MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s visit to Kazakhstan is expected to give fresh momentum to bilateral economic relations and encourage the private sectors of both countries to build new commercial and investment partnerships across priority sectors.

Cooperation is being expanded in areas including food security, agriculture, transportation and logistics, energy, renewable energy, technology, industry and mining.

A major outcome was the establishment of the joint Omani-Kazakh Business Council between the chambers of commerce of the two countries, alongside agreements and memoranda of understanding covering trade, investment, renewable energy, oil and gas, mineral exploration and artificial intelligence.

The agreements were signed during the Omani-Kazakh Business Forum organised by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Astana.

The forum also witnessed contracts worth around $3 billion, according to Nikita Malchikov, head of the Kazakh side of the joint Omani-Kazakh Business Council, highlighting the scale of potential economic cooperation between the two countries.

Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the establishment of the Business Council represents an important step towards strengthening links between the two business communities and expanding trade and investment cooperation.

He said the forum enabled business owners from both sides to explore opportunities in sectors including transportation, logistics, food security and supply chains.

Both sides are also expected to meet in Oman next April to review progress and explore ways of translating the signed agreements into practical projects and initiatives.

Kazakh officials also highlighted the potential for using Omani ports as distribution and re-export hubs for Kazakh products, taking advantage of the Sultanate’s strategic location to reach regional and international markets.

One of the key initiatives announced was the establishment of the Oman-Kazakhstan Center for Artificial Intelligence in Mineral Exploration.

The centre aims to use artificial intelligence and advanced geological data analysis to improve mineral exploration, strengthen resource evaluation and accelerate the discovery of commercially viable mineral deposits in both countries.

The initiative is built around four main pillars: developing AI applications for mineral exploration, improving the use of geological data in decision-making, developing national capabilities in digital geology and data science, and strengthening cooperation with universities, research institutions and technology partners.

During the first phase, the two sides will implement two pilot AI-supported mineral exploration projects — one in Oman and another in Kazakhstan — while also developing an integrated geological data platform and launching training and knowledge-exchange programmes.

Engineer Matar bin Salim Al Badi, CEO of Oman Mining Development Company, said the cooperation represented a strategic move towards adopting advanced digital technologies in the mining sector while supporting knowledge transfer, technology localisation and the development of national expertise.

Vitaly Nesis, CEO of Solidcore Resources, said the initiative comes as Kazakhstan accelerates its digital transformation and reflects the growing use of artificial intelligence in identifying and evaluating mineral deposits.

Dr. Salem bin Abdullah Al Shanfari, head of the Omani side of the joint Business Council, said the council will work to identify trade and investment priorities and convert opportunities presented during the forum into sustainable business partnerships.

Meanwhile, Izzat Kapdershitov, Vice Chairman of Kazakh Invest, said meetings between business leaders from both countries will be important in developing a clear roadmap for implementing suitable projects.

Trade between Oman and Kazakhstan has already registered significant growth. According to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information, bilateral trade reached approximately RO 22.88 million during the first half of 2026.

Omani exports to Kazakhstan accounted for around RO 22.864 million by the end of June 2026, underscoring the growing momentum in economic ties between the two countries.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.