Bridging Continents: Kazakhstan’s Agenda for the Budapest OTS Summit

1. What are Kazakhstan’s expectations for the upcoming informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), scheduled for May 21 in Budapest?

Kazakhstan views the informal summit format as a unique opportunity for frank and open dialogue among heads of state, free from the constraints of formal diplomatic protocol. Such settings often serve as incubators for breakthrough initiatives, as they foster direct engagement without multiple layers of mediation.

The choice of Budapest as the host city is also strategically significant. As the capital of an observer state in the OTS and a member of the European Union, Hungary serves as a natural bridge between the Turkic world and Europe. Since becoming an observer in 2018, Hungary has played an increasingly active role, and hosting the summit solidifies Budapest’s position as a gateway for OTS initiatives – particularly those related to transport connectivity and green innovation – aimed at European markets.

Furthermore, the summit comes at a strategically opportune moment. Following the adoption of the Karabakh Declaration in Shusha last year, which outlined a broad agenda focused on transport, connectivity, and environmental cooperation, the Budapest 2025 summit marks a transition from conceptual frameworks to concrete policy measures. Kazakhstan anticipates substantive discussions on regulatory mechanisms for the Middle Corridor, operationalization of the OTS Investment Fund, and the development of digital trade platforms.

2. What is the domestic and geopolitical context of Kazakhstan’s participation in the summit?

Kazakhstan enters the summit amid a phase of comprehensive internal reform. Over the past two years, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has initiated a sweeping modernization of the political system alongside a tax reform designed to incentivize high-value-added production. The reform’s core principle is simple and transparent: the higher the added value, the lower the fiscal burden.

This domestic agenda necessitates a foreign policy that ensures stable export routes and attracts quality foreign investment into processing industries, digital technologies, and sustainable «green» projects. The OTS is one of the few platforms where economic interests align with shared cultural and linguistic heritage, offering a favorable environment for such cooperation.

By 2025, Kazakhstan’s bilateral trade with Azerbaijan alone had reached USD 533 million – a nearly fivefold increase in five years. Simultaneously, cargo volumes along the Trans-Caspian route have surged to 4.5 million tons, up 62% year-over-year. These figures reflect the material benefits of Kazakhstan’s engagement in the Turkic integration track.

3. What are Kazakhstan’s key priorities at the Summit?
Kazakhstan’s priorities are centered on three interrelated areas:

a. Economic Integration and Investment Cooperation:
Kazakhstan considers the OTS a vital platform for aligning economic policies and advancing regional integration. A top priority is the full-scale operationalization of the Turkic Investment Fund, which is expected to support strategic projects in infrastructure, agriculture, digital transformation, and energy. Kazakhstan will also advocate for the simplification of trade procedures, removal of non-tariff barriers, and the development of regional value chains. Promoting joint export initiatives to external markets is another important focus.

b. Development of Transport and Logistics Infrastructure:
Kazakhstan sees the expansion of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (the Middle Corridor) as a strategic alternative to traditional East-West trade routes. At the summit, Kazakhstan aims to propose the synchronization of infrastructure projects, streamlining of customs and transit procedures, implementation of a unified digital window, and measures to enhance supply chain resilience. Proposals for further integration of maritime, rail, and road transport systems among OTS countries are expected.

c. Energy Cooperation and the Green Transition:
Kazakhstan is committed to leveraging the OTS framework to promote joint energy initiatives, particularly in renewable energy development, grid modernization, and energy security. Given global climate challenges, Kazakhstan will encourage the formation of transnational «green» clusters and the exchange of clean technologies across the OTS region.

4. What does Kazakhstan aim to achieve from the development of the Middle Corridor?

Kazakhstan seeks to establish itself as a central hub in the logistics chain connecting China, the South Caucasus, Turkey, and Europe. The Middle Corridor is not merely a transportation initiative but a geo-economic strategy aimed at diversifying trade routes and reducing dependency on traditional transit corridors.

Kazakhstan intends to capitalize on its geographical advantage by monetizing transit services and logistics infrastructure. Realizing this ambition will require significant investment in port modernization (notably Aktau and Kuryk), railway upgrades, the creation of logistics hubs, and the implementation of advanced digital transit solutions.

Additionally, the Middle Corridor offers Kazakhstan critical geopolitical flexibility by providing alternative export routes for key commodities—including oil, uranium, agricultural goods, and rare earth metals—bypassing Russia. Of particular importance is ensuring efficient delivery of Kazakhstani exports to Turkey and Southern Europe via the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan.

5. What institutional innovations is Kazakhstan proposing within the OTS framework?

Kazakhstan supports the introduction of a peer-review mechanism within the Organization of Turkic States to assess member progress on previously adopted initiatives. Under this model, each member state would present an annual progress report based on predefined indicators in areas such as transportation, trade, climate action, and digital governance. The goal is to enhance mutual accountability without adding unnecessary bureaucratic layers.

This concept is inspired by successful practices in the OECD, African Union, and WTO, where peer review has proven effective in fostering compliance, sharing best practices, and applying constructive peer pressure to encourage implementation.

Kazakhstan also advocates for the establishment of a permanent expert-analytical platform within the OTS. This body would unite leading research institutions and think tanks from across the member states to provide strategic foresight, situational monitoring, and policy recommendations. Its primary function would be to transform the OTS from a largely symbolic political forum into a dynamic, knowledge-driven organization capable of shaping long-term development strategies in key areas such as transport, energy, digitalization, and food security.

Such an analytical hub would serve as a strategic bridge between policymaking and expert knowledge, strengthening the institutional capacity and credibility of the OTS as a forward-looking regional actor.

Amirbek Alibi

Expert, Former-Diplomat