Kazakhstan and China Discuss New Billion-Yuan Loan to Support Industry and Agribusiness

Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its partnership with China in the fields of finance and investment. The focus of the discussions is attracting additional funding to support key sectors of the economy, including industry and agribusiness.

At a recent meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektanov, and the Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Liu Jiun, the possibility of securing a loan exceeding 1 billion Chinese yuan for the "Industrial Development Fund" JSC was discussed. Additionally, Kazakhstan is considering entering the Chinese debt market with the issuance of bonds worth up to 5 billion yuan.

According to the Kazakh Prime Minister, China remains one of Kazakhstan's key trade, economic, and investment partners. This assessment is supported by specific figures: in 2024, the trade turnover between the two countries reached a historic high of $44 billion. In January-April 2025, mutual trade continued to grow, increasing by 3.4% compared to the same period in the previous year.

China also remains consistently in the top five largest investors in Kazakhstan's economy. The total volume of direct investments exceeds $26 billion, reflecting a high level of trust from Chinese businesses in Kazakhstan's economic initiatives.
Special attention at the meeting was given to the involvement of ICBC in the implementation of joint projects aimed at supporting priority sectors. In Kazakhstan, the bank is represented by its subsidiary, the "Industrial and Commercial Bank of China" in Almaty. One of the latest examples of cooperation was the financing of 430 million yuan in March 2025, allocated for the development of the "Agrarian Credit Corporation" JSC through the "Baiterek" Holding.

The Kazakh side expressed its readiness to introduce new mechanisms for cooperation, including sustainable and "green" financing, as well as support for infrastructure and export-oriented projects. This approach is especially relevant for the agribusiness sector, which requires investment in modernization, logistics, and sustainable farming technologies.