Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aidarbek Saparov held a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov.

Aidarbek Saparov noted that cooperation in the agro-industrial complex is one of the priority areas of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The turnover of agricultural products in 2023 amounted to 1.7 billion US dollars, products worth 1.51 billion US dollars were exported to the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2023. In January-June 2024, the turnover amounted to 758 million US dollars, exports - 635.7 million US dollars.

“Uzbekistan is our key trading partner and we are interested in strengthening cooperation with you in crop and livestock production, expanding product exports.

This year, we have sown more than 23 million hectares of land, we expect a good grain harvest. In addition, the Food Corporation has more than 1 million tons of grain in its resources and is ready for deliveries.

Measures are being taken to increase the supply of meat products. Today, the register of exporting enterprises includes 80 Kazakhstani enterprises producing livestock products, 14 of them have been included this year, and more than 130 enterprises are waiting to be included," Aidarbek Saparov emphasized.

As part of the Roadmap, joint work is underway to implement investment agreements and trade contracts.

In particular, two projects for deep grain processing and vegetable oil refining are planned to be implemented on the territory of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation. A feedlot for 10 thousand heads of cattle and a meat processing complex with a capacity of 1,500 tons per day are being built in the Turkestan region.

At the development stage are projects for the development of the silkworm industry in the Turkestan region, joint cultivation of grain and fodder crops in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Of particular interest to the Kazakh side is Uzbekistan's experience in processing raw leather.

"There are 9 enterprises for primary leather processing in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Their capacity allows processing up to 3.3 million pieces of cattle hides and more than 4 million pieces of small cattle hides. However, the production facilities are loaded at only 20-30%. We are ready to support the creation of projects for processing hides.

Cooperation in the direction of cotton growing with the involvement of research institutes of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is no less promising for us," Aidarbek Saparov voiced a number of proposals.
We will add that work on the development of cotton growing in the country is already underway. This year, in order to improve the quality of raw cotton, about 1,500 tons of high-reproduction seeds were imported from Uzbekistan.

To develop the textile and clothing industry, together with Uzbek investors, it is planned to create a cotton-textile complex and a logistics hub in the Maktaaral district worth 21 billion tenge. The project capacity will be 160 thousand tons. The project will be launched in full cycle from 2026 to 2027.

"We support all proposals to strengthen cooperation and joint development of agriculture. There are many opportunities for this, there is huge potential and it must be used to the maximum. All points of the Roadmap have been implemented thanks to your support, there are good results in several areas.We are ready to consider cooperation in the processing of sunflower and skins,” said Ibrokhim Abdurakhmanov in turn.

At the end of the meeting, the ministers signed a memorandum on cooperation in growing grain and oilseed crops in Kazakhstan.

 

gov.kz

translated by Qazalem