Kazakhstan has closed its trade representative office in Russia, as outlined by the government decree on issues related to the Ministry of Trade and Integration. The decree becomes effective on the date of its signing. It states that the state agency known as the Trade Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation will be dissolved.
The decision to wind down the sales office was made on February 1, with the Ministry explaining it as a step to optimize state operations while maintaining strong, cooperative ties with Russia.
For Kazakhstani businesses, the ministry notes that the country has established all the necessary institutional conditions to operate successfully in the Russian market. In this context, staff from the trade delegation will be redeployed to strengthen Astana’s diplomatic presence in other nations.
Historically, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement to establish mutual representative offices in October 1992. The Kazakh Trade Representation in the Russian Federation opened in Moscow in 2009 and maintains a branch in Kazan. The duties of the Kazakh trade representative in Russia continue to be performed by Damir Adilbekov.
The Trade Representative serves to assist Kazakhstan’s businesses in navigating the Russian market and to attract foreign investment into Kazakhstan.
Continued cooperation
Yerulan Zhamaubayev, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced the decision as part of a broader optimization effort. He noted that participation in the Eurasian Economic Commission framework enables full, multi-country coordination and cooperation.
He added that the Kazakh representation in Moscow remains staffed with capable professionals across all sectors, including commerce, who can address questions on the spot. He also highlighted that the Kazakh Embassy continues to operate in Moscow, with sufficient personnel to resolve essential matters.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration affirmed that closing the trade delegation will not hinder overall trade and economic cooperation. The ministry stated that commercial and economic collaboration with the Russian Federation will proceed through the QazTrade Trade Policy Development Center JSC and its partner network, established in major cities and regions. It was reminded that Russia is a key economic partner, with thousands of companies and thousands of joint ventures active in Kazakhstan.
Russian trade mission to Kazakhstan
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova previously stated that Russia does not intend to close its trade representation in Kazakhstan in response to Kazakhstan’s actions. She emphasized that the matter had not been discussed as a formal decision, and that cooperation would continue under existing mutual representation agreements. Russian officials pledged to uphold all interstate mechanisms needed to support Russian enterprises operating in Kazakhstan.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, speaking in early February, urged not to overstate the issue. He argued that each country determines its own approach to structuring relations and that the move could enhance overall efficiency. In the period from January to November 2022, trade between the two countries reached 23.6 billion dollars, up 6.8 percent from the previous year.
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