Serbia–Kazakhstan Relations on a Dynamic Upward Trajectory

Bilateral relations between Serbia and Kazakhstan are at their highest level, primarily due to the strengthening of economic and trade ties between the two countries. This was assessed during a meeting between Mihailo Vesović, Deputy President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce for International Cooperation and Development, and a Kazakh delegation led by Alibek Kuantirov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Rakhimzhan Isakulov, Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction.

“The continuity of visits by official Serbian delegations, business forums, business meetings, and participation in trade fairs in Kazakhstan have contributed to a better understanding of market requirements, direct contacts with business partners, and the realization of exports of products and services to Kazakhstan,” Vesović said. He invited Kazakh businesspeople to visit Serbia in order to familiarize themselves with the country’s economic, investment, and production potential.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alibek Kuantirov informed the Serbian side about government support programs available to Kazakh entrepreneurs and foreign investors. As he emphasized, Kazakhstan’s priority is the localization of production, which provides opportunities and government incentives for doing business in Kazakhstan’s rapidly growing industrial market, particularly in the fields of energy, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing. According to Kuantirov, Expo 2027 represents an ideal opportunity for Kazakhstan to showcase its economic potential. “We have officially begun preparations to promote Kazakhstan’s achievements next year in Belgrade,” Kuantirov concluded.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction Rakhimzhan Isakulov emphasized that all business initiatives put forward by the Serbian side would be seriously considered and supported through Kazakhstan’s government administration, business associations and funds, as well as by specific companies that could become future business partners.

Bilateral trade reached a record $903.7 million in 2025, representing a 50 percent increase compared with the same period of the previous year. Serbia exported $75 million worth of goods, primarily packaging paper and cardboard, aluminum alloy products, motor oils, sunflower seeds, cigarettes, machinery, and medicines. Serbia’s significant trade deficit was primarily due to increased imports of energy products, fertilizers, and chemical products, particularly polypropylene and polyethylene. In the first half of 2026, bilateral trade increased by 14 percent, with total trade in goods reaching $567 million.

The meeting was also attended by the newly appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Serbia, H.E. Bolat Imanbayev.

During the meeting, Serbian companies Termovent, Energoprojekt, and PPT Inženjering presented their production programs, business initiatives, and results achieved to date in economic cooperation with Kazakhstan.