Kazakhstan and Belgium adopt a 2027–2029 roadmap, with visa-free travel for Benelux from November 1

At the Press Club Brussels Europe in Brussels, a briefing on the practical outcomes of October's state visit by Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to Kazakhstan was held on October 23. Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of Mission to the EU, Roman Vassilenko, gave the briefing, Kazakhstan Today reports, citing Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Deputy Director of the Central Asia and Caucasus Department at Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gommaar Dubois and Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of the European Council Marilyn Josephson also took part, The Astana Times writes.

The visit's main practical outcome is a cooperation roadmap for 2027–2029, signed by the two countries' foreign ministries in addition to the joint statement by the two heads of state. In total, 40 documents were announced during the visit: 16 commercial agreements and 22 agreements between universities and research institutions.

Briefing participants also confirmed the exact date the visa-free entry agreement for holders of service passports between Kazakhstan and the Benelux countries takes effect — November 1. According to Dubois, this should ease regular official contacts, including with EU institutions.

Among the areas the sides consider priorities for the coming years are partnership between the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Kazakhstan's ports of Aktau and Kuryk, processing of critical raw materials, and joint research and artificial intelligence. Vassilenko noted that trade between Kazakhstan and the EU exceeded $45 billion in 2025, while Josephson called the Trans-Caspian international route a flagship project of the EU's Global Gateway initiative: unlocking its potential, she said, will require investment in rail and port infrastructure and logistics hubs, as well as simpler border and trade procedures.

Why this matters for Chamber members. The 2027–2029 roadmap and the specific date for visa-free travel turn October's agreements from protocol language into a working timeline with clear deadlines. For Benelux businesses, this means more regular official travel without visa delays, while for companies already working with the ports of Aktau and Kuryk or with critical raw materials processing, it confirms these areas will stay in focus for the next three years.

Photo: Press Club Brussels Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.