Kazakhstan is aiming to expand its economic collaboration with South Korea, moving beyond the current focus on vehicles to embrace artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and other high-end sectors. This statement was made by Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi during a recent interview.

The upcoming state visit carries particular weight, according to the minister. He noted that the bilateral relationship already benefits from a solid foundation of trade and investment, presenting a unique opportunity to elevate this partnership to a new tier.

Tileuberdi highlighted the complementary nature of the two economies. South Korea brings advanced technology, industrial expertise, and capital, while Central Asia offers abundant natural resources, sufficient energy capacity, expanding markets, and a strategically important position.

Trade between the two nations reached $3.17 billion in 2025, with hundreds of South Korean companies already active in Kazakhstan. Notable names include Hyundai Motor, Kia, Samsung Electronics, and Doosan Group. These investments have materialized into tangible assets such as factories, job creation, local production lines, and technology transfers, as demonstrated by the projects from Hyundai and Kia. Hyundai operates a vehicle assembly plant in Almaty, while Kia has established a major production site in Kostanay.

Kazakhstan, however, aims to use the automotive industry as a model for broader industrial engagement. The minister revealed that the two countries are currently advancing 46 joint industrial projects valued at roughly $4 billion, spanning areas like car manufacturing, engineering, metallurgy, and electronics. He described this as a pattern they wish to replicate: combining South Korean technology and capital with Kazakhstan's production capacity, local suppliers, and skilled workforce.

Artificial intelligence and data infrastructure stand out as promising avenues for new initiatives. Kazakhstan's growing computing power and data center resources could offer opportunities for South Korean firms in areas such as data centers, electricity infrastructure, and cooling technologies. Critical minerals represent another priority, with the country holding substantial reserves of uranium, copper, chrome, and zinc, all essential for modern industry.

The foreign minister clarified, however, that the primary objective is not simply exporting raw materials. Kazakhstan is more interested in deep processing and high-value-added production that integrates into South Korean industrial supply chains, particularly for batteries, electronics, and other high-tech fields.

Tileuberdi also emphasized Kazakhstan's geographic advantages for South Korean companies looking to diversify their supply chains. As the largest economy in Central Asia, Kazakhstan sits on key trade routes linking Asia and Europe and continues to invest in railway infrastructure and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. He stated that for South Korean businesses, the country's value lies in the combination of market size, industrial capability, resource wealth, and its geopolitical position.

Looking ahead to the upcoming summit, the minister stressed that the focus should be on implementation rather than just setting broad objectives. He remarked that the real worth of the summit will be determined by the outcomes achieved afterward. Kazakhstan hopes to see concrete projects, clearly identified partners, supporting financial mechanisms, and practical implementation timelines.

Finally, Tileuberdi underscored the human dimension of the relationship, which he believes extends well beyond economic matters. This people-to-people foundation, he said, establishes a foundation of mutual trust that will support the long-term relationship between the two nations.