Aktobe: A Fast-Growing Industrial and Geoeconomic Center

The choice of Aktobe as the host region was far from symbolic. Today, the region is one of Kazakhstan’s most dynamic economic engines, leading the country in the production and export of several strategic commodities.

Aktobe’s foreign trade geography spans 53 countries, with Russia serving as its largest trading partner—Kazakhstani enterprises exported over USD 1.075 billion worth of goods there in 2024. Other major trade partners include China, the Netherlands, Italy, the United States, Germany, Romania, Japan, Belarus and Uzbekistan.

The region’s export portfolio—ferrochrome, chromite and zinc ores, sodium dichromate, chrome trioxide, rails, tomatoes, and ceramic tiles—has positioned Aktobe firmly within global industrial and agricultural value chains. Imports into the region include unrefined copper, steam boilers, cement, graphite, bitumen compounds, and various food products.

In 2024, Aktobe’s total export volume reached USD 2.8 billion, while major importers represented 42 countries, demonstrating the region’s deep integration into global markets.

Global Investors Signal Strong Interest

More than 40 foreign companies attended the forum, including multinational organizations, technology hubs, and industrial leaders. Investors from China formed the largest delegation, with representatives of 25 corporations arriving to explore partnerships.

Their primary interest focused on:

High-tech and science-intensive projects
Advanced manufacturing
Innovation centers and industrial hubs
Agri-industrial cooperation—an area where Aktobe is already recognized for high-quality production and strong export capability

The forum became an important platform for aligning Kazakhstan’s long-term development priorities with global technological and investment trends.

High-Impact Agreements Worth $900 000 000

The event culminated in the signing of 17 memoranda and agreements totaling 448 billion tenge (approximately $900 million), marking a significant step toward diversifying Kazakhstan’s economy and accelerating its green and industrial transformation.

Key projects include:

100 MW wind power plant in Khromtau district (SUNGROW, China)
LNG plant development (Condor Energies, Canada)
Beverage production plant in Aktobe region (Coca-Cola Almaty Bottlers, Turkey)
Metallurgical manufacturing plant (Soyuz Metallservice, China)
Agro-industrial cluster (Harvest Agro Holding, Switzerland)
180 MW gas-fired power plant in Aktobe (MUREL, Turkey)

Additionally, the SEZ Aktobe signed a cooperation agreement with the Ganquanbao Economic Zone of Urumqi, strengthening Kazakhstan–China industrial connectivity.

Strategic Importance for Kazakhstan and the Region

Speaking with the EUReflect Institute, Aykerim Absamatova—International Relations and Economy Expert and Director of the Investment Promotion Department at SEZ “TURAN” (Turkistan)—highlighted the profound geopolitical significance of the forum:

“This platform is strategically important not only for Kazakhstan but for the entire Central Asian region. Aktobe is a unique treasure trove of natural resources, and its potential places it at the heart of Eurasia’s industrial future. Thanks to its strategic position at the crossroads of major international transport corridors, Aktobe is rapidly developing into one of Central Asia’s key logistics hubs, offering efficient access to both European and Asian markets and strengthening Kazakhstan’s role in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The region’s growing multimodal capabilities — combining rail, road, and air transport — support faster delivery times and deeper integration into global supply chains. Close connectivity with Russia, China, Uzbekistan, and the Caspian region further enhances export potential and investor interest. The newly established Aktobe Special Economic Zone plays a central role in attracting investment to the city, offering substantial tax incentives such as exemptions from VAT, corporate income tax, and land tax, as well as providing land plots free of charge.”

Her remarks reflect the broader geopolitical trend: as Eurasia undergoes deep economic reconfiguration, Kazakhstan is emerging as a stabilizing logistical bridge between major markets.

Indeed, the region stands among the world’s leaders in mineral reserves:

Over 400 million tons of chrome—placing the region among global leaders
40% of Kazakhstan’s titanium reserves
55% of Kazakhstan’s nickel reserves
30% of the country’s forecasted hydrocarbon resources
Major reserves of gold, silver, copper, zinc, cobalt, kaolin, phosphorites, and construction materials

Geographically, Aktobe is also a strategic gateway. The “Western Europe – Western China” megahighway, cutting directly across the region, drastically reduces transit time between distant points of Eurasia, strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in global logistics.

A Regional Forum With Global Relevance

In an era of shifting geopolitical dynamics, Kazakhstan’s ability to attract diversified investments—from green energy to advanced metallurgy and agri-industry—illustrates its role as both a stabilizing force and an emerging economic powerhouse in Central Asia.

The Aktobe Investment Forum-2025 did more than sign agreements—it showcased Kazakhstan’s ambition to integrate more deeply into global economic networks, strengthen regional connectivity, and take a leading role in Eurasia’s long-term development agenda.

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