existing areas such as resources, energy, and plant projects into digital and green sectors,” Minister Kim said. “We will continue follow-up consultations on the issues discussed at the Joint Committee and utilize the first Korea-Central Asia Summit, scheduled for September 2026, as an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.”

2. Meeting with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy

Minister Kim also met with Yerlan Akkenzhenov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, and reviewed progress on crude oil imports following the April 2026 visit to Kazakhstan by Kang Hoon-sik, Special Presidential Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation. The two sides agreed to continue cooperation to stabilize crude oil supply. They also agreed to support the smooth implementation of the Karachaganak gas processing plant project, which Korean companies secured, and to work together so that the Ekibastuz power plant modernization project can make early progress.

MOTIR will further develop the key cooperation tasks identified during the Kazakhstan visit, including energy, plant projects, and smart cities, and continue follow-up consultations to help bilateral economic cooperation lead to tangible results.