**Kazakhstan and Georgia Strengthen Economic Ties Through BTC Pipeline Talks in Astana**
In a significant development for regional energy and economic cooperation, Kazakhstan and Georgia have agreed to enhance their collaboration, focusing on increasing oil exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. This agreement emerged from high-level discussions held in Astana, where Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
During the talks, both leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties, which encompass not only oil exports but also agricultural development, investment expansion, and digital services. Tokayev highlighted the strategic significance of the BTC pipeline, stating, "We plan to increase oil shipments through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Work is already underway within the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, and I hope today’s meeting will help set new priorities for the future."
Kazakhstan's initiative to boost oil exports through the BTC pipeline aligns with its broader strategy to diversify export routes, particularly through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. This corridor has seen a remarkable increase in transit volumes, growing nearly fourfold over the past five years. By 2029, Kazakhstan anticipates operating up to 3,000 container trains annually along this route, which connects China to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
As part of this strategic partnership, Kazakhstan aims to expand its presence in Georgia's Black Sea ports. The country is already involved with the Batumi oil terminal, owned by KazTransOil, and is enhancing logistics infrastructure in Poti, where a new multimodal terminal was inaugurated last year with Kazakh investment. Additionally, the future deep-sea port of Anaklia has been identified as a promising project for collaboration.
The economic relationship between Kazakhstan and Georgia has shown substantial growth, with bilateral trade reaching $184.5 million in 2025. The first four months of 2026 alone accounted for $53 million in trade. Currently, over 600 companies with Georgian participation operate in Kazakhstan, and 14 organizations are registered at the Astana International Financial Centre. Tokayev noted, "Trade and investment remain the foundation of Kazakhstan-Georgia relations. Despite global uncertainty, bilateral trade still has significant room for growth."
Kazakhstan has invested over $500 million in Georgia's economy, establishing itself as one of the largest investors in the country. In light of this, Tokayev proposed the development of a bilateral roadmap that would focus on energy, transport, investment, agriculture, digitalization, and tourism. The two nations also agreed to expand trade in agricultural products, with Kazakhstan aiming to increase exports of grain, flour, vegetable oils, pasta, meat, dairy products, and confectionery to Georgia. In 2025, trade in agricultural goods increased by 77%, surpassing $116 million.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze acknowledged the importance of Kazakhstan as a partner for Georgia, expressing optimism about the strategic partnership and the potential for expanded cooperation across various sectors.
In addition to economic discussions, the two governments committed to enhancing cooperation in digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI). They agreed to share expertise in e-government services, GovTech solutions, and digital public services. Kazakhstan also welcomed the involvement of Georgian start-ups and technology firms in initiatives such as the Astana Hub.
Tourism was another focal point of the discussions, with around 180,000 Kazakh tourists visiting Georgia annually. Direct flights operate from several Kazakh cities, including Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Aktau, and Atyrau to Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi. Tokayev proposed the organization of reciprocal cultural festivals to further strengthen ties between the two nations.
The visit concluded with the signing of a Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership, along with three memoranda that cover cooperation in culture, AI and digital development, and tourism. This agreement marks a significant step in fostering closer relations between Kazakhstan and Georgia, with both countries poised to benefit from enhanced economic collaboration and strategic partnerships in the coming years.