At the Astana Finance Days forum, one of Central Asia's largest financial gatherings, Euronews moderated a panel on Kazakhstan's ambition to evolve from a mere transit corridor into a full-fledged regional hub for production, trade, and investment. The discussion centered on how the country, strategically positioned between Europe and Asia, can leverage its geography to attract capital and build sustainable economic activity.
Logistics as the key to unlocking potential
Infrastructure investor Nurzhan Marabayev argued that efficient, transparent, and competitive logistics are essential to unlocking new projects across Central Asia. He noted that Kazakhstan benefits from relatively low labour, resource, and construction costs, but the country's landlocked status makes expensive logistics a persistent challenge. Improving transport links, he said, would not only benefit Kazakhstan but also its neighbours, creating a more integrated regional market.
Meruyert Zholdybayeva, an airport director, highlighted the potential of multimodal transport. She pointed to a China-Europe route that moves goods from Shenzhen to Europe in just seven days, demonstrating the speed and efficiency that modern logistics can achieve. She suggested that Aktau, a port city on the Caspian Sea, could eventually become a major hub combining rail, sea, and air links, further enhancing Kazakhstan's connectivity.
Manufacturing on the rise
The panel also heard about significant progress in manufacturing. Alima Issembayeva reported that production rose from 2.3 trillion tenge in 2021 to almost 4 trillion in 2025, while exports more than doubled between 2021 and 2024. This growth reflects a deliberate push to diversify the economy beyond raw materials, a strategy that aligns with broader efforts across Central Asia to build more resilient and value-added industries.
Kazakhstan's ambitions are part of a wider trend in the region. As countries seek to reduce their dependence on commodity exports, they are investing in infrastructure and manufacturing capacity. The country's efforts to move beyond raw materials are particularly noteworthy, given its vast natural resources.
The forum's discussions come at a time when global trade patterns are shifting, with many companies looking to diversify supply chains. Kazakhstan's location, combined with its improving logistics, could make it an attractive alternative to traditional manufacturing hubs. However, experts caution that significant investment in infrastructure and regulatory reform is still needed to fully realize this potential.
For Europe, Kazakhstan's development as a trade hub could have meaningful implications. The country is already a key partner in the EU's connectivity strategy, and closer economic ties could benefit both sides. As the EU seeks to strengthen its relationships with Central Asia, Kazakhstan's progress in logistics and manufacturing will be closely watched.
In the coming years, the success of Kazakhstan's hub ambitions will depend on its ability to attract foreign investment, improve its business climate, and build the necessary infrastructure. The panel at Astana Finance Days made clear that the potential is there, but turning it into reality will require sustained effort and cooperation.
