The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a loan of up to $10 million to Empire Manufacturing Kazakhstan (EMK) to support the construction of a coffee-processing facility in the Khorgos Free Economic Zone, located on Kazakhstan’s border with China.
EMK is a subsidiary of Food Empire Holdings, a global food and beverage group listed on the Singapore Exchange. The new plant will enhance the company’s regional production capacity and is expected to set a new standard for food-processing technology and hygiene in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
Once operational, the facility will export up to 50 percent of its coffee products to markets across Central Asia and the South Caucasus, where demand for Food Empire’s instant beverages is on the rise.
The investment aligns with the EBRD’s broader strategy to support private sector growth in Kazakhstan. To date, the Bank has invested more than €11 billion in 335 projects across the country, with a strong emphasis on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
