Agro-Industry - The Times Of Central Asia

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Investments

South Korean Firm Invests $12 Million in Kyrgyz Meat Processing Facility

A major South Korean investment is set to strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s agricultural sector with the launch of a $12 million agro-industrial complex. A groundbreaking ceremony held on December 10 in the village of Baytik, Chui region, marked the start of construction on the project, a joint venture between the state-owned Kyrgyz Agroholding JSC and South Korea’s DOD Company. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, the facility will feature the country’s first shock-freezing unit capable of blast-freezing meat to -35°C. This technology helps preserve the natural structure of the meat, minimizes moisture and weight loss, and extends shelf life without additives, meeting export standards required by high-end markets such as South Korea and Japan. The project will also include a feedlot for 5,000 head of cattle, ensuring a reliable and consistent supply chain for the processing plant. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Bakyt Torobaev said the investment reflects strong trust from Korean partners and represents a major step in integrating Kyrgyz meat production into global value chains. Torobaev noted that Kyrgyz Agroholding, established to develop agro-industrial clusters and boost exports, plans to launch a pilot “Meat Cluster” project in 2026 in the Chui-Bishkek economic zone. Ten cluster associations will receive financing at 3% interest to purchase livestock, feed, cold-chain storage systems, packaging equipment, refrigerated trucks, and working capital. He also highlighted that, for the first time since independence, the Kyrgyz Armed Forces are now fully supplied with domestically produced food, an indicator of the growing capacity and resilience of the national agricultural sector.

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Launches First Carbon Agro-Climatic Testing Ground

Kazakhstan has inaugurated its first carbon agro-climatic testing ground, Kaz Agro Carbon, at the A.I. Barayev Scientific and Production Center for Grain Farming, marking a significant step toward climate-resilient agriculture. The project is a collaborative effort between the agriculture ministries of Kazakhstan and Russia, the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, and scientists from the University of Hannover in Germany. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, the new facility is designed to manage soil carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance the climate resilience of the agricultural sector. Kaz Agro Carbon will act as a pilot site for joint research focused on measuring, modeling, and managing the carbon balance in Northern Kazakhstan. Researchers aim to develop technologies that reduce emissions and boost carbon dioxide absorption in local ecosystems. “Kaz Agro Carbon is a platform for integrating science, innovation, and real-world production. It will help preserve soil fertility, adapt agriculture to climate change, and develop a national carbon balance management system. This is an important step toward developing climate-smart agriculture in Kazakhstan,” said Timur Savin, Chairman of the Board at the Scientific and Production Center for Grain Farming, during the opening ceremony. Amid global efforts to combat climate change, carbon farming is emerging as a strategic growth area for Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector. According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Kaz Agro Carbon is equipped for year-round monitoring of ecosystem conditions. The site will track soil carbon levels as well as key meteorological data such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation. Kazakhstan’s carbon sequestration potential is estimated at up to 535 million tons annually. The development of carbon offset trading mechanisms could attract as much as $25 billion per year to the national economy. The new facility will provide farmers with the tools to certify accumulated carbon and participate in the emerging carbon quota market, positioning Kazakhstan to take an active role in international emissions trading.

Kazakh MP Advocates for AI-Driven Land Resource Management

Aidarbek Khojanazarov, a member of the Mazhilis, Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament, has proposed making artificial intelligence (AI) technologies a central tool in managing the country’s land resources. Speaking at parliamentary hearings on AI development, Khojanazarov highlighted longstanding concerns over non-transparent land allocation, a frequent source of public dissatisfaction. “AI can become a key instrument for fair land management and the preservation of every hectare,” he said. “These technologies can identify those who degrade or pollute soils, forecast risks of erosion, salinization, and desertification, and provide land commissions with objective data for decision-making.” Khojanazarov also noted that Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial complex suffers from a shortage of specialists, including agronomists, economists, and veterinarians. He argued that AI could mitigate this issue by reducing reliance on narrow expertise while broadening access to cutting-edge tools. “For example, in the U.S., the Farmers Edge platform enables a single agronomist to manage two to three times more land using satellite data and analytics. The British startup CattleEye diagnoses livestock diseases through video analytics, cutting veterinarian visits by 25%. In Kazakhstan, similar innovations could lower barriers to growth and unlock new opportunities for local farmers,” he said. To support this vision, Khojanazarov proposed the creation of agro-IT accelerators at universities, the introduction of AI assistants for agricultural specialists, and the launch of mobile agro-hubs to train farmers in AI applications. Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek reported that Kazakhstan is already implementing 62 AI-based projects across various sectors, with 9.7 billion tenge (approximately $18 million) allocated through targeted and grant programs. “Currently, 27 universities and six research institutes across 11 regions are involved, with a total of 479 scientists engaged. The largest concentration of projects is in Almaty and Astana,” Nurbek said. Zhaslan Madiyev, head of the newly formed Ministry for AI Development and Digital Transformation, announced that the International Center for Artificial Intelligence, alem.ai, will open this October in Astana. The center will serve as a platform for uniting researchers, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and technologists working on domestic AI solutions, including those in agriculture. Madiyev noted that Astana Hub, Central Asia’s largest IT startup technopark, has reached capacity, and the new center will complement its infrastructure. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan launched Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer in July, reinforcing its ambition to become a regional technology hub.

Agriculture

Chinese Investors Build New Agriculture Plants in Kazakhstan

On September 25, Chinese investors launched two major agro-industrial projects in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region. FM World Agricultural Machinery, a Chinese company, began construction of an agricultural machinery assembly plant in the industrial zone of Taraz, the regional capital. The facility is expected to produce up to 2,000 units of equipment annually, including eight types of tractors, rice and cotton harvesters, trailed implements, and seeders. On the same day, Zhongkai Guoyuan (Anhui) Industrial Investment Co. broke ground on a sugar plant with a $200 million investment in the Zhambyl region. The facility will process up to 1 million tons of sugar beets per year, producing between 80,000 and 130,000 tons of sugar. The output is expected to fully meet Kazakhstan’s domestic demand and support exports to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, and China. Another project in the region involves Hualing Group Co. Ltd., which plans to build an irrigation systems plant with an annual capacity of 200 sprinklers. Agriculture has become a key focus in Kazakhstan–China economic cooperation. Speaking at the 8th meeting of the Kazakh–Chinese Business Council in Beijing on September 2, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s interest in joint agricultural processing and invited Chinese investors to support the production of organic and high-quality livestock products.

Uzbek-U.S. Realtions

Insider’s View: Uzbekistan–U.S. – A New Era of Environmentally Friendly and Energy-Efficient Investment

Today, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient projects are no longer just a fashionable trend but a factor of global competitiveness. Uzbekistan, once regarded as a country with a resource-based energy system and limited opportunities for the adoption of modern technologies, is now becoming a hub for “green” investment and innovation. A strategic partnership with the United States plays a special role in this process, encompassing key areas ranging from energy and ecology to finance, education, and culture. Clean and innovative projects are becoming the hallmark of Uzbek-American relations, shaping a new model of cooperation in the 21st century. Green Energy and Strategic Partnership Uzbekistan is moving confidently toward a “green” future. While in 2018 renewable energy sources accounted for less than one percent of electricity generation, from January to July 2025, renewables already provided 20.3% of the country’s total electricity. More than 11 billion kWh of “green” energy were produced, including 6.4 billion kWh from solar power plants and 3.6 billion kWh from wind farms. This volume saved 3.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas and prevented over 2.2 million tons of harmful emissions. Every day, renewables now generate about 26.7 million kWh – enough to cover the needs of 7.28 million households for half a year, or 3.64 million homes for an entire year. Currently, 10 solar and 4 wind plants with a combined capacity of more than 4.5 GW operate across 10 regions of the country. A key focus of Uzbek-American cooperation has become “green” energy. In 2025, Allied Green Ammonia (AGA), together with the U.S. company Plug Power, announced a major project for the production of sustainable aviation fuel, green diesel, and urea. The plan includes the supply of electrolyzers with a capacity of up to 2 GW for the future complex. A final investment decision is expected by the end of 2025, and the project has already been recognized as one of the flagship initiatives for Central Asia. Air Products – A Flagship of American Presence Air Products, a global leader in industrial gases and hydrogen energy, occupies a special place in Uzbek-American cooperation. In the Kashkadarya region, the company participates in a large-scale gas-to-liquids (GTL) project worth around $1 billion. The complex is designed to produce about 1.5 million tons of synthetic fuels per year, including diesel, jet kerosene, and naphtha. Its structure includes air separation units, autothermal reformers, and hydrogen production facilities. This project has become a landmark example of how U.S. technologies are transforming Uzbekistan’s energy sector. In addition to GTL, Air Products is actively developing industrial gas production in Uzbekistan. The company participates in oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen production projects, introduces the latest PSA units, as well as freezing and storage technologies that reduce food losses and enhance economic resilience. Furthermore, the company has implemented a “green financing” system that links investments to sustainability principles. These projects not only strengthen the country’s industrial potential but also pave the way for positioning Uzbekistan as a regional hub for “green” energy. The company’s future plans...

Agriculture

Kyrgyzstan Launches New Agro-Industrial Zone with $24 Million Investment

Kyrgyzstan has begun construction of a new agro-industrial zone in the Chui region as part of a broader effort to modernize agriculture, boost food production, and attract foreign investment. The facility is being developed by Kyrgyz Agroholding JSC in the village of Nurmanbet, just east of the capital Bishkek. Speaking at the capsule-laying ceremony on July 12, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Bakyt Torobaev described the initiative as a critical step toward enhancing the country’s agricultural resilience and food sovereignty. “This is a large-scale initiative that will strengthen our agricultural sector, create jobs, and help ensure food security,” Torobaev said. The event also marked the signing of two major investment agreements totaling $24 million: A $12 million deal with South Korea’s DOD Company to support joint projects in meat livestock farming, logistics, and modern agricultural technologies. A separate $12 million agreement with Asyl Teri LLC to construct a tannery capable of processing up to 24 tons of animal hides per day. The Chui agro-industrial zone is expected to significantly increase the value of Kyrgyz agricultural products while drawing additional investment into a sector that already contributes nearly 18% of the nation’s GDP and employs almost half of its workforce. Government officials emphasize that the new zone will offer improved infrastructure, greater market access, and cutting-edge technologies to farmers and agribusinesses, enhancing Kyrgyzstan’s competitiveness in regional food production.