Abstract
The article assesses the evolution of Kazakhstan’s role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (hereinafter – SCO) between 2001 and 2025, focusing on the economic and institutional effects of the country’s participation. The objective is to examine how tools of multilateral foreign policy and economic diplomacy have been converted into measurable outcomes such as trade, investment, and institutional initiatives. Methodologically, the research relies on event analysis (timeline of key decisions and chairmanship periods), content analysis of SCO communiqués and decisions as well as national strategies, descriptive statistics on foreign trade and FDI, and comparative analysis across stages. The empirical base includes official foreign trade statistics from the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan for 2021–2024, government press releases, and open materials from SCO summits and leaders’ statements. Key results: in 2023, Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover reached USD 139.8 billion, 3.2% higher than in 2022; trade with SCO countries grew by 7.5% year-on-year; more than 29,000 companies with SCO capital and over 5,000 joint ventures operate in the country. In the cultural sphere, Kazakhstan has become an important hub of bilateral cultural exchange. Its foreign policy is based on balanced and pragmatic multilateralism, using the SCO to enhance its international reputation. However, the expansion of the organisation’s membership creates internal coordination challenges and intensifies geopolitical competition.