Our People > Dmitry Pokidaev

Dmitry Pokidaev

Journalist

Dmitry Pokidaev is a journalist based in Astana, Kazakhstan, with experience at some of the country's top media outlets. Before his career in journalism, Pokidaev worked as an academic, teaching Russian language and literature.

Articles

Labor Migration

Kazakhstan Prepares New Visa System for Migrant Workers and Investors

Kazakhstan is preparing to introduce a differentiated visa system for foreign workers and investors as authorities seek to attract highly skilled specialists while tightening oversight of labor migration. The new migration model was presented by Yerbol Tuyakbayev, first vice minister of labor and social protection during a roundtable discussion at the Center for Labor Resources Development. According to Tuyakbayev, the government plans to divide foreign nationals coming to Kazakhstan for work into four categories: business immigrants, highly qualified specialists, mid-level skilled workers, and labor migrants hired by private households for domestic work. “Each category will have a separate visa regime based on the purpose of entry, qualification level, and duration of stay,” Tuyakbayev said. A central element of the reform will be the possibility of transitioning from a temporary work or investment visa to long-term resident status. According to officials, holders of such status would gain access to a range of rights and services similar to those available to citizens of Kazakhstan, including tax incentives, financial services, healthcare, and education. Authorities also plan to simplify administrative procedures for foreigners, reduce application processing times, and introduce a “single-window” system. As part of the reform, Kazakhstan plans to launch the QazETA digital platform, which will include an e-Residency module and a separate e-Residency Invest program. The new system will also include the Altyn Visa, or “Golden Visa,” program, aimed at investors, entrepreneurs, and highly qualified specialists. The government expects the initiative to become one of the key tools of Kazakhstan’s new migration policy and to help retain both international talent and investment capital. The Altyn Visa program is expected to launch before the end of 2026. Experts say Kazakhstan is attempting to strengthen its position in the competition for global talent amid worldwide shortages of qualified labor and growing migration mobility across Eurasia. Anna Alshanskaya, head of economic policy analysis at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, said the country has the potential to take a “proactive position” as a regional hub for attracting specialists. The initiative has also received support from the International Organization for Migration. Aliya Belonosova, acting head of the organization’s mission in Kazakhstan, said the new system would create additional opportunities not only for attracting international specialists and investment, but also for preparing Kazakhstan’s youth for the labor market of the future. The migration reform comes amid growing demand for foreign labor in Kazakhstan. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Chinese citizens currently make up the largest group of migrant workers in the country.

2 weeks ago

Alatau City

Kazakhstan Plans to Power New Alatau City With Gas and Renewable Energy

Kazakhstan plans to power the future megacity of Alatau City near Almaty through a combination of gas-fired generation and renewable sources, as authorities seek to address chronic electricity shortages in the country’s south while creating a low-carbon “smart city” model. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev outlined the government’s energy strategy for the project during a briefing in Astana. According to him, Alatau City’s population could reach between 2.8 million and 3 million people by 2050, roughly equivalent to the current population of Almaty. “We expect that Alatau City will rely primarily on gas generation, given the area’s relatively low population density, along with renewable energy facilities,” Bozumbayev said. The new city is being developed on the site of the village of Zhetygen, approximately 50 kilometers from Almaty. The project will also encompass the settlements of Enbek, Zhanaarna and Kuigan, as well as parts of Konaev and the Talgar district in the Almaty Region. Authorities envision Alatau City as a future hub for technology companies, logistics and export-oriented industry. Under the current concept, the city will be divided into four functional districts: the financial and business-oriented Gate District, the educational and medical Golden District, the industrial Growing District, and the entertainment-focused Green District. The government expects rapid growth in both population and industrial activity to drive a sharp increase in electricity consumption. According to official estimates, electricity demand in Alatau City could reach 1.45 gigawatts by 2030 and rise further to 1.7 gigawatts by 2040. For comparison, Almaty’s electricity consumption in 2024 stood at approximately 982 megawatts. During the initial phase over the next three years, the city is expected to require around 50-100 megawatts of electricity. However, once industrial facilities become operational, demand could rise to between 500 and 1,000 megawatts, Bozumbayev said. Authorities have already prepared an infrastructure plan that includes the construction of transmission lines, substations, and new generating facilities. The government’s emphasis on gas-fired power generation is aimed at reducing southern Kazakhstan’s dependence on electricity transfers from northern Kazakhstan and neighboring countries. According to Bozumbayev, the launch of new power plants in Kyzylorda, Turkestan, and other southern regions should eventually create an electricity surplus in southern Kazakhstan, which currently remains energy deficient. The development of Alatau City is also part of Kazakhstan’s effort to modernize its power system and gradually increase the share of renewable energy in the national mix. In recent years, the country has expanded solar and wind power projects while remaining heavily dependent on coal-fired generation. Alongside energy infrastructure, authorities are promoting Alatau City as a testing ground for advanced transportation technologies. Bozumbayev said preliminary estimates suggest that air taxi rides in the city could cost around $1 per kilometer. “As competition develops in the market, prices could decrease,” the deputy prime minister said. He added that the testing of the air taxi system is expected to be completed by 2026, with commercial services potentially launching in 2027. However, Almaty Region Governor Marat Sultangaziev previously stated that full commercial operation of air taxi services...

2 weeks ago

Trade and Logistics

Kazakhstan Proposes Kenyan Trade Hub to Access Eurasian Markets

Kazakhstan has proposed establishing a Kenyan trade and logistics hub on its territory to facilitate the export of Kenyan goods to Eurasian markets, as Astana seeks to position itself as a key transit link between Asia, Europe, and Africa. The initiative was announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan during the Kazakhstan-Kenya Business Forum, held as part of Kenya’s President William Ruto’s state visit to Astana. “We are committed to opening a Kenyan trade hub in Kazakhstan that will provide your businesses with direct access to the entire Eurasian region,” Tokayev told representatives of the Kenyan business community. Kazakhstan hopes to expand exports of grain and other agricultural products to Africa, while Kenya could increase supplies of tea, coffee, and flowers to Central Asian and broader Eurasian markets. Astana is also promoting itself as an important part of international transport corridors. According to Tokayev, approximately 85% of overland transit traffic between China and Europe passes through Kazakhstan. The country is actively developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, commonly known as the Middle Corridor, which is increasingly viewed as an alternative to traditional transit routes through Russia. Tokayev proposed integrating the Middle Corridor with East African maritime routes by using the potential of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Kazakhstan specifically expressed interest in cooperation with the ports of Mombasa and Lamu, which are regarded as the region’s largest logistics hubs. “It is necessary to connect the Middle Corridor with Africa’s vital maritime arteries,” Tokayev said. The two sides also discussed the development of direct cargo air links between Kazakhstan and Kenya, as well as the possibility of launching direct passenger flights between Astana and Nairobi in the future. Beyond logistics, Kazakhstan and Kenya plan to expand cooperation in the extraction of rare earth metals and critical minerals, resources in growing global demand amid the energy transition and the expansion of digital technologies. During the forum, Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, and Kenya’s National Mining Corporation signed an agreement on joint geological exploration and subsoil development projects in Kenya. Tokayev also proposed establishing a Kazakhstan-Kenya Business Council and a specialized expert group focused on transport and logistics infrastructure development. According to the president, these steps should accelerate the creation of an intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation. Ruto said Nairobi was interested in creating a “new economic bridge” between Central Asia and Africa. “The logistics ports of Mombasa and Lamu will be available to companies from Kazakhstan interested in entering East African markets,” Ruto said. The visit comes as Kazakhstan seeks to diversify its trade routes and expand economic ties with countries of the Global South. Earlier, authorities in Kazakhstan announced plans to expand the country’s maritime fleet on the Caspian Sea to increase the capacity of the Middle Corridor.

3 weeks ago

World Table Tennis Championships

Astana to Host 2027 World Table Tennis Championships

The ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Astana 2027 will take place in Kazakhstan’s capital from May 22 to May 30, 2027, becoming the first world table tennis championship ever held in Central Asia. The tournament was officially presented at the ADD Table Tennis Center Astana. According to Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev, the country will host seven international Olympic sports tournaments in 2027, with the World Table Tennis Championships expected to become one of the year’s largest sporting events. Representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to participate. The main venue will be Barys Arena, which has a capacity of approximately 8,000 spectators. Additional matches will be hosted at the Qazaqstan Athletics Sports Complex, which can accommodate around 6,800 people. “Our capital was selected to host the World Championships for several reasons, one of the main ones being the availability of major sports facilities that fully meet international requirements,” Zharasbayev told journalists during a briefing. According to the vice minister, a technical delegation from the International Table Tennis Federation has already inspected the venues and gave the tournament infrastructure high marks. “The entire infrastructure is being evaluated from the airport to the sports facilities. At this point, Kazakhstan, and Astana in particular, possess all the necessary resources to host competitions of this level,” he said. Zharasbayev also noted that table tennis remains one of the fastest-growing sports in Kazakhstan. Organizers expect approximately 1,000 athletes to take part in the championships. The tournament will also serve as one of the key ranking qualification stages for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. Medals will be awarded in five categories: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Asiya Ilyasova, the tournament’s marketing and commercial director, said organizers are hopeful for a strong performance by Kazakhstan’s national team. “We have a strong national team that has consistently delivered high-level results in recent years. For example, Kirill Gerassimenko and Alan Kurmangaliyev are ranked among the world’s top 30 players. They will represent Kazakhstan at the World Championships, and we have high expectations for them,” Ilyasova said. According to organizers, Astana is expected to welcome large numbers of foreign visitors, including fans and official delegations, particularly from Southeast Asian countries where table tennis enjoys enormous popularity. In the coming months, organizers plan to launch competitions among souvenir manufacturers to create products featuring Kazakh national motifs, as well as contests for fashion designers to develop uniforms for volunteers, staff, and official tournament merchandise. An open competition will also be announced to design the official mascot of the championships. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Astana will also host the 2026 Future Games, an international tournament combining traditional sports and esports disciplines.

3 weeks ago

Air Taxi

Air Taxi Service in Kazakhstan Unlikely to Launch Commercially Before 2029

An air taxi service being developed in Kazakhstan’s Almaty Region is unlikely to begin full commercial operations before 2029, Almaty Region Governor Marat Sultangaziev said during test flights of the new transport system in Alatau, a newly established “city of the future” near Almaty. On May 19, Alatau hosted Central Asia’s first public launch of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, marking the debut of air taxi technology in the region. Developers say the electric air taxi is expected to help reduce traffic congestion, connect tourist destinations, and shorten travel times. The aircraft can reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour and travel distances of up to 200 kilometers on a single charge. Equipped with 13 electric motors, the air taxi is designed to carry one pilot and five passengers. In accordance with safety requirements, the first demonstration flight was conducted without passengers, the press service of the Almaty regional administration reported. Almaty Region Governor Marat Sultangaziev, who attended the launch event, described the initiative as strategically important for Kazakhstan’s transport sector. At the same time, he said the project would require infrastructure development and a comprehensive legal framework before commercial operations could begin. “Project initiators are now working on that process, and we will support them where necessary. They plan to transition from test operations to industrial-scale implementation around 2029. This initiative fully aligns with the concept of developing Alatau as a center for innovation and digitalization,” Sultangaziev said. Alisher Abdykadyrov, CEO of the Alatau City Authority state fund, said specially equipped vertiports would be used for eVTOL takeoffs and landings. The facilities would include charging and navigation systems and could be integrated into urban environments, including rooftops, transport hubs, and business districts. Construction of the first vertiport in Alatau has already begun, Abdykadyrov said, with additional facilities planned for Almaty and tourist destinations across the Almaty Region. The future network is expected to connect key transport hubs throughout the region. “Today we are witnessing a historic moment for Kazakhstan,” Abdykadyrov said. “This is not simply a demonstration of a new technology, but the beginning of a new phase in the city’s development based on innovation and digital technologies. Alatau is envisioned as a city of the future, which makes it especially symbolic that the development of air mobility and a new industry begins here.” “Our goal is not only to introduce the technology itself, but to build a complete ecosystem around it, creating infrastructure, developing engineering expertise, and generating new jobs,” he added. Regarding the legal regulation of the new mode of transport, Daniyar Uteulin, project manager at Alatau Advanced Air Group (AAAG), said the first package of regulatory proposals has already been prepared and submitted to the government for consideration. According to Uteulin, the draft regulations are based on the experience of countries where urban air mobility technologies are already developing rapidly, including the United States, China, South Korea, and several Middle Eastern countries. Kazakhstan is expected to designate a separate flight corridor...

3 weeks ago

Foreign Trade

Kazakhstan’s Exports Rise Nearly 10% in First Quarter of 2026

Kazakhstan increased its foreign trade turnover to $32.9 billion during the first quarter of 2026, while exports rose by nearly 10% year-on-year, according to the country’s Ministry of Trade and Integration. The ministry stated that Kazakhstan completed the January-March period with a “confident strengthening” of its foreign trade position. Amid continued strong business activity and expanding export potential, total trade turnover reached $32.9 billion, an increase of 10.5% compared to the same period in 2025, when the figure stood at $29.8 billion. “The dynamics confirm the resilience of the country’s foreign economic sector and the gradual strengthening of higher value-added products in the structure of Kazakhstan’s exports,” the ministry said. Total exports for the first quarter of 2026 rose by 9.4% to $18 billion, while imports increased by 11.8% to $14.9 billion compared to the same period last year. According to the ministry, the faster growth in imports was primarily driven by increased purchases of investment and technological goods needed for the modernization of Kazakhstan’s industrial, energy and transport infrastructure. Among the most notable increases was the import of electric generating units, which rose to $416.8 million, more than five times the previous level. Imports of gas turbines and aircraft engines, railway locomotives, and equipment for processing and sorting raw materials also increased significantly. “This structure of imports indicates sustained high investment demand within the economy and the active implementation of infrastructure and industrial projects,” the ministry said. Officials also highlighted the performance of Kazakhstan’s non-commodity trade sector. Foreign trade turnover in non-resource goods reached $20.4 billion during the first quarter of 2026, up 13.5% year-on-year. Non-commodity exports rose by 23.4% to $6.9 billion, becoming one of the main drivers of changes in Kazakhstan’s foreign trade structure. The main non-resource exports included copper and copper cathodes, silver, uranium, ferroalloys, animal feed products, and sunflower oil. Exports of sunflower oil increased by nearly 60% to $277.8 million, reflecting what the ministry described as the growing competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s processed agricultural products. Ferroalloy exports rose by 20.1%, pointing to continued growth in the metallurgical sector and wider export markets for domestically manufactured industrial goods. “Kazakhstan’s foreign trade geography remains steadily diversified,” the ministry stated. “China became the country’s largest trading partner in the first quarter, with trade turnover reaching $7.8 billion and accounting for 23.8% of total foreign trade.” Russia retained second place with bilateral trade totaling $6.5 billion, remaining Kazakhstan’s key market for imports and industrial cooperation. Italy, Turkey, and Uzbekistan also ranked among Kazakhstan’s largest trading partners. The ministry also noted Kazakhstan’s export position in Europe. Trade turnover with Italy exceeded $3.4 billion during the first quarter, with Kazakh exports accounting for more than $3 billion of that total. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan aims to increase non-commodity exports to $52 billion by 2030.

3 weeks ago

Direct Flights

Kazakhstan to Launch Direct Flights to Tokyo and New York Within Next 12 Months

Kazakhstan plans to launch direct flights from Astana to Tokyo and New York within the next 12 months, Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev said during a government meeting on Tuesday. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reminded officials that the Ministry of Transport had previously pledged to open direct air links to Tokyo and New York but had yet to announce concrete results. “In the case of Tokyo, flights will begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, and flights to the United States will begin in the second quarter of 2027,” Sauranbayev said. He added that Astana currently operates 34 international routes. According to the minister, Kazakhstan has already opened four new international routes since the beginning of the year: Almaty-Shanghai, Astana-Yerevan, Atyrau-Tashkent, and Aktau-Yerevan. By the end of 2026, Kazakhstan's aviation authorities plan to open or resume 11 additional international routes, including Astana-Ulaanbaatar, Astana-Guangzhou, Astana-Issyk-Kul, Astana-Larnaca, Astana-Kashgar, Almaty-Tokyo, Almaty-Larnaca, Hanoi-Almaty-Prague, Almaty-Izmir, Almaty-Warsaw, and Kostanay-Tashkent. Meanwhile, Michael Daniel, CEO of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK), said work is ongoing to secure Category 1 status from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, a prerequisite for launching direct flights to the U.S. Daniel said Kazakhstan has been addressing shortcomings identified during an FAA technical assessment conducted in August 2024. “We plan to invite the FAA IASA team to conduct an evaluation in September 2026. The FAA will assess Kazakhstan’s political commitment to complying with international aviation safety standards, including legislation, regulatory oversight, and practical implementation,” he said. “Our primary goal is to obtain FAA Category 1 status in November 2026,” Daniel added. Kazakhstan’s airline fleet is also expected to expand, with six additional aircraft scheduled to enter service by the end of this year. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s civil aviation fleet consisted of 104 aircraft last year, with authorities aiming to increase that number to 216 by 2030. The government is also planning a major modernization of airport infrastructure over the next three years. “In accordance with the president’s instructions, work is underway on the construction of airports in the tourist zones of Katon-Karagay, Zaysan, and Kenderli, as well as the restoration of Arkalyk Airport,” Sauranbayev said. He added that aviation hub development is continuing at six major airports: Almaty, Astana, Aktau, Aktobe, Karaganda, and Shymkent. According to the minister, most airport modernization projects are being financed through private investment. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines, in partnership with Boeing, has begun construction of a major aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul center in Shymkent.

3 weeks ago

Astana LRT

Astana Launches First Light Rail Transit Service After Years of Delay

Kazakhstan has officially launched Astana’s long-awaited light rail transit (LRT) system, connecting the capital’s international airport with Nurly Zhol railway station. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the inauguration ceremony despite previously expressing doubts about the project’s viability. The Astana LRT project, envisioned as a high-speed elevated transport system designed to bypass road congestion, was first launched in 2011. Authorities initially planned to complete construction by 2017, ahead of the international EXPO exhibition hosted in the capital. However, the project was suspended in 2013 because of rising costs. In 2015, Astana’s city administration attempted to revive the initiative with the participation of a consortium of Chinese companies, China Railway International Group Limited and Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co., Ltd., but the contractors later withdrew because of financing problems. [caption id="attachment_49015" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] @Akorda[/caption] In 2019, criminal investigations were launched over allegations of inflated project costs and embezzlement of public funds allocated for construction. Former Astana LRT chief Talgat Ardan and former deputy mayor of Astana Kanat Sultanbekov were accused of embezzling nearly 30 billion KZT (approximately $79 million at the exchange rate at the time). In May 2023, both men were sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison. Ardan was detained in Turkey in May 2025 following an extradition request by Kazakhstan. However, to date, he has not been extradited because the legal assistance agreement between Kazakhstan and Turkey does not specify deadlines for extradition procedures. [caption id="attachment_49041" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] @Akorda[/caption] Despite Tokayev’s initial skepticism about the LRT project’s practicality, city authorities ultimately decided to complete construction. The system officially entered service this weekend, with Tokayev personally attending the launch ceremony. During a visit to the Unified Dispatch Center, which is responsible for monitoring and regulating Astana’s public transport system, including the LRT network, Tokayev described the opening as significant not only for Astana but for Kazakhstan as a whole. Tokayev said the capital should eventually become a major transportation hub for Eurasia. [caption id="attachment_49016" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] @Akorda[/caption] After receiving passenger card No. 001, Tokayev became the system’s first official passenger, traveling from the airport to the National Museum station. Astana Mayor Zhenis Kassymbek said a dedicated dispatch service for the LRT system has been established. Twenty-one specialists are involved in monitoring and regulating the city’s public transport network. Each LRT train can carry more than 600 passengers. The 22.4-kilometer line will operate with 15 trains, while four additional trains will remain in reserve. The trains operate in fully automated driverless mode. Train acceleration, braking, door operations, and emergency response systems are entirely automated, although manual control and communication with dispatchers remain available as backup systems. The new infrastructure includes 18 stations and a modern depot facility. Travel time across the entire route is expected to take approximately 40 minutes, with average speeds of 50-60 kilometers per hour. Trains are scheduled to run at intervals of five to six minutes. [caption id="attachment_49017" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] @Akorda[/caption] Authorities are already discussing a second expansion phase of the LRT network. Planned future...

3 weeks ago

Iran

Kazakhstan Sends Humanitarian Aid to Iran

Kazakhstan has dispatched 30 railway wagons of humanitarian aid to war-ravaged Iran, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced on May 16. The shipment – which included staple food supplies such as canned meat, sugar, flour, as well as medicines – is intended to support the Iranian population and help meet essential social needs. A diplomatic handover ceremony to mark the occasion was arranged at Serakhs railway station, on Turkmenistan's border with Iran. Those present included Ontalap Onalbayev, Kazakhstan's ambassador to Iran; representatives of the Iranian Red Crescent Society; and the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s representative office in its northwestern province of Razavi Khorasan. “Friends are revealed in difficult times. Kazakhstan has consistently supported the people of Iran in times of hardship,” said Ambassador Onalbayev. Kazakhstan has attempted to tread a careful line towards Iran since the US/Israeli offensive which began on February 28. Astana had gone out of its way to court the Trump administration, with President Tokayev describing his US counterpart as "sent by heaven" in November 2025. Tokayev has also signed Kazakhstan up to Trump's Board of Peace initiative. Meanwhile, Iran is seen as an important part of Kazakhstan's future infrastructure links to the outside world, with its Indian Ocean ports viewed as a valuable alternative to land-based routes via Russia and China. Kazakhstan and Iran continue to maintain trade and economic cooperation. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan began exporting vegetable oil to Iran via the Caspian Sea in spring 2026. That said, in April, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov noted that several joint projects between Kazakhstan and Iran had been frozen because of military tensions in the region. A representative of the Iranian Red Crescent Society thanked Kazakhstan for the humanitarian assistance and said the gesture would help strengthen bilateral relations and mutual support between the two countries.

3 weeks ago

Vegetable Oil Exports

Kazakhstan Begins Vegetable Oil Exports to Iran via Caspian Route

Vegetable oil producers in Kazakhstan have launched a new export route to Iran across the Caspian Sea, completing several trial shipments of rapeseed and sunflower oil in spring 2026, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture said. According to Kazakhstan’s National Association of Oilseed Processors (NAOPK), the first shipment, consisting of 5,000 tons of rapeseed oil, departed from the Port of Aktau on April 4. The buyer was the Iranian company Kourosh Food Industry, while the supplier was one of Kazakhstan’s largest oil-processing plants affiliated with the association. On May 13, loading was completed for a second vessel carrying 5,000 tons of sunflower oil. The Agriculture Ministry said the shipments demonstrate strong interest among Iranian importers in products from Kazakhstan and point to the potential of the Caspian export corridor. NAOPK Chairman Yadykar Ibragimov said the Iranian market holds significant potential for exports of Kazakhstan’s oil and fat products. According to Ibragimov, Iran imports around 3.5 million tons of vegetable oils and oilseed meal annually, including approximately 1.5 million tons of vegetable oils. “Our countries share a border across the Caspian Sea and also benefit from a preferential customs regime under the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran,” Ibragimov said. He noted that Kazakhstan exported more than 100,000 tons of oil and fat products to Iran over the past three years, with around 94% consisting of oilseed meal. “The launch of vegetable oil transshipment through the Port of Aktau will significantly increase supply volumes,” he added. According to association estimates, the Aktau route could handle three to four shipments per month, allowing annual exports of 150,000-200,000 tons of vegetable oil through the new corridor. In the longer term, exports of vegetable oils and oilseed meal to Iran could exceed 500,000 tons annually. Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry said development of the route will help diversify export destinations and reduce pressure on existing logistics corridors. “The launch of this new supply channel will help move closer to the goal of increasing the sector’s foreign currency revenues to $1 billion, as outlined in the 2026-2028 Road Map,” the ministry said. Kazakhstan previously reported record sunflower oil exports: between January and October 2025, the country exported more than 523,000 tons of sunflower oil worth approximately $532 million. Authorities aim to position Kazakhstan among the world’s top three vegetable oil exporters. At the same time, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov said in April that several joint projects between Kazakhstan and Iran had been frozen amid military tensions in the region. Despite geopolitical tensions, Astana and Tehran continue expanding trade and economic cooperation. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan and Iran aim to increase bilateral trade turnover to $1 billion in the coming years, with plans to eventually double that figure.

3 weeks ago

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