Kazakhstan is increasingly positioning its agricultural sector not only as a pillar of the domestic economy, but as a key contributor to global food security. This message was clearly articulated in Dubai during a roundtable discussion on agro-industrial exports and investment attraction, chaired by Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov, DKNews.kz reports.
The meeting brought together representatives of Kazakhstan’s agribusiness sector and business communities from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, and China. The format was pragmatic and business-oriented, focusing on concrete figures, markets, and future projects rather than abstract declarations.
Why Dubai and Gulfood Matter
The roundtable was held as part of the minister’s working visit to Dubai and Kazakhstan’s participation in Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest international exhibition for the food and beverage industry. For Kazakhstan, Gulfood is more than an exhibition - it is a platform where long-term partnerships and large-scale commercial agreements are formed.
Aidarbek Saparov highlighted the strategic importance of the UAE for Kazakhstan, noting that agriculture remains one of the key pillars of bilateral trade, economic, and investment relations.
According to him, trade turnover in agro-industrial products between Kazakhstan and the UAE increased by nearly 7 percent over the first 11 months of 2025. This growth reflects a strong mutual interest in expanding cooperation.
What Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Sector Looks Like Today
Foreign business representatives were presented with Kazakhstan’s real agricultural potential. By the end of 2025, the country’s gross agricultural output increased by 5.9 percent, reaching approximately 20 billion US dollars.
One of the main drivers of this growth has been a sharp increase in state support. Over the past five years, concessional financing for the sector has grown tenfold, reaching 3 billion US dollars in 2025. Authorities plan to raise this figure to 4 billion US dollars in the coming years.
Record Harvests and Export Growth
State support and the introduction of modern agricultural technologies have delivered tangible results. Over the past two years, Kazakhstan has harvested record volumes:
- about 27 million tons of grain,
- 4.8 million tons of oilseeds,
- more than 1 million tons of legumes.
In the last marketing year, grain exports reached 15.3 million tons, up 70 percent compared to the previous year. This is the highest figure recorded in the past 20 years.
Expanding Export Geography
Transport cost subsidies have allowed Kazakhstan to significantly expand its export geography. Alongside traditional markets such as Central Asia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran, new destinations are opening in North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
Today, Kazakh agricultural products are exported to more than 70 countries worldwide.
Kazakhstan also holds strong positions in global rankings:
- 10th place in grain exports,
- 2nd place in flour exports, with 1.7 million tons,
- 8th place in sunflower oil exports, with 600 thousand tons.
Over the past five years, Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports have doubled and exceeded 6 billion US dollars.
Meat Becomes a New Export Driver
The livestock sector is also demonstrating steady growth. In 2025, Kazakhstan exported 91.3 thousand tons of meat for the first time, including 29.4 thousand tons of lamb. The country’s Comprehensive Livestock Development Plan aims to double meat export volumes in the coming years.
Why Investors Are Paying Attention
Investment activity in the agro-industrial complex continues to rise. Investments in fixed capital increased by 53 percent, reaching 3.2 billion US dollars.
Kazakhstan is increasingly becoming a platform for the expansion of international food and agricultural companies, offering not only capital opportunities but also access to technologies, logistics, and global supply chains.
As Aidarbek Saparov emphasized, Kazakhstan views food security not only as a domestic priority, but as a contribution to global stability. The country is focused on long-term international cooperation, logistics development, and ensuring transparent and sustainable supply chains.
Concrete Results, Not Just Talks
The key outcome of the roundtable was the signing of commercial documents. Around 20 cooperation agreements worth a total of 335 million US dollars were signed following the meeting.
Participants expressed confidence that these agreements will serve as a solid foundation for further expansion of trade, economic, and investment cooperation, while also strengthening international partnerships in the field of food security.
