2nd business seminar on investment opportunities in Central Asia held in Swedish parliament
The second business seminar dedicated to the investment potential of the Central Asian countries was held at the Parliament of Sweden (Riksdag). The event was organized by Björn Söder, Chairman of the Sweden – Central Asia Friendship Group, in cooperation with the Embassies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in Sweden, El.kz cites Kazakh FM.
The seminar served as a continuation of the dialogue initiated in 2024, bringing together members of parliament, representatives of government bodies, business circles, and think tanks from Sweden, and reaffirmed a growing interest in expanding trade and economic cooperation with Central Asia.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Söder emphasized the increasing strategic importance of the region, which boasts rich natural resources, a favorable geographic location, and a growing demographic potential. According to him, Central Asia is becoming an increasingly attractive partner for trade and investment.
In his address, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Sweden, Olzhas Suleimenov, highlighted the large-scale political and socio-economic reforms being implemented in Kazakhstan, which contribute to strengthening international trust and enhancing the country’s investment climate. Therefore, Central Asia is becoming more prominent and accessible – not least due to digital transformation and the development of key transport routes such as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITR), connecting China and Europe through Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea.
He underlined the importance of recent high-level engagements, such as the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Astana, as well as the “CA-Italy” and “EU-CA” summits held in 2025, as clear signs of Europe’s growing interest in the region. The Ambassador highlighted the successful activities of leading Swedish companies in Kazakhstan, such as Ericsson, Scania, Volvo, AstraZeneca, Epiroc, ABB and others, and given the huge untapped potential, stressed the importance of bringing cooperation between the two countries to a new level by inviting Swedish businesses to implement promising mutually beneficial projects.
The seminar also featured presentations from the private sector. A representative from Ericsson highlighted Kazakhstan’s high level of digitalization and strong potential in high-tech industries and shared the company’s long-standing experience in the mining sector, stressing the country’s stability, consistent development policies, and favorable investment climate. Special attention was given to the company’s cooperation with Kazakhstani universities, viewed as a long-term investment in talent development and a solid foundation for sustainable partnerships.
An analytical perspective was provided by Svante Cornell, Director of the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), and Johan Engvall, Head of Analysis at the Swedish Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS). They discussed the transformation of Central Asia into a region of emerging “Middle powers” and called for a shift in perception within Swedish political and business communities. Central Asia, they argued, should be seen as a region with a proactive foreign policy, growing agency, and increasing relevance for the EU in areas such as trade, logistics, and critical raw materials.
The seminar marked another step toward building a stable and mutually beneficial platform for cooperation between Sweden and the countries of Central Asia. The organizers expressed confidence that the regular organization of such events would strengthen dialogue and help advance concrete investment projects.
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