Kazakhstan has closed its trade representative office in Russia

The government of Kazakhstan has closed its trade representative office in Russia, according to a resolution published in the reference bank of the country's regulatory legal acts. The measure will come into force as of the day of signing the document. Diplomats who worked in Russia will be sent to other countries.

Moscow and Astana signed an agreement on mutual establishment of trade missions in October 1992. Their purpose is to help exporters and distributors enter and secure a foothold in the partner country's market, attract foreign investment and promote goods and services. However, on 1 February 2023, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration considered that the trade mission in Russia should be abolished in order to optimise the work of state bodies.

At that time, the agency stated that the decision would not require denunciation of the intergovernmental agreement with Russia, and the "freed up units" working at the trade mission in Russia would be used to strengthen Kazakhstan's diplomatic presence in other countries.

At the same time, the Ministry of Trade stressed that Russia is still the main trade and economic partner of the republic, and reminded that there are about 8,000 companies with Russian participation and 3,348 joint ventures operating in Kazakhstan.