Strengthening Collaboration Between Kazakhstan and the UK in Critical Industries
Unveiling fresh strategies and collaborations, the alliance between Kazakhstan and the UK has touched grounds in significant areas like critical minerals, green energy, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. This dynamic shift was announced at the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, held in London on April 30.
Delegated by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov from Kazakhstan and Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander of the UK, the polarizing gathering emphasized potential avenues for advancing their partnership.
Kuantyrov accentuated the UK's pivotal role as a crucial trading partner and prime investor, with a whopping $22 billion in foreign direct investments. He also reiterated the country's desire to strengthen this bond, focusing on investment, technology, and knowledge transfer.
The event resulted in several bilateral documents, including the Protocol of the Intergovernmental Commission, a Roadmap for cooperation in agriculture, and memorandums on water resource management and the localization of biopharmaceuticals in Kazakhstan in partnership with AstraZeneca.
Dynamic Developments in Key Industries with AstraZeneca
Expectedly, the AstraZeneca partnership will spur innovation in Kazakhstan's healthcare system and reinforce government initiatives. The anticipated launch of contract manufacturing for the first batch of AstraZeneca's original drugs in Kazakhstan is scheduled for this month. Since 2022, the company has invested over 3.5 billion tenge (US$6.7 million) in Kazakhstan's healthcare sector.
For the first time, the Kazakh delegation visited AstraZeneca's Discovery Centre (DISC), the organization's largest research and innovation hub in Cambridge. Their primary objective was to delve into best practices in scientific innovation, drug development, and clinical trials.
Expanding Horizons: Critical Minerals, Green Energy, and More
The 2024 Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement has expanded collaboration, with the 11th Intergovernmental Commission meeting (April 30–May 2, 2025) focusing on critical minerals, green energy, and healthcare.
Cooperation entrees comprise joint initiatives in critical mineral extraction and sustainable energy projects, aligning with Kazakhstan’s National Infrastructure Plan (2024–2029). The UK's expertise in engineering and finance will facilitate technology transfer and engineering efforts for energy transition and climate resilience.
The biopharmaceutical landscape sees the embedding of AstraZeneca's innovations in Kazakhstan, with the first batch of original drugs set for contract manufacturing this month. A new memorandum also signed for research collaboration and clinical trials underscores their commitment to bolstering healthcare infrastructure.
These progressive undertakings represent a strategic focus on investments in innovation and sustainable development. UK engineering firms are also making headway in modernizing Kazakhstan’s energy grids, transport networks, and digital systems under the National Infrastructure Plan.
Stay tuned as Kazakhstan and the UK forge ahead with their bold vision for growth and progress.
- Investors, led by AstraZeneca, are set to transfer innovative biopharmaceuticals to Kazakhstan, sparking growth in the healthcare sector and reflecting government initiatives.
- Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov of Kazakhstan acknowledged the UK's role as a key investor in the country, emphasizing efforts to strengthen this bond by focusing on investment, technology, and knowledge transfer.
- The 2024 Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will broaden collaboration between Kazakhstan and the UK, with the 11th Intergovernmental Commission meeting focusing on critical minerals, green energy, and healthcare in 2025.
- The UK's expertise in finance and engineering will facilitate technology transfer and engineering efforts for sustainable energy projects and climate resilience, aligning with Kazakhstan’s National Infrastructure Plan (2024–2029).
- Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander of the UK and his Kazakh counterpart, Alibek Kuantyrov, highlighted potential avenues for advancing their partnership, with a focus on investment, technology, and knowledge transfer at the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
