Geneva, 11 June 2026 – The inaugural Kazakhstan Commodity Forum took place in Geneva. The event was organized by the Commodity Trading Club with the support of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Swiss Confederation.

The Forum brought together more than 200 participants, including senior executives from leading global commodity trading houses, representatives of financial institutions, international organizations, the diplomatic corps, and Kazakhstan's national companies.

The event was opened by Kairat Torebayev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the WTO, Kairat Sarzhanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Swiss Confederation, Julien Arbace, President of the Commodity Trading Club, and Vincent Subilia, Director General of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIG) and President of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In their remarks, the speakers highlighted Kazakhstan's growing role as a key player in global commodity markets, a strategic transport and logistics hub across Eurasia, and a reliable partner for international business.

The Forum brought together representatives of leading global companies and organizations, including Cargill, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), ADM, COFCO, Ameropa, Gunvor Group, Trafigura, Mercuria, Olam, Phillips 66, SOCAR Trading, ING Bank, Goldman Sachs, Arab Bank, Bank of China, MSC, FIATA, SGS, SUISSENÉGOCE, CCIG, and other major players shaping the global agenda in commodity trading, logistics, and trade finance.

The Kazakh delegation included senior representatives of Baiterek National Managing Holding, KazMunayGas, Qazaqstan Investment Corporation, and the Food Contract Corporation, as well as sectoral business associations and government agencies.

Participants noted that Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia, accounting for approximately 60% of the region's GDP and attracting the highest volume of foreign direct investment among Central Asian countries.

Kazakhstan holds leading positions in global commodity markets, producing around 40% of the world's uranium output and serving as a major exporter of crude oil, copper, ferroalloys, grain, flour, and gold. The country also possesses substantial reserves of critical minerals essential for the energy transition and advanced technologies.

In 2025, Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover reached nearly USD 144 billion, while non-resource exports exceeded USD 40 billion, reflecting the country's continued economic diversification and growing export potential.

Particular attention was given to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), which is rapidly emerging as one of the key freight corridors connecting Europe and Asia and strengthening Kazakhstan's position as a major Eurasian transit and logistics hub.

The Kazakhstan Commodity Forum confirmed the strong interest of the international business community in Kazakhstan and Central Asia as promising destinations for trade, investment, and the development of new logistics routes.

The Forum provided a platform for direct dialogue between government representatives, national companies, international traders, financial institutions, and logistics operators, creating opportunities for new projects and long-term partnerships.

As noted by Permanent Representative K. Torebayev:

“The story of Kazakhstan today is no longer simply a story of natural resources. It is a story of connectivity, investment, and new opportunities. Kazakhstan is becoming a vital link between Europe and Asia, while the Middle Corridor is emerging as a strategic route shaping the new architecture of Eurasian trade. For forward-looking businesses, Kazakhstan offers broad opportunities for cooperation across the entire value chain – from commodities and logistics to finance and industrial partnerships.”

He also emphasized: “The Kazakhstan Commodity Forum was created not for protocol, but for practical dialogue and tangible business outcomes. We expect that the key results of today's gathering will be new investments, trade agreements, and long-term partnerships.”

The inaugural Kazakhstan Commodity Forum demonstrated Geneva's unique role as a global center for commodity trading and highlighted significant opportunities for expanding economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and the international business community.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-wto/press/news/details/1239846?lang=ru