Aidarbek Saparov - The Times Of Central Asia

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Foreign Investment

Iran’s Solico Group to Build Major Cheese Plant in Kazakhstan

Iranian food conglomerate Solico Group will build a large cheese production plant in Kazakhstan’s Almaty region, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to expand value-added agricultural processing. Kazakhstan's Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Solico Group President Gholam Ali Soleimani signed the investment agreement for the project, which will focus on deep milk processing and industrial-scale cheese production. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 155,000 tons of cheese, with total investment estimated at 35.2 billion tenge, or roughly $70 million, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture. Construction work has already begun at the site in the Almaty region, and the plant is expected to be completed and commissioned in 2029. Saparov said attracting strategic investors into agricultural processing remains one of Kazakhstan’s key economic priorities. “President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has tasked the government with increasing the share of processed agricultural products and developing industries with higher added value,” Saparov said. “Kazakhstan’s dairy sector has significant growth potential. In 2025, domestic production of cheese and cottage cheese increased by 13.1%. This project will significantly expand the country’s processing capacity and create a guaranteed market for local milk producers.” He added that the government was ready to provide comprehensive support for investors in priority sectors of the economy. Soleimani described Kazakhstan as a promising regional hub for food production and said the company was considering additional investments beyond the cheese factory. “We view Kazakhstan not just as a site for a single project, but as a long-term strategic partner. The country has strong agricultural potential, a favorable geographic location, and an attractive investment climate. Alongside the cheese plant, we are also exploring projects in potato processing and baby food production.” The agreement includes a broad package of state incentives, including the provision of engineering infrastructure for the production site. Under the terms of the agreement, Solico Group will create at least 400 permanent jobs, provide training for Kazakhstani specialists, and transfer modern industrial technologies and expertise. The company also plans to allocate about 50 million tenge annually from 2028 to 2038 for social initiatives and support for local communities in the Almaty region. The agreement adds to a series of recent Kazakhstan-Iran trade initiatives. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Astana and Tehran said late last year that they aimed to triple bilateral trade to $1 billion in the coming years. Although some joint Kazakhstan-Iran projects were frozen earlier this year because of military conflict in Iran, economic cooperation appears to be recovering. In May 2026, Kazakhstani vegetable oil producers opened a new export route to Iran via the Caspian Sea.

Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Exports to Iran Nearly Double in 2025

Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Iran nearly doubled in 2025, driven by a sharp increase in grain shipments, Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov said during talks with Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Seyyed Mohammad Atabak. According to Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry, agricultural trade between the two countries rose 55.8% year-on-year to $342 million in 2025, accounting for 79% of total bilateral trade. Exports of Kazakhstan's agricultural products increased 97% to $238.5 million. Grain exports more than doubled to 1.1 million metric tons, valued at $225.3 million, Saparov said. “Kazakhstan attaches special importance to expanding cooperation with Iran in the agricultural sector. Our markets complement each other, as demonstrated by the steady growth in bilateral agricultural trade,” he said. The ministers discussed prospects for expanding trade in agricultural products, investment cooperation, and the development of joint projects in the agro-industrial sector. Particular attention was given to increasing Kazakhstan's exports of grain, beef, and lamb that meet international veterinary and halal standards. The two sides also highlighted the potential for expanding supplies of vegetable oils and other food products to the Iranian market. Atabak said Iran was interested in expanding economic ties with Kazakhstan, including through increased agricultural trade, improved transport links, and joint processing projects. “Kazakhstan is an important partner for Iran in the region. We are interested in increasing bilateral trade, expanding agricultural supplies, developing logistics routes, and implementing joint projects in processing and agro-industrial cooperation,” he said. Saparov also invited Iranian investors to participate in projects involving agricultural production and value-added processing, including grain and oilseed processing facilities. The growth in agricultural trade comes despite disruptions to some bilateral projects earlier this year. In April, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov said several joint projects with Iran had been suspended because of military hostilities there. Trade ties have nevertheless continued to expand. In May, Kazakhstan's vegetable oil producers launched pilot shipments of rapeseed and sunflower oil to Iran via the Caspian Sea, opening a new export route for the sector. Kazakhstan and Iran have set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to $1 billion in the coming years, with plans to double that figure over the longer term, following agreements reached during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Astana last year.

Food Security

Kazakhstan Ready to Become Key Food Hub in Eurasia

Tajikistan is hosting the 35th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe from May 11 to 15, bringing together members of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations from Europe and Central Asia for discussions on regional food security and agricultural development priorities. The conference has gathered agriculture ministers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to address the most pressing challenges facing the sector, review FAO activities in Europe and Central Asia in 2024-2025, and outline priorities for 2026-2027. Speaking at the conference, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov said the country occupies a strategically important position in the global food security system and remains among the world’s leading grain producers. According to Saparov, Kazakhstan harvested around 27 million tons of grain for the second consecutive year in 2025, along with nearly 5 million tons of oilseeds and approximately 1 million tons of legumes. During the latest agricultural season, the country exported 15.3 million tons of grain. Kazakhstan currently ranks 10th globally in grain exports, second in flour exports, and eighth in sunflower oil exports, supplying agricultural products to around 50 countries. “Against the backdrop of population growth, climate change, and instability in global markets, food security is becoming a key factor in the sustainable development of states. Under these conditions, Kazakhstan is capable of occupying a strategic niche as a regional center for the production, storage, processing, and supply of grain products,” Saparov said. The minister added that Kazakhstan is implementing a comprehensive livestock development plan for 2026-2030 aimed at increasing livestock numbers and expanding the sector’s export potential. Saparov said Kazakhstan possesses the resources necessary to strengthen its position as one of Eurasia’s key food hubs and is prepared to ensure stable, rapid, and cost-effective supplies of grain and processed grain products to Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and other regions.