Chinese enterprises should focus on Kazakhstan's agriculture to serve the vast domestic market.

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country spanning both Europe and Asia, mainly located in Central Asia north of the Eurasian continent, with a small portion of its territory west of the Ural River located in Eastern Europe. The total area of Kazakhstan is 2,727,300 square kilometers, making it the largest landlocked country in the world and the ninth-largest country globally. Kazakhstan's economy dominates Central Asia, accounting for 60% of the regional GDP, with the oil and gas industry as the mainstay and abundant mineral resources. Culturally, Kazakhstan is also a Central Asian Turkic nation.

Currently, Kazakhstan is the sixth-largest grain exporter and the largest flour exporter in the world (according to Wikipedia data). Agriculture accounts for approximately 10% of Kazakhstan's gross domestic product, with grains, potatoes, vegetables, melons, and livestock as the primary agricultural products. The arable land area in Kazakhstan exceeds 846,000 square kilometers (327,000 square miles), with about 205,000 square kilometers (79,000 square miles) of arable land, and pastures account for approximately 611,000 square kilometers (236,000 square miles). Over 80% of the country's land is classified for agricultural use, with pastures accounting for nearly 70%. Kazakhstan has the second-highest per capita arable land in the world (1.5 hectares).

Main livestock products include dairy products, leather, meat, and wool, while major crops include wheat, barley, cotton, rice, and sugar beets. Wheat exports are a significant source of hard currency for the country. Kazakhstan is considered one of the origins of apples, where wild apples are called "alma," which is associated with the place name Almaty (meaning "rich in apples").

Kazakhstan's agricultural regions, especially the wheat areas, are primarily located in the high-latitude Russian-speaking areas in the north, where there are vast expanses of farmland suitable for large-scale mechanized operations. Thanks to economic development and political stability, Kazakhstan's agriculture has become a new driver of the economy, continuously attracting large foreign and multinational companies to invest in agricultural projects in Kazakhstan.

Recently, Kazakhstan announced ten major foreign agricultural investment projects, including two projects from Chinese enterprises:

The China Fufeng Group and Shengtai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. plan to build an integrated corn processing industrial park in the Zhambyl region, with an annual capacity of 1 million tons and an investment of $350 million.

The Dalian Hesheng Holding Group Co., Ltd. plans to construct a grain deep-processing plant in the Akmola region, with an annual processing capacity of 400,000 tons and a project investment of $650 million.

In all the announced projects, Turkish enterprises lead the way. In the vast Central Asian region, Chinese enterprises should play a key role because we have a huge market and convenient logistics conditions.

Chinese enterprises' deep involvement in Kazakhstan's agricultural projects sends a strong signal, indicating our willingness to invest in shaping a shared future vision.

This constructive, stable, and enduring presence is precisely what this region expects, and what China should provide at a time when neighboring Central Asian countries are eager to develop.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832916797095113/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author.