In Turkestan on 15 May, an informal summit of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) took place. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented seven initiatives in the areas of digitalisation, space and culture, calling technological transformation a priority for integration.
The summit was held at the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Tokayev awarded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the Qoja Ahmet Yasaui order - the highest Kazakh award, established this year.
KAZAKHSTAN AT THE ORIGINS OF TURKIC INTEGRATION
The OTS includes Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan was instrumental in founding the union: the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, established in 2009, was transformed into the OTS in 2021. Astana participated in the creation of its institutions, including the Turkic Parliamentary Assembly (TURKPA), the Turkic Academy and the Turkic Investment Fund, as well as in developing the "Turkic World Vision – 2040" strategy.
OTS ECONOMY: GROWTH EXISTS, POTENTIAL HIGHER
By the end of 2025, mutual trade reached $12.9 billion, the combined gross domestic product (GDP) exceeded $2.4 trillion, and average growth stood at 6.86%. However, intra-regional trade remains below potential. Kazakhstan consistently advocates for removing trade barriers, expanding non-commodity exports, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor, TITR) increased its transport volume from 0.8 to 4.5 million tonnes over seven years. Container traffic in 2025 amounted to approximately 77,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) (+36%). The target for 2029 is 300,000 TEUs. The route delivers cargo from China to Europe in 15 days.
INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
The financial instrument for integration is the Turkic Investment Fund with an authorised capital of $600 million, established in 2023 with the participation of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. The fund finances transport, trade, innovation and green projects. Tokayev called for intensifying its work and strengthening coordination with the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
THE PRESIDENT'S SEVEN PROPOSALS
Tokayev put forward seven specific initiatives for discussion.
In the trade sphere - mutual recognition of electronic documents and digital signatures. In the space sphere - expansion of joint projects on satellite communications, navigation and monitoring, including based on the experience of launching the scientific satellite "CubeSat-12U".
In the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and education, the President proposed creating a Network of Artificial Intelligence Centres of Turkic Countries, an annual programming Olympiad, grants for studying at the University of Artificial Intelligence and a joint Turkic AI hub based on Alem.ai.
In the humanitarian sphere - development of a Convention on the Preservation of the Heritage of Turkic Civilisation, a multilingual Digital Platform on the history and culture of Turkic peoples, as well as the establishment of a Centre of Turkic Civilisation in Turkestan.
CULTURE AND HUMANITARIAN COOPERATION
Kazakhstan supports initiatives to preserve shared historical and cultural heritage, academic exchanges and educational programmes. The key platform remains the Turkic Academy. To unify scientific terminology, Tokayev proposed creating an Interstate Terminology Commission.
KAZAKHSTAN AS A DIGITAL HUB FOR THE REGION
2025 has been declared the Year of Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan. The Alem.ai International AI Centre opened in Astana, supercomputers were launched, and the Digital Code and Law on Artificial Intelligence were adopted. A "Golden Visa" was introduced for foreign entrepreneurs and specialists.
NOT A MILITARY ALLIANCE
Tokayev stressed that the OTS is not a geopolitical or military project, but serves as a platform for trade, economic, high-tech, digital and cultural-humanitarian cooperation.
Kazakhstan supported Turkey's initiative on the "OTS+" format, aimed at expanding the circle of partners; however, the Head of State insists on clear criteria for joining this format.