During his visit to Kazakhstan, Kobakhidze placed particular emphasis on the subjects of the Middle Corridor and energy

On 5-6 February 2025, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, accompanied by a government delegation, paid an official visit to Kazakhstan. During the visit, Kobakhidze met with President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev and also held meetings with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan in an extended format. The delegation from Georgia included ministers of economy, foreign affairs, regional development, ecology, education and sports.
During the meeting, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Prime Minister of Georgia addressed the political and economic relations between the two nations, as well as their fruitful collaboration in multiple domains. The positive dynamics of growth of trade turnover were noted, as well as the potential for further deepening of cooperation in the field of investment and tourism. Special attention was paid to the transit role and the importance of joint efforts in developing the Middle Corridor and strengthening regional connectivity. Kobakhidze stated that the enhancement of the partnership with Kazakhstan constitutes a priority of Georgia's foreign policy. He emphasised the historical and traditional foundations of friendship between the two countries and thanked Kazakhstan for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. In his remarks, Kasym-Jomart Tokayev acknowledged Georgia as a pivotal partner for Kazakhstan, lauding the country's economic advancement, which he noted had exhibited a 9.4% growth in its GDP the previous year. The two nations confirmed their intention to deepen political and economic cooperation.
Georgian Prime Minister Kobakhidze engaged in a bilateral meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Bektenov. The meeting was focused on the discussion of issues of bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on the development of trade and economic ties, the expansion of cooperation in the field of transport and logistics, and the transportation of oil and oil products. A particular emphasis was placed on the potential of the Midland Corridor, with discussions focusing on strategies to enhance its operational efficiency. It is anticipated that the capacity of this route will rise to 10 million tonnes per year by 2027.
In addition, Georgia and Kazakhstan signed a memorandum on cooperation in higher education and science, which, inter alia, envisages scholarship programmes for students of the two countries, exchange programmes, and the training and retraining of academic staff. The memorandum is intended to consolidate the partnership between Georgia and Kazakhstan in the domain of education. The document was formally endorsed by the ministers of education from both nations.
The visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to Kazakhstan was not merely a diplomatic gesture, but rather a significant step towards deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. The negotiations conducted focused on political support, augmented trade turnover, and the potential for collaboration, with the signed accords serving to substantiate the aspiration of Georgia and Kazakhstan to fortify their ties.
A salient issue of the deliberations pertained to the advancement of the Middle Corridor, a transportation route traversing Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, thereby establishing a conduit between Asia and Europe. The anticipated augmentation of its capacity to 10 million tonnes per annum by 2027 engenders novel economic opportunities for both nations. Kazakhstan stands to gain from the introduction of an alternative route for the export of goods, thereby reducing its reliance on existing routes. Georgia, for its part, is set to consolidate its position as a pivotal transit hub for the region.
A further salient issue addressed in the course of the talks was that of energy co-operation. Kazakhstan, with its substantial oil and gas reserves, is keen to augment energy transportation routes through Georgia. For Tbilisi, this means not only additional revenues from transit, but also increased geopolitical significance in the region.
The visit also yielded concrete results in the educational sphere, as evidenced by the signed memorandum on cooperation in higher education, which opens up opportunities for exchange programmes, scholarships and training. This initiative, far from being merely a diplomatic gesture, signifies a long-term investment in the development of human capital and the promotion of scientific exchange between the two nations.
In conclusion, Kobakhidze's visit to Astana demonstrated that Georgia and Kazakhstan are prepared not only to maintain the existing level of relations, but also to proactively cultivate partnership in strategic domains. The development of logistics, the strengthening of energy cooperation and the investment in education are not only steps towards rapprochement between the two states, but also contribute to the stability and economic growth of the entire region.
Elbrus Mamedov

SR-CENTER.INFO