Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will visit Kazakhstan from October 11 to 14, stopping in Astana and Almaty with a 110-member delegation. The group includes 25 chief executives, 10 university rectors and representatives from Belgium's federal and regional governments.
The trip approaches the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 20th anniversary of Belgium's embassy in Kazakhstan. It will be Philippe's first visit to Kazakhstan and Central Asia as head of state, following three earlier trips as crown prince.
The foreign ministries plan to sign a 2026-2029 roadmap, accompanied by academic and economic agreements. Belgium presents the relationship as part of a wider effort to diversify partnerships and strengthen its position in a region carrying greater geopolitical and commercial importance.
Bilateral trade rose from €220 million in 2016 to €765 million in 2025, more than tripling in less than a decade. Belgium is Kazakhstan's sixth-largest source of foreign direct investment, and more than 100 Belgian companies operate in chemicals, biopharma, energy and other sectors.
The fourth Kazakh-Belgian Business Council will focus on new opportunities in logistics and agriculture. The Trans-Caspian transport corridor is especially important because Kazakhstan anchors the route and Belgian companies are already participating in its development.
Critical minerals form another priority. Kazakhstan holds significant deposits and a growing mining industry, while Belgium offers expertise in processing and recycling, creating potential partnerships across extraction, industrial transformation, technical services and circular use.
Technology and research will receive equal attention. Kazakhstan declared 2026 its Year of Artificial Intelligence and opened the Alem.AI centre in Astana, where the royal delegation will join a dialogue involving authorities and university leaders from both countries.
Existing cooperation in nuclear medicine between the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty and Belgian partners provides a practical base for expansion. By connecting transport, resources, digital technology, health and education, the visit aims to convert ceremonial diplomacy into a multi-sector programme with measurable projects.
