Kazakhstan and Vietnam Plan to Double Bilateral Trade Turnover by 2026

Kazakhstan and Vietnam are entering a new phase of economic partnership, setting an ambitious goal to double bilateral trade turnover by 2026. During recent negotiations held in Astana, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Hoa Binh reaffirmed a strategic commitment to deepening ties, with the agro-industrial sector identified as one of the key pillars of cooperation.

A landmark development for Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector has been the resumption of wheat supplies: for the first time in the past eight years, more than 15,000 tonnes of grain have been shipped to Vietnam. The success of this transaction was largely driven by the adoption of new logistics solutions. In 2025, direct combined transportation routes based on multimodal schemes were launched, allowing cargo to be delivered without container reloading. This approach not only reduced transportation costs but also significantly shortened delivery times, laying the groundwork for positioning Kazakhstan as a reliable food supplier to Southeast Asian markets.

In addition to grain, the two sides are exploring opportunities to expand exports to include flour, oilseeds, as well as meat and dairy products. To remove regulatory barriers, relevant government agencies are accelerating the approval of a cooperation agreement in the field of veterinary services. The document is expected to be signed at the next meeting of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, which will facilitate access for Kazakhstan’s livestock products to the Vietnamese market.

Alongside trade, investment cooperation in the processing sector is also gaining momentum. In particular, a project to build a food processing plant with an investment volume of USD 90 million has been launched in the “Arna” industrial zone of the city of Konaev. In addition, Vietnamese capital is participating in the development of a tourism cluster in the Almaty region.

To provide systematic support for businesses, the parties intend to sign a memorandum on the establishment of a Kazakhstan–Vietnam Business Council in the near future. Further details of cooperation will be elaborated in mid-year as part of Kazakhstan’s trade and economic mission to Vietnam and the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, scheduled for June–July.