Kazakhstan to Chair EAEU in 2026, Prioritizing AI Integration and Economic Diversification

Effective January 2026, the Republic of Kazakhstan will formally assume the chairmanship of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) bodies, taking over the leadership role from the Republic of Belarus. Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has clearly outlined five primary areas of focus for the upcoming tenure. These strategic pillars are closely aligned with the long-term vision articulated in the Eurasian Economic Path Declaration, which extends through 2045. This leadership transition marks a significant moment as the EAEU enters its second decade, maintaining steady economic momentum despite prevailing global uncertainties.

The paramount priority championed by President Tokayev centers on embedding Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies as a novel catalyst for economic convergence among member states. The Head of State has proposed establishing an integrated, AI-driven system specifically designed for managing cargo flows across the EAEU. The fundamental objective here is twofold: to drastically reduce delivery timelines and to curb financial expenditures associated with logistics, thereby boosting the overall competitiveness of Eurasian transport corridors. Kazakhstan is actively positioning itself to share its advancements, offering partners the integration of its existing digital platforms, including the ongoing Smart Cargo pilot project and the digitalization of logistical documentation.

Furthermore, a key commitment for 2026 includes the signing of a Joint Statement on the Responsible Development of AI within the EAEU, which is scheduled to take place in Astana. This focus on cutting-edge technology underscores a commitment to modernizing the bloc’s operational framework and ensuring that technological progress is managed ethically and strategically across the union.

The second major strategic thrust involves positioning the EAEU as the continent’s premier logistics hub. Achieving this status demands a comprehensive overhaul and enhancement of the existing transport, logistics, and customs infrastructure. President Tokayev stressed the EAEU’s crucial role as a geopolitical bridge connecting the East and the West. He emphasized the necessity of ensuring unimpeded movement of goods by systematically dismantling administrative and bureaucratic hurdles. This ambition mirrors Kazakhstan’s domestic economic strategy, which runs until 2029 and heavily features the development of robust road and rail networks essential for efficient transit between China and Europe.

Simultaneously, alongside these integration efforts, Kazakhstan is deeply focused on its internal economic restructuring. The nation aims to double its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2029, targeting a total value of 450 billion US dollars. To realize this ambitious goal, which requires a substantial increase in fixed capital investment—from 41 billion dollars in 2024 to 103 billion dollars by 2029—the government is pursuing an aggressive growth policy. Key sectors identified to drive this expansion, beyond reducing reliance on oil and gas, include manufacturing, trade, and agriculture. GDP growth is projected to reach 5.4 percent in 2026. The National Infrastructure Plan through 2029 earmarks 204 distinct projects spanning energy, transportation, water supply, and digitalization. Moreover, the non-resource sector development concept for 2025–2040 seeks to elevate total processing capacity from the current 18 million tons annually to 39 million tons per year by 2040.

Beyond digital transformation and logistics supremacy, the agenda for Kazakhstan’s chairmanship encompasses securing duty-free trade arrangements and broadening the union’s external trade reach. This includes fostering deeper dialogue with nations in the Global South, Africa, and the Arab world. President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus expressed strong confidence that Astana’s leadership period will inject fresh momentum into the ongoing Eurasian economic integration process. The successful implementation of these declared measures is expected to significantly enhance the practical relevance of the EAEU, making it a more technologically advanced and operationally effective economic bloc.