September 23, 2025, New York – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in a roundtable meeting with the heads of more than 70 American companies as part of his working visit to New York.

In his remarks, the Head of State underlined that the expanded strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States continues to develop steadily. He noted that Kazakhstan, as a regional economic power, is ready to play a leading role in promoting investment and expanding the presence of American businesses in Central Asia. Further cooperation within the C5+1 and B5+1 formats can give new impetus to these efforts.

The President briefed the participants on the implementation of Kazakhstan’s economic and political reform agenda.

According to him, the ongoing strategy is aimed at enhancing the country’s attractiveness for foreign direct investment. The President outlined key areas for further economic and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States.

The first priority highlighted by the Head of State was the energy sector, which has long been a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation. In this context, he emphasized the importance of the participation of American energy companies in the implementation of this strategically significant task.

He also pointed to the need to explore new opportunities in geological exploration, expand existing projects, and advance uranium mining and processing. Kazakhstan supplies about 40% of global uranium demand, while approximately 24% of U.S. uranium imports come from Kazakhstan.

The second priority identified was critical raw materials. The President stressed that Kazakhstan possesses significant reserves of copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, lithium, graphite, and other minerals, which are becoming increasingly important for the high-tech industry.

The President further highlighted the broad potential of the transport and logistics sector, noting the significant prospects offered by the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).

The next priority was the agro-industrial sector. According to the President, Kazakhstan’s potential — ranking sixth globally in terms of arable land and among the world’s top ten grain exporters — should be of particular interest to American partners.

The fifth priority mentioned was digital transformation. President Tokayev reiterated Kazakhstan’s plans to become a fully digital state within the next three years and a leading Eurasian IT hub in the field of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

He noted that the active involvement of global technology leaders such as Nvidia, Amazon, Starlink, and Microsoft in Kazakhstan’s digital ecosystem demonstrates the country’s significant potential. Among the most promising areas of cooperation, he cited digital assets, Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, and smart city solutions.

Turning to the financial sector, the Head of State spoke about the potential of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which hosts more than 4,200 companies from over 80 countries, including more than 60 American firms.

The seventh priority identified by President Tokayev was the development of human capital. He noted that over 800 Bolashak scholarship recipients are currently studying in the United States — at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and other leading institutions.

In this context, the President proposed expanding joint projects with American universities and research centers aimed at training a new generation of leaders.

The President also highlighted the importance of corporate support for cultural initiatives.

He concluded by stating that strengthening and deepening the strategic partnership with the United States remains a long-term priority of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-washington/press/news/details/1074478?lang=kk