Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov took part in the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Ashgabat (Turkmenistan).

This year in the Commonwealth is held under the chairmanship of Turkmenistan. Before the start of the CIS CHG meeting, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov received the heads of government delegations.

During the bilateral meeting, Olzhas Bektenov conveyed warm words of greeting on behalf of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Attention was paid to issues of trade, economic and transit-transport cooperation, as well as interaction in the fields of energy and agriculture. In January–March 2026, mutual trade between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan amounted to $125.3 million, with exports growing by 15% due to increased supplies of Kazakh agricultural products. It was noted that the Government of Kazakhstan and the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan are systematically working on the implementation of the task set by the heads of the two states to increase trade turnover.

The CIS CHG meeting was attended by the heads of government of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, representatives of Turkmenistan and Armenia, as well as the CIS Secretary General.

Traditionally, the meeting was held in both narrow and expanded formats.

In the narrow format, current issues of economic interaction among the CIS member states were discussed, and a report on the implementation of the Interstate Program of Cooperation in the Field of Geodesy, Cartography, and Spatial Data was adopted. In the expanded format, the heads of government delegations considered the draft Concept of Digital Transformation of the Mining and Metallurgical Complex Industries of the CIS Member States and the Plan of Measures for its Implementation, as well as the Strategy for Congress and Exhibition Activities of the CIS for the Period up to 2030.

Speaking at the meeting in the narrow format, Olzhas Bektenov noted that with the adoption of the new Constitution, Kazakhstan is entering a new historical stage of its development and is aimed at sustainable economic growth. In this regard, issues of interaction in the fields of economy, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, the agro-industrial complex, transit and logistics infrastructure, water security, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including the development of the volunteer movement, were touched upon. In 2025, Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with CIS countries amounted to $38.4 billion. In January–March 2026, the volume of mutual trade increased by 17.1%.

The Head of the Government of Kazakhstan emphasized that the adoption and implementation of the Concept of Digital Transformation of the Mining and Metallurgical Complex Industries of the CIS will give additional impetus to the modernization of industry and the expansion of technological cooperation. In turn, the Concept of Conjugation of the Main Transport Arteries of the CIS, initiated by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will ensure the modernization of infrastructure for the prompt movement of goods. This will reduce transport costs and increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of transport routes for international shippers and investors, as well as ensure the effective use of transport corridors in the interests of the socio-economic development of the CIS member states.

Following the meeting, a number of documents were signed concerning cooperation among the CIS countries in the fields of digital transformation of the mining and metallurgical complex industries, transport, radionavigation, reclamation of territories affected by uranium mining enterprises, congress and exhibition activities, and others.

In addition, a decision was made to declare Minsk (Republic of Belarus) the CIS Youth Capital in 2027, and Karaganda (Republic of Kazakhstan) in 2028. The international project is aimed at involving the younger generation in the implementation of programs for sustainable development in all spheres of interstate relations.

The next meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States will be held in December this year in Moscow.

#Olzhas Bektenov #Economy #International Cooperation #Logistics #Transport

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