Kazakhstan's trade with OTS grown by almost 40%

Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) countries amounted to $2.4 billion in January–February 2026, almost 40% higher than in the same period last year, Kanat Sharlapaev, Chairman of the Union of Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), said at the business forum "Economic Integration and Cooperation of OTS Countries: New Opportunities in Industry, Agriculture, Logistics, and Digitalization" in Astana, Report informs.

According to him, OTS countries should move from raw materials trade to deeper industrial cooperation and joint investment projects.

Sharlapaev noted that the Turkic Investment Fund has already begun forming a portfolio of practical projects and is prepared to initially allocate $20 million to co-finance initiatives.

He emphasized that the Middle Corridor should be developed not only as a transit route but also as an industrial belt with joint ventures, agro-industrial zones, and advanced processing centers.

The head of the TCCI also stated the need to create a unified registry of reliable suppliers for the OTS to expedite transactions and develop a seamless digital environment between the Turkic states.

According to him, priority access to financing should be given to projects that introduce innovations in industry and the agro-industrial sector and create high-productivity jobs.