King Philippe of Belgium Visits Kazakhstan in October 2026

1. An unprecedented State visit

The upcoming State visit of King Philippe is set to be a landmark in relations between the two countries. According to the Kazakh authorities, it will be the first State visit by a Belgian monarch to Kazakhstan since diplomatic relations were established in 1992. The visit was announced during the meeting between President Tokayev and Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Brussels in June 2026, where the Kazakh head of State stressed that he attached “exceptional importance” to the King’s forthcoming visit.

On 8 August 2026, King Philippe confirmed his intention in a message to President Tokayev, replying to the latter’s greetings on the occasion of Belgium’s National Day (21 July). The sovereign expressed his gratitude and said he was “looking forward” to his State visit to Astana later in the year.

Long before ascending the throne, King Philippe already knew Kazakhstan well. As Crown Prince, he visited the country on three occasions — in 2002, 2009 and 2010 — leading economic missions. When Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Roman Vassilenko presented his credentials at Laeken Palace in September 2025, the King warmly recalled “the most memorable impressions” he retained of the country, its culture and its development potential. This personal experience lends a special dimension to the visit: more than a protocol event, it reflects a shared will to deepen an already solid partnership and give it fresh momentum.

❖ Key facts

2. Thirty-four years of diplomatic relations

Belgium recognised Kazakhstan’s independence on 31 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were formally established on 25 August 1992. Kazakhstan opened its embassy in Brussels in 1993, while Belgium established its embassy in Astana in 2006, further structuring bilateral relations and facilitating political and economic dialogue at all levels.

Under President Nursultan Nazarbayev, high-level contacts multiplied: the first president paid nine official and working visits to Belgium between 1993 and 2018. In December 2006 he received Belgium’s highest distinction, the Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold, from King Albert II. In 2010, a monument dedicated to the victims of nuclear testing — inspired by the “Stronger than Death” memorial in Semey — was inaugurated in Ypres, a city emblematic of the memory of both World Wars.

The dialogue has deepened further in recent years. In June 2026, President Tokayev’s visit to Brussels marked a new milestone: beyond his meeting with Prime Minister De Wever, a business forum produced around thirty commercial agreements worth roughly €10 billion with European companies. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot separately received his Kazakh counterpart at the Egmont Palace, marking twenty years of the Belgian embassy in Astana.

Timeline

3. Kazakhstan: Belgium’s key partner in Central Asia

Kazakhstan stands as Belgium’s primary economic and commercial partner in Central Asia. Historically, it hosted Belgium’s first embassy in the region, reflecting its strategic importance. Today it accounts for the majority of Belgian trade in the region and plays a pivotal role in regional logistics, especially through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor.

A growing trade relationship

According to Kazinform, bilateral trade turnover reached approximately $523.7 million in 2023 — a 1.7% increase on 2022. Kazakhstan exported goods worth $220.7 million to Belgium, while imports from Belgium stood at $303 million. In the same year, Belgian foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan exceeded $1 billion, underscoring strong investor confidence. Belgium’s Foreign Ministry reported that trade subsequently surpassed €750 million in 2025.

Belgium ranks among the top ten European investors in Kazakhstan, with around 100 Belgian companies operating in the country across logistics, agri-food, renewable energy, green technologies, infrastructure and engineering, as well as metallurgy, petrochemicals, agri-tech and the processing of critical raw materials — an area of increasing importance for Europe’s strategic autonomy. The Benelux Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan plays a crucial role in facilitating business ties and promoting two-way investment.

"More than 110 companies with Belgian capital are operating successfully in Kazakhstan, reflecting our shared commitment to strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation," Tokayev said.

On 14 March 2025, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the “Team Belgium Global Gateway” roundtable, highlighting investment opportunities in Central Asia with a strong focus on Kazakhstan. Organised with AWEX, Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) and hub.brussels, it gathered more than 20 major Belgian companies. Belgium’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Henri Vantieghem, highlighted opportunities in transport, logistics and telecommunications infrastructure.

Kazakhstan actively promotes foreign investment through tax benefits, administrative facilitation and support from the national agency Kazakh Invest. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which hosts over 3,500 registered companies, offers an advanced legal and financial framework based on international standards. Belgian companies have been invited to take part in large-scale projects such as the development of Alatau city, the expansion of the Middle Corridor, and renewable-energy production aimed at export to the European Union.

The Middle Corridor: a shared strategic stake

Kazakhstan’s position along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route enhances its attractiveness as a crucial partner for Europe–Asia connectivity. Over six years, freight volumes on the corridor increased fivefold, from 0.8 to 4.1 million tonnes per year, with a stated target of 10 million tonnes. For Belgium and its ports, the corridor offers a major logistics alternative towards Asia; for Kazakhstan, it cements its status as a hub between China, Türkiye, the Middle East and Europe.

4. Belgium: Kazakhstan’s gateway to Europe

Reciprocally, Belgium holds particular importance for Astana. As host of the EU institutions and NATO, Brussels is an indispensable political gateway for a country seeking to diversify its partnerships and strengthen ties with the West. President Tokayev has described Belgium as “one of Kazakhstan’s key partners within the European Union.”

This European dimension is reinforced by the EU’s growing strategic interest in Central Asia, illustrated by the Samarkand summit of April 2025 and a €12 billion “Global Gateway” investment plan for the region. Belgium is fully part of this dynamic: it is preparing to open its second embassy in the region, in Tashkent, confirming a long-term commitment to Central Asia.

Technology, academia and culture

Beyond trade, relations are expanding into technological, academic and cultural domains. Belgium’s advanced aerospace industry — including companies such as Aerospacelab — has attracted growing interest from Kazakhstan, particularly in satellite production and space cooperation. Academic collaboration is also gaining momentum: discussions between Ambassador Vassilenko and Ghent University have focused on joint research, PhD co-supervision and cooperation in biotechnology, agricultural sciences, artificial intelligence and digitalisation.

Cultural diplomacy continues to strengthen people-to-people ties. Events such as the Hanyraq Fest in Brussels have showcased Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage, while tourism initiatives have connected Kazakh operators with Belgian travel companies, boosting the country’s visibility in the Benelux market. Sport, too, is a common language: each spring the Astana cycling team is part of the Belgian sporting landscape, and in August 2026 the Kazakh embassy marked 34 years of relations with a bicycle ride starting from the Atomium.

Strategic alignment on global issues

Belgium and Kazakhstan also cooperate on key global challenges, including nuclear non-proliferation and resource security. Kazakhstan plays a vital role as a major supplier of uranium and critical raw materials to the European Union, reinforcing its strategic relevance. Both countries share a growing interest in international security, regional stability and multilateral cooperation, notably within the United Nations framework.

5. Outlook: from a symbolic visit to a lasting partnership

Recent discussions between officials have identified several priority sectors for the future: transport and connectivity, critical raw materials, petrochemicals, agriculture, manufacturing, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and financial services — alongside academic and scientific cooperation between universities, research centres and technology companies.

Through this State visit, Astana and Brussels send a clear message: Belgian–Kazakh relations are entering a new phase. Belgium’s role as host of the EU institutions gives it unique importance in Kazakhstan’s European strategy, while Kazakhstan leverages Brussels as a platform to deepen its ties with the Union. As high-level visits, economic cooperation and institutional partnerships intensify, the relationship is maturing into a forward-looking strategic partnership — one that mirrors broader shifts in Europe’s engagement with Central Asia and the growing importance of connectivity, sustainability and geopolitical balance. King Philippe’s first State visit could become a defining milestone, opening the way to even more ambitious cooperation in the years ahead.

Bibliography

• Presidency of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Akorda); Qazinform, “Kazakhstan-Belgium commodity turnover exceeds $523 million.”

• Soysal, D., “Belgium–Kazakhstan Relations: A Strategic Partnership,” EUReflect.

• Caliber.Az, “Belgium’s King Philippe confirms planned State visit to Kazakhstan”; Tengrinews; Trend News Agency (2026).

• Zajmi, X., “Kazakhstan aims to be a ‘strategic partner’ for Europe’s green transition,” Euractiv.

• Actualités-CCI, “Le Kazakhstan présente son potentiel d’investissement à Bruxelles” (April 2025); BECI, “3rd meeting of the Belgium-Kazakhstan Business Council.”

• Cabinet of Minister Maxime Prévot; SPF Foreign Affairs (Belgium); Bruxelles Korner; oq.gov.kz.

Belgian King to Pay First-Ever State Visit to Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan Today