Kazakhstan is stepping up its push into European markets. A new cultural and business center has opened in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, to help Kazakh manufacturers connect with international buyers, establish relationships with retail chains and attract investment, DKNews.kz reports.
According to QazTrade, the center officially opened on October 21, 2026. The project was initiated by Eurasia Group with the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Switzerland.
The center will focus on practical business opportunities, including direct negotiations with importers, finding international partners and promoting Kazakh products in foreign markets.
From food to metals: what Kazakhstan plans to export
The center will prioritize four key sectors: metallurgy, agriculture, food processing and chemicals.
Kazakh companies will be able to establish direct contacts with foreign importers and retail chains. Its activities will extend beyond Switzerland, with plans to promote Kazakhstan-made products in other international markets.
For manufacturers, direct access to potential buyers could simplify negotiations and help establish more efficient supply relationships.
However, opening a business center does not automatically translate into export contracts. Its success will depend on whether business meetings lead to actual trade agreements.
Switzerland has invested more than $36.5 billion in Kazakhstan
Economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Switzerland already has a substantial financial foundation.
Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Switzerland, K. Sarzhanov, said Swiss investment in Kazakhstan has exceeded $36.5 billion since 2005.
Bilateral trade reached $1.5 billion in 2025.
These figures highlight two distinct aspects of the relationship: accumulated investment and annual trade.
The new center aims to strengthen commercial ties by helping Kazakh businesses identify international customers and develop partnerships.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kazakhstan's Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, outlined another priority: attracting Swiss technologies and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Kazakhstan is seeking not only to increase exports but also to develop production expertise and pursue long-term joint projects.
An $88.5 million investor with John Deere production in Kazakhstan
Eurasia Group, the company behind the initiative, is already established in Kazakhstan's agricultural machinery market.
The group has invested $88.5 million in Kazakhstan, including spending on service infrastructure, equipment purchases and workforce training.
Since 2025, the company has organized local production of John Deere agricultural machinery.
This gives the center's initiator firsthand experience of Kazakhstan's market, extending beyond equipment sales to manufacturing operations and technical services.
M. Zakhin, president of Eurasia Group AG, explained the center's objectives and its intended role in connecting entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan and Switzerland.
For Kazakh manufacturers, access to partners familiar with international market requirements could make overseas expansion more manageable.
QazTrade to help Kazakh companies find international buyers
Nurlan Kulbatyrov, CEO of QazTrade, presented Kazakhstan's export and investment potential during the opening ceremony.
He also outlined existing support mechanisms available to domestic manufacturers seeking entry into the Swiss market.
The event brought together representatives of the Schaffhausen cantonal authorities, Kazakh and Swiss businesses, diplomats and members of the scientific community.
Swiss representatives expressed interest in cooperation with Kazakhstan in business, agriculture and agricultural processing.
These areas are particularly relevant to Kazakhstan's agricultural sector, as potential cooperation could extend beyond raw agricultural exports to projects involving food processing and value-added production.
However, no specific new contracts or projected export volumes were announced following the center's opening.
Kazakh culture will also be promoted in Schaffhausen
The center's activities will not be limited to trade and investment.
It will also promote Kazakhstan's history and culture while supporting scientific and educational exchanges between the two countries.
The opening ceremony featured traditional Kazakh music performed on the dombra and violin.
Guests were also introduced to national clothing designs by Kazakhstan's Tarbiya brand.
The cultural program complemented discussions on business cooperation, investment, education and research.
The next challenge will be turning these connections into concrete agreements and joint projects.
For now, the economic foundation is clear: more than $36.5 billion in Swiss investment since 2005 and $1.5 billion in bilateral trade in 2025.
We previously covered the economic ties between Kazakhstan and Switzerland and the sectors attracting investor interest.
