Kazakhstan Attracts Over $24 Billion in Chinese Investments: Focus on Agro-Processing and Production Localization

As part of the Second Forum on Industrial and Investment Cooperation "Central Asia – China," Kazakhstan and leading Chinese corporations signed 58 commercial agreements totaling over $24 billion. A significant portion of these investments is earmarked for the agro-industrial complex, processing industries, and the creation of stable supply channels for Kazakhstani farmers.

Fufeng Group Project: $320 Million Corn Processing Plant in Zhambyl Region
One of the key AIC projects is an investment agreement signed with Chinese company Fufeng Group, with a total investment of $320 million. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a facility in the Zhambyl region will produce high value-added products, including lysine and amino acids.
The plant is designed to process up to 1 million tons of corn per year, and off-take contracts have already been signed for 300,000 tons of corn in 2025. The project is expected to create 1,500 jobs, providing farmers in the region with a stable market through long-term agreements.

Xinjiang Lihua Group: Cotton Cluster in Turkistan Region
Another ambitious initiative is being undertaken by Xinjiang Lihua Group Co., Ltd., which is investing $420 million to establish a full-cycle cotton processing cluster in the Turkistan region. The project covers the entire production chain — from cotton cultivation to the manufacture of finished textile products.
The company is targeting both domestic and export markets, particularly within the CIS and Asia. The cluster will include ten industrial facilities and is projected to create over 4,000 rural jobs, with local farmers involved via contract farming schemes.

$650 Million from Dalian Hesheng Holdings: Grain Processing in Akmola Region
Another major investment comes from Dalian Hesheng Holdings, which will invest $650 million to build a grain deep processing complex in the Akmola region. The facility will produce gluten, starches, and other high value-added products, with long-term procurement agreements planned with local farmers.
This project is expected to significantly boost Kazakhstan’s agro-processing sector, export capacity, and food security.

Qingdao Wanlin Food: Vegetable Processing for Export
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Investment Committee has signed an agreement with Qingdao Wanlin Food Corporation to invest $89 million in the construction of a dehydrated onion and vegetable processing plant.
The plant will focus on exports to China, the United States, and Europe. The company has already initiated cooperation with local farmers for raw material procurement, and about 300 jobs are expected to be created at the facility.