Kazakhstan and Italy have agreed to establish a joint €500 million agriculture investment fund, aimed at significantly enhancing bilateral trade, food exports, and industrial cooperation within the agri-food sector. This initiative was formalized during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s National Economy Minister Serik Zhumangarin and Gianantonio Tramet, founder of Tramite Group and a representative of the Kazakhstan-Italy Trade and Industry Chamber.
The new investment fund, to be registered at the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), will have an initial capital of €500 million and targets an annual turnover of €1 billion. Ownership will be split, with Italian venture investors and SIMEST holding a 51% stake, and Kazakhstan’s Baiterek Holding owning the remaining 49%.
The primary objective of the fund is to build a robust logistics and investment platform designed to connect Kazakh agricultural producers with global markets, including Europe, Asia, the US, and other regions. This platform aims to boost exports of high-demand Kazakh agri-products such as grain, meat, oils, legumes, dairy, fruits, and purées. The broader cooperation strategy includes investments in Kazakhstan’s agribusiness infrastructure, long-term procurement contracts with major European food companies, and joint supply chain management. Reportedly, seven leading Italian food companies have expressed interest in localizing their production facilities in Kazakhstan.
A key project highlighting this collaboration is AGRIQA Asia’s Shardara Export-Oriented Agro-Industrial Cluster in the Turkistan region. This cluster is set to attract €200 million in investments by 2028 and will feature a 22-hectare greenhouse complex, facilities for processing fruits and vegetables, an alfalfa pellet production plant, a tomato processing factory, and 8,000 hectares of land developed for drip irrigation.
Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin reiterated the government’s strong commitment to fostering a favorable investment environment for foreign partners. He stated: "The Government of Kazakhstan is fully committed to creating optimal conditions to ensure the success of investment projects. We express our full support for the initiative to establish a Kazakhstan–Italy investment fund focused on developing the agribusiness sector. This project is a significant step toward boosting our export potential and strengthening economic ties." The Ministry of Trade and Integration has been instructed to organize a trade and economic mission to facilitate further joint project development between Kazakh and Italian manufacturers.
Sources: primeminister.kz, qazinform.com, daryo.uz, agritimes.co.in
