Kazakhstan has secured $436 million in agreements with Italy. The deals could give Kazakh exporters greater access to European buyers while laying the groundwork for joint manufacturing projects involving Italian technology, DKNews.kz reports.
The agreements were signed during a trade and economic mission in Rome on October 8, 2026, according to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration. The event brought together a Kazakh delegation and representatives of more than 70 Italian companies.
But the most significant development may go beyond the value of the agreements. Kazakhstan is seeking to move from supplying raw materials to developing higher-value products with European partners.
$436 million in agreements, but implementation comes next
The business mission was led by Kazakhstan's Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, and organized jointly with QazTrade, the country's trade policy development center.
Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Italy, Yerbolat Sembayev, also attended.
The delegation included businesses from agriculture, food processing, textiles, oil and gas, petrochemicals, mechanical engineering, construction, innovative technologies and services.
Business-to-business negotiations focused on direct supplies, industrial partnerships and joint projects.
The talks resulted in bilateral cooperation documents worth a combined $436 million.
That figure represents the announced value of the agreements, rather than confirmed export revenue or investment already delivered. The ministry's announcement did not provide a breakdown by company, project or implementation schedule.
For Kazakh businesses, the immediate challenge is therefore turning the agreements into actual contracts, deliveries and production partnerships.
Kazakhstan wants its food products on Italian supermarket shelves
One of the mission's most commercially relevant discussions took place outside the main negotiating venue.
Kazakhstan's representatives met with Coop Italia, one of Italy's largest cooperative retail networks, to explore opportunities for bringing Kazakh food products into Italian stores.
The discussions focused on establishing direct commercial relationships and expanding access to retail distribution channels.
Agricultural exports were a particular priority, including grain and processed grain products.
For Kazakhstan's agricultural producers, entering established Italian retail networks could provide another route to European consumers. It could also help exporters diversify beyond existing markets.
However, the talks with Coop Italia were exploratory. The announcement did not confirm any supply contracts, product listings or launch dates.
The distinction matters: gaining access to a major retail chain requires commercial agreements, while the Rome meeting established a basis for further negotiations.
Italian technology could support manufacturing in Kazakhstan
Beyond food exports, the two countries discussed a broader industrial ambition under the concept "Made with Italy in Kazakhstan."
The idea is to combine Italian industrial expertise and technology with Kazakhstan's production capacity and natural resources.
Instead of relying exclusively on the export of raw materials, Kazakhstan wants to encourage manufacturing that generates greater added value domestically.
Potential cooperation spans industries represented at the mission, including machinery, petrochemicals and other manufacturing sectors.
Shakkaliyev emphasized that expanding trade should also strengthen the competitiveness of Kazakh businesses.
"Kazakhstan is consistently strengthening its position in international trade by creating new opportunities for domestic businesses. Our priority is not merely to expand the geography of exports, but to build sustainable trade relationships, develop industrial cooperation and improve the competitiveness of Kazakh products in global markets," said Arman Shakkaliyev, Kazakhstan's Minister of Trade and Integration.
The proposal could be especially relevant to Kazakh manufacturers seeking access to European production expertise.
Still, the ministry did not identify specific factories or investment commitments under the "Made with Italy in Kazakhstan" concept.
The Trans-Caspian route enters the trade negotiations
Transport infrastructure was another major topic in Rome.
During the roundtable titled "Italy–Kazakhstan: Strategic Dialogue and Prospects for Cooperation," officials and business representatives examined how to strengthen supply chains connecting Kazakhstan, Italy and the wider Central Asian region.
Particular attention went to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, an important corridor linking Asia and Europe.
Participants also discussed digital technologies that could improve logistics efficiency.
For exporters, transport arrangements are directly linked to the commercial viability of European deliveries. Reliable logistics can influence delivery schedules, costs and the ability to maintain long-term relationships with foreign buyers.
The discussion reflects a wider effort to connect industrial cooperation with the infrastructure needed to move finished products between markets.
No specific new transport investments or logistics contracts were announced as part of the roundtable.
More than 70 Italian companies joined the talks
The level of Italian business participation highlighted the range of commercial contacts established during the mission.
Representatives of more than 70 companies attended discussions covering trade, industrial cooperation, investment and joint manufacturing.
The Rome talks also followed earlier efforts to expand the economic relationship.
In September 2026, Kazakhstan and Italy launched the B5+ITALY business platform, aimed at strengthening cooperation between Italian businesses and Central Asian economies.
That initiative emphasized technology transfer, industrial partnerships and regional logistics.
The October agreements add a new set of commercial commitments to this broader agenda.
The next milestone is the Kazakhstan–Italy forum in 2027
Both countries are already preparing for the Kazakhstan–Italy Forum scheduled for 2027.
During the Rome roundtable, participants discussed priority areas for further cooperation ahead of the event, including investment, manufacturing and transport connectivity.
QazTrade will continue supporting the agreements reached in Italy and helping Kazakh companies develop export deliveries and establish long-term business relationships.
The $436 million figure gives the Rome mission a substantial headline. Its commercial significance will depend on how much of that value translates into completed transactions and operational projects.
The immediate focus now shifts from negotiations to implementation, particularly for agricultural exporters seeking Italian buyers and manufacturers interested in working with European technology partners.
Earlier, we reported on Kazakhstan's $307.5 million additional export potential in Italy, including opportunities in metallurgy, petrochemicals, food processing, chemicals and mechanical engineering.
