Full Breakdown
Belgium’s Royal Visit to Kazakhstan: Economic, Technological and Strategic Dimensions
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – State Visit in Early October 2026
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium will make their first state visit to Kazakhstan in early October 2026, accompanied by a 110-member delegation that includes four ministers, 25 CEOs, 10 university rectors and journalists. The itinerary covers Astana and Almaty and focuses on critical minerals, transport connectivity, artificial intelligence, health care and academic cooperation.
Background & Context
Belgium recognized Kazakhstan’s independence on December 31 1991 and established diplomatic relations on August 25 1992. King Philippe previously visited Kazakhstan three times as crown prince (2002, 2009, 2010). The current visit reflects Belgium’s effort to diversify partnerships amid European concerns about raw-material security.
Data & Statistics
- Bilateral trade reached $582.4 million in 2025, a 28 % increase year-on-year (Kazakh government).
- Kazakhstan exported $311.5 million to Belgium; imports from Belgium were $270.9 million.
- Belgian exports were dominated by pharmaceuticals (48.4 % of €292.5 million) and machinery.
- Kazakhstan’s main exports to Belgium were linseed (46.2 % of €74.6 million) and molybdenum ores (37.9 % of €61.1 million).
- Belgian foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan exceeded $14 billion from 2005-2025, with $1.045 billion in 2025 alone.
- Freight on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) has risen fivefold over six years, from 0.8 million to 4.1 million tons annually, with a target of 10 million tons.
Official Statements & Responses
Embassy officials highlighted Belgian interest in Kazakhstan’s critical minerals, noting molybdenum as a focus and announcing a special envoy for critical minerals who will follow up after the visit.
Ambassador Roman Vassilenko reported discussions with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges on training Kazakh port specialists and using Antwerp as a hub for Kazakh metals and agricultural goods.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stressed that “Central Asia is a strategically important region and opens real opportunities for Belgium.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Belgium, meanwhile, has a well-developed chemical industry, advanced metallurgical technologies and expertise in materials processing. This creates opportunities to move beyond trade in raw materials toward joint manufacturing projects that generate greater added value,” — Alisher Abdreshev, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies
- “Amid continued tensions between Russia and the West, the restructuring of global supply chains and growing competition for strategic resources, Europe is showing increasing interest in Central Asia,” — Alisher Abdreshev
Why It Matters – Strategic Implications
The visit aligns with the EU’s goal of diversifying sources of critical raw materials, many of which are abundant in Kazakhstan. Joint projects in metals processing, sustainable metallurgy and AI-driven research could shift bilateral trade toward higher-value manufacturing.
Transport cooperation centers on the Middle Corridor, where Belgian logistics firms such as Jan De Nul are already active in dredging Kazakh Caspian ports. Enhancing the corridor could reduce European reliance on traditional routes and shorten supply chains for minerals, petrochemicals and agricultural products.
Academic agreements with KU Leuven and Ghent University aim to create joint AI research labs and mirror facilities, fostering capacity building in digital twins, scientific computing and health-technology innovation.
What's Next
- Belgium plans to open an embassy in Uzbekistan next year and to tour all Central Asian countries in 2027.
- A Belgian special envoy for critical minerals will travel to Kazakhstan after the state visit to maintain momentum on joint projects.
- The roundtable at Nazarbayev University will convene CEOs and university leaders to finalize agreements on industrial research and AI education.
- Full texts of the signed agreements on joint research, AI, and health-care cooperation will be published after the visit.