On February 5, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov to discuss the expansion of bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on trade, tourism, investment, and regional transport initiatives.

The meeting took place at the Government House of Kazakhstan, where both leaders highlighted a 25% increase in bilateral trade in 2024 compared to the previous year. They emphasized the importance of expanding export volumes and fully utilizing existing economic opportunities.

Following their face-to-face discussions, the two delegations held expanded negotiations with the participation of government members from both countries. The talks covered a range of cooperation areas, including tourism, investment, and the development of the Middle Corridor. Both sides agreed on the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and attracting additional cargo flows. They also discussed the potential expansion of Kazakh energy resource transportation via Georgia’s infrastructure and Black Sea ports.

Kobakhidze: Strengthening Trade and Investment

Prime Minister Kobakhidze expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for hosting the Georgian delegation, emphasizing the strong and friendly relationship between the two nations. He reiterated Georgia’s commitment to facilitating the export of Georgian agricultural products to Kazakhstan and attracting investments in the agri-food sector.

Kobakhidze also noted Kazakhstan’s growing importance as a key market for Georgian tourism and highlighted Georgia’s investment-friendly climate, which features low tax rates and access to international markets.

"Georgia welcomes the prospects of increasing the transportation of Kazakh energy resources, particularly oil and petroleum products, through our transport infrastructure and Black Sea ports," Kobakhidze stated.

Bektenov: Strong Economic Ties and Growing Transport Cooperation

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov congratulated Kobakhidze on his reappointment and expressed optimism about further strengthening the bilateral partnership. He highlighted significant investment flows between the two countries, noting that Kazakh entrepreneurs have invested approximately $620 million in Georgia.

Bektenov emphasized that Kazakhstan and Georgia are not only friendly nations but also reliable political and economic partners. He also pointed to the growing trust in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), with cargo transportation along the corridor increasing by 62% over the past year.

Kobakhidze Meets Tokayev: Strengthening Political and Economic Ties

On February 6, Kobakhidze met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss political and economic relations, regional challenges, and the further deepening of their partnership.

During the meeting, Kobakhidze expressed his appreciation for Kazakhstan’s support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President Tokayev congratulated Kobakhidze on his reappointment and praised Georgia’s strong economic performance, stating:

"I highly appreciate the significant progress Georgia has made in recent years."

He noted that Georgia achieved 9.4% economic growth in 2024, further reinforcing its economic stability.

The meeting was attended by several high-ranking Georgian officials, including:

• Levan Davitashvili – First Deputy Prime Minister
• Maka Bochorishvili – Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Levan Zhorzholiani – Head of Government Administration

Railway Cooperation and Middle Corridor Development

Following the meeting, Kobakhidze and Bektenov visited Kazakhstan Railways JSC, where they toured the facility and attended a presentation on the successful cooperation between the railways of Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

In 2024, railway freight turnover between Georgia and Kazakhstan reached a record 2.74 million tons.

The two countries also signed a roadmap for the development of the Middle Corridor, which outlines infrastructure improvements, process optimization, digitalization of transport routes, and a more attractive tariff policy by 2027.