High-level EU Agri-Food Mission to Kazakhstan
The high-level EU agri-food mission to Kazakhstan, led by European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, took place from May 27-31, 2024. The delegation included over 40 companies from 16 EU member states.
Janusz Wojciechowski, the EU Commissioner of Agriculture met with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Minister of Justice Azamat Yeskarayev, Akim of Almaty Yerbolat Dossayev, and Vice Minister of Trade and Integration. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, removing trade barriers, and harmonizing legislation.
Some points which were brought forward by the EU delegation were:
- To enhance cooperation in agricultural section with Kazakhstan.
- Promoting trade in agri-food products.
- Signal the EU's interest in stronger business links and closer agricultural connections.
- Recognize the growing demand of Kazakh consumers' in diverse culinary tastes and high expectations for quality, safety, authenticity, and sustainability of EU food products.
- Remove trade barriers.
- Harmonize legislation.
- Access for pig and poultry products from EU to Kazakhstan.
The Kazach side also raised a couple of points which are important for their agricultural industry, for instance:
- Opening of the EU market for Kazakh meat, honey, and dairy products.
- Increase export of Kazakh agricultural products to the EU market.
- Interest in signing the Protocol on the Protection of Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs, Wines, and Spirits, as part of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the EU.
- Expand agricultural cooperation with EU.
- Creating joint production and processing projects.
- Access to advanced agrarian technologies to mitigate climate change impacts.
- Providing Kazakhstan's organic agricultural products for growing European demand.
- Interest in investment projects and creating an agri-food hub in Kazakhstan.
Also during the vistit, the EU Pavilion was opened at the Interfood exhibition in Astana during the visit.
Trade turnover between EU and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a key gateway for EU food and beverage producers entering the Central Asian market. In 2023, EU agricultural exports to Kazakhstan were worth €702 million. Bilateral trade between the EU and Kazakhstan reached $41.4 billion in 2023, with agricultural trade increasing by 13.4% to $1.1 billion. Main agricultural exports from Kazakhstan to the EU include wheat, flax seeds, rapeseed, and processed grain crops. Geographical indications were introduced into Kazakh legislation in 2022, with several products now protected. The EU is a significant trade and investment partner for Kazakhstan, accounting for over 40% of investments and around 30% of foreign trade. The bilateral trade turnover rose by 3.5% in 2023, reaching $41.4 billion, including $31 billion worth of Kazakhstani exports. Efforts are ongoing to increase exports of higher-processed products.
In 2023, Kazakhstan exported 650,000 tons of wheat to the EU. The EU accounts for 20% of Kazakhstan's flax seed exports and 79% of rapeseed exports. Kazakhstan plans to continue increasing these exports, including through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. Wojciechowski thanked Kazakhstan for its cooperative approach and emphasized the need for technical meetings to resolve outstanding issues, including the supply of pork and poultry meat from the EU.