On January 8, 2026, Astana hosted the 3rd General Assembly of the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry (TCCI). The event gathered leaders from national chambers of commerce and industry, government officials, and business representatives from across the Turkic world.
Established in 2019 with its permanent secretariat in Istanbul, the TCCI serves as an international platform to foster trade, industrial, investment, technological, and broader economic ties among member states and observers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Current full members include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and—following a key decision at this assembly—Hungary.
The assembly featured an official plenary session with opening addresses from government and international representatives, a closed General Assembly session, and business-to-business (B2B) meetings among delegation heads.
Raimbek Batalov, Chairman of the Presidium of Kazakhstan’s National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken,” highlighted the vast potential of the Turkic economic space, which encompasses over 180 million people and substantial industrial and resource capabilities. He noted that intra-regional trade currently represents less than 10% of total trade volume, underscoring significant opportunities for growth and deeper cooperation.
A historic milestone was reached when the TCCI presidency was transferred to Kazakhstan for the first time, marking the start of its chairmanship in 2026.
In this regard, the Assembly participants discussed key areas of cooperation for the coming period. Among the priorities are the development of industrial cooperation and joint projects, the activation of the instruments of the Turkic Investment Fund, the reduction of trade and technical barriers, as well as the strengthening of transport and logistics connectivity, including the development of international routes and logistics corridors.
The assembly also confirmed the establishment of specialized committees within the TCCI, such as the Logistics Committee and the Committee of Young Entrepreneurs.
Participants of the 3rd TCCI General Assembly met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture of Kazakhstan
Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva met with participants of the 3rd General Assembly of TCCI.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the business circles of the Turkic world, including R. Batalov (Atameken, Kazakhstan), M. Karimsakov (Foreign Trade Chamber, Kazakhstan), B. Amreev (Turkic Investment Fund), M. Bashkurt (Union of Municipalities of the Turkic World), A. Kula (Union of the Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry), V. Zeynalov (Azerbaijan), M. Bakirov (Kyrgyzstan), M. Gurdov (Turkmenistan), A. Shaikhov (Uzbekistan) and others.
Discussions focused on strengthening economic cooperation among Turkic states, expanding trade relations, and fostering ties between business communities. Balayeva emphasized the TCCI’s role as a vital platform for advancing shared economic interests and turning intergovernmental agreements into concrete projects.
Particular attention was given to accelerating activities under the Turkic Investment Fund, seen as a cornerstone for investment partnerships. Topics also included tourism development in Turkic-speaking countries, improvements in transport and logistics, industrial collaboration, digitalization, and the adoption of innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to further deepen economic integration within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States and to develop practical cooperation with partner countries. ///nCa, 9 January 2026