The bilateral trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Belarus reached $912mn in 2023, as Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov revealed during his productive discussion with Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko.
Minister Bektenov arrived in Minsk to participate in a critical meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. The focus of his visit was to ensure the provision of high-quality and safe food products to the populations of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries.
Bektenov met with Golovchenko, to review and implement agreements reached between their two nations. Discussions covered a broad range of topics, including strengthening cooperation in trade, the economy, industry, agriculture, digitalization, as well as cultural and humanitarian interactions.
Both leaders explored measures to diversify trade flows and expand the range of supplied goods, with Kazakhstan ready to increase exports of 105 commodity items worth approximately $265mn.
A significant area of bilateral cooperation is joint projects in agricultural machinery. To date, 11 projects for the assembly of tractors, combines, and other equipment have been implemented, totaling over $200mn and creating 1,600 jobs. Both parties confirmed their commitment to continuing this multifaceted partnership to ensure dynamic development.
Bektenov also attended the International Exhibition "Belagro-2024," where he spoke at the plenary session on "Food Security of the Eurasian Economic Union." The session included participation from heads of government of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, and the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
In his address, Bektenov emphasized that providing the population with high-quality and safe food products remains a priority for Kazakhstan. As a leading producer of grain and flour in Central Asia, Kazakhstan leverages its agricultural potential to ensure global food stability.
Ranked among the top 25 global food exporters, Kazakhstan supplies agricultural products to 80 countries, including those in Central Asia and the EAEU. Over the past five years, Kazakhstan’s food exports have doubled, reaching $5.4bn.
"One of our strategic priorities is the development of the agro-industrial complex," Bektenov stated. "President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set a goal for the Government of Kazakhstan to elevate the agricultural sector to deep processing levels, fully meeting domestic needs while continuing to increase export volumes. Our country aims to double agricultural exports by 2026, focusing on highly processed products. We are interested in opening joint processing plants with localization in Kazakhstan."
Bektenov highlighted the EAEU member countries' potential to meet the food needs of about 600 mn people. He stressed the need to synchronize food supply approaches at national levels while considering the needs and interests of all member states.
"Establishing close cooperation to produce competitive, environmentally friendly, and export-oriented products that meet advanced international standards should be one of our priorities," Bektenov emphasized.
He also pointed to the potential of new logistics routes through Central Asia and increasing existing routes to China.
The prime minister addressed issues related to the loss of agricultural products due to logistics and storage challenges, strengthening the sustainability of agri-food systems, and considering expert assessments of global warming and seasonal risks like floods and droughts. Additionally, Bektenov underscored the importance of modern agricultural science and the introduction of innovations in the agro-industrial complex.
At the Belagro-2024 exhibition, Bektenov examined the national exposition of Kazakhstan, which showcased domestic agricultural machinery, including combines, tractors, and sprinkler equipment, as well as highly processed products from the agro-industrial complex. The exhibition also featured scientific achievements from Kazakh agricultural research institutes, such as drones for field cultivation and patents for breeding achievements, including four varieties of apples.
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