Kazakhstan Highlights Trade Integration Since WTO Accession

Eleven years after joining the World Trade Organization in 2015, officials noted that 98% of Kazakhstan’s trade is conducted with WTO member countries. Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev stated this during a briefing in September. Sagyndyk Kosherbayev of the Economic Research Institute noted that by the end of 2025, Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover had reached $144.7 billion, representing an 89% increase from 2015. During this same period, exports grew by 72%, while imports more than doubled.

The discussion centers on the depth of Kazakhstan's integration into the global economy under international trade rules. Experts cautioned against attributing all of the observed trade growth solely to the country's accession to the WTO. The findings underscore the ongoing challenge of reducing reliance on commodity exports.