US and Kazakhstan are ready to launch new joint initiatives, including on grain processing

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Agriculture, Yermek Kenzhekhanuly, met with Olya Lutchin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia. The parties discussed the current state and prospects for developing cooperation in the agricultural sector.

The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted that the United States is an important trade and economic partner for Kazakhstan. In the first 11 months of 2025, agricultural trade between the two countries amounted to $110.2 million, reflecting the stable dynamics of bilateral trade.

The Vice Minister emphasized Kazakhstan’s role as a leading player in the global grain market. The country is among the top ten global grain exporters and ranks second in flour exports, annually supplying 13-14 million tons of grain to foreign markets. Particular attention is paid to the development of deep grain processing, the export potential of which is estimated at $1.6 billion.

The parties also discussed investment cooperation. Projects involving American companies PepsiCo and Mars are already underway in Kazakhstan, and a willingness to launch new joint initiatives has been expressed, including in the area of ​​advanced grain processing.

The meeting placed particular emphasis on the development of livestock farming. Kazakhstan has over 180 million hectares of pasture and a well-established beef production system. Between 2010 and 2024, approximately 32,100 head of breeding cattle were imported from the United States, increasing the productivity of domestic livestock.

The Kazakh side expressed interest in further cooperation in the field of breeding and genetics.

Tags: Kazakhstan, grain, USA