A delegation from Turkmenistan’s Balkan province, led by the governor Khojamyrat Ashirmyradov, paid a visit to Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region. During the visit, a meeting was held on 28 August with the Akim (governor) of the region, Nurdaulet Kilybay.
“The mutual visits of our heads of state are a clear testament to the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and pave the way for the development of multifaceted cooperation,” Kilybay emphasized.
The head of the Mangystau region, which borders the Balkan province, expressed readiness to support the partnership across all sectors.
“There is great potential in the oil and gas sector, logistics, agriculture, culture, and tourism. The key is to start implementing concrete projects and work effectively. We are ready for this,” he noted.
The parties also supported the initiative to restore a 5-day visa-free regime for residents of border areas, noting that this would strengthen humanitarian, cultural, and economic ties.
Following the meeting, the delegations expressed their intention to jointly implement specific measures aimed at deepening interregional cooperation.
In the first half of 2025, trade turnover between the Mangystau region and Turkmenistan reached $9.2 million, a 19% increase compared to the same period last year. Exports accounted for $2 million and imports for $7.2 million. Additionally, the region hosts 20 joint ventures with Turkmen capital, primarily engaged in the sale of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal, civil construction, and the production of building stone. Currently, 35 students from Turkmenistan are studying in the region.