Energy and Economy
 

German Logistics Firm Advances Plans for Middle Corridor Terminal in Aktau

German logistics company Rhenus Group and Aktau International Sea Trade Port advanced plans to develop a new multimodal container terminal during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to Germany. The planned terminal will cover at least 30 hectares and connect maritime, rail and road transport, providing at least 150,000 TEU of additional annual handling capacity at the Caspian port. Rhenus, which already operates across Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye and Uzbekistan, aims to integrate the terminal into a wider logistics network connecting China and Central Asia with Europe via the Middle Corridor. The project also supports the development of the route under the EU's Global Gateway initiative.

Source: The Astana Times

SOCAR Joins Eni in Capping Fuel Prices in Italy

Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR agreed to cap fuel prices at its network of Italian service stations as Italy seeks to limit rising energy costs. Through its subsidiary Italiana Petroli (IP), SOCAR will match Italian energy company Eni's maximum prices of €2.19 per litre for diesel and €1.99 for petrol. Eni and SOCAR together control more than 40 percent of Italy's fuel stations, giving the initiative potentially significant reach across the Italian market. SOCAR acquired IP from API Holding in 2025, giving the Azerbaijani company a major downstream presence in Italy and strengthening its position in the European energy market.

Source: Reuters

Kazakhstan and Belgium Explore Linking Caspian and European Ports

Kazakhstan and Belgium are exploring direct cooperation between the Belgian Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Kazakhstan's Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk as part of efforts to strengthen the Middle Corridor's European connections. Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Belgium Roman Vassilenko and port officials discussed multimodal logistics, port digitalisation, smart-port technologies, decarbonisation and training for Kazakh specialists. The two sides also considered using Antwerp as a European distribution hub for Kazakh metals, critical raw materials, petrochemicals and agricultural products, as well as a future framework agreement connecting Antwerp-Bruges with Aktau and Kuryk.

Source: Trend

Coventry University Expands Kazakhstan Campus

Coventry University Kazakhstan is expanding its presence in Astana with new facilities as British educational institutions deepen their role in the country. The university marked the next stage of its development with a capsule-laying ceremony attended by UK Trade Envoy to Central Asia and Azerbaijan Lord John Alderdice, Kazakhstan's Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek and Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the UK Alibek Bakayev. Student numbers have risen from 95 when the university opened in 2024 to more than 850, with applications also coming from neighbouring Central Asian countries. The expansion forms part of growing UK-Kazakhstan education ties, which also include partnerships involving Cardiff, De Montfort and Heriot-Watt universities and are supported by the new UK-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Source: The Times of Central Asia

World Bank Outlines Next Stage for Middle Corridor Development

The World Bank Group convened government and business representatives from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Türkiye for a Regional Connectivity Forum in Tbilisi focused on the next stage of Middle Corridor development. The Bank's new flagship report argues that coordinated infrastructure investment, digitalisation, streamlined border procedures and stronger regional institutions could increase freight volumes by 3.6 times and reduce travel times by two-thirds by 2040, while raising GDP across corridor countries by an estimated 3.3 percent. The World Bank Group currently has $7 billion committed to projects along the corridor, helping mobilise another $11.5 billion in private, government and development-partner financing, with a further $1.2 billion in projects under preparation.

Source: Georgia Today

UK Trade Envoy Discusses Investment and Economic Cooperation in Kyrgyzstan

UK Trade Envoy to Central Asia and Azerbaijan Lord John Alderdice met Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev in Bishkek to discuss expanding bilateral economic and investment ties. The talks focused on opportunities for joint projects and closer cooperation in finance and education, with Kasymaliev highlighting the recent intensification of UK-Kyrgyz relations and expressing interest in further high-level engagement. Both sides agreed to continue work on areas of mutual economic interest as the UK seeks to expand its commercial engagement across Central Asia.

Source: Open.kg

B5+ Italy Business Forum Launches in Astana

The inaugural Central Asia-Italy business forum took place on September 18 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Italy, already Kazakhstan's third largest trading partner, wants to expand ties with the entire region of Central Asia. Trade turnover between Italy and Kazakhstan reached almost $17 billion in 2025, of which the overwhelming majority was crude petroleum exports from Kazakhstan. The leaders present at the B5+Italy summit discussed trade diversification, business interactions between Italy and Central Asia, agriculture and critical minerals, and the creation of a direct flight path from Italy to Kazakhstan.
Source: Trend, OEC World

SOCAR Expands Energy Cooperation with German Companies

Azerbaijan's SOCAR signed new agreements with German energy companies SEFE and VNG aimed at expanding long-term energy cooperation with Europe's largest economy. An agreement with German state-owned SEFE covers natural gas and LNG supplies, energy infrastructure, upstream investment and energy security, building on a 10-year deal under which SOCAR will gradually supply up to 1.5 billion cubic metres of gas annually to SEFE in Europe. SOCAR also signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with VNG covering natural gas, related infrastructure and regulatory issues, as well as cooperation on the energy transition, hydrogen and its derivatives. The agreements further deepen Azerbaijan's role in Germany's diversification of energy supplies while expanding cooperation into lower-carbon energy technologies.

Source: Trend – SOCAR and SEFE, Trend – SOCAR and VNG

Politics and Security

Tokayev Visits Germany as Economic and Strategic Ties Deepen

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited Berlin on September 29 for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz focused on expanding economic cooperation as well as the war in Ukraine and Kazakhstan's relations with Russia. More than 30 commercial agreements worth around $2 billion were announced during the visit. Tokayev offered to expand supplies of critical minerals and oil to Germany and called for deeper cooperation in industry, transport and logistics, technology and joint mineral-processing value chains. The two sides also agreed on a roadmap to strengthen cooperation in industry, technology and raw materials. 

Source: The Times of Central Asia, Kursiv, German Federal Government

UK and Azerbaijan Seek to Deepen Defence Cooperation

UK Minister of State for Defence Lord Vernon Coaker visited Azerbaijan to advance bilateral defence and security cooperation, building on his first visit to Baku in December 2025. Coaker met President Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijani defence officials, with discussions covering security, military cooperation and opportunities for closer defence-industry ties. The visit coincided with the ADEX 2026 defence exhibition, where 18 British companies participated for the first time under a UK Ministry of Defence pavilion. Aliyev highlighted opportunities for cooperation with British companies on modern defence equipment and potential joint ventures in Azerbaijan, while Coaker said defence cooperation would form part of a broader UK-Azerbaijan strategic partnership encompassing security, economic growth and innovation.

Source: Report.az

EU Council Delegation Visits Karabakh

A delegation from the Council of the European Union's Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) visited Shusha, Khankendi and Aghdam on October 2 to observe reconstruction and development in areas affected by the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. In Shusha, the delegation visited religious and cultural sites before travelling to Khankendi, where members were briefed on reconstruction, resettlement and the development of Karabakh University. In Aghdam, the delegation observed demining operations and received briefings from Azerbaijan's mine-action authorities and government representatives on reconstruction and the issue of missing persons. The visit follows increased EU diplomatic engagement with both Azerbaijan and Armenia following progress in the bilateral peace process.

Source: AZERTAC