Chinese Investment in Deep Processing Grain Plant in Kazakhstan

On 25 June, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin and Chairman of the Board of National Company Kazakh Invest Yerzhan Yelekeyev met the leadership of CITIC Construction in China, to discuss the construction of a plant for deep processing of grain. As reported by Kazakh Invest, CITIC Construction is one of China's leading construction and engineering companies, with a turnover of $2.5 billion. In 2023, the company implemented a similar project in Belarus. In Kazakhstan, the Chinese company plans to implement the project, primarily located in the Almaty region and with the creation of 2,000 jobs, in several phases. With a total capacity to process up to 1 million tons of wheat per year, the plant will produce fructose syrup, crystalline fructose, allulose, crystalline dextrose, sodium gluconate, gluten, and feed. It is anticipated that the cost of the build will exceed $1 billion. "We are ready to provide comprehensive support for the implementation of the project,” stated Yelekeyev. “Deep processing of grain is one of the priorities and promising areas in the strategic development of the economy of Kazakhstan. Our country is one of the largest wheat producers in the world and is ready to contribute to ensuring food security in the region, as the area of land for crops cultivation and livestock grazing exceeds 200 million hectares.”