On October 14, 2026, a roundtable dedicated to World Standards Day was held in Astana. Participants discussed the development of the national standardization system, support for domestic manufacturers, the introduction of innovative technologies, and the expansion of Kazakhstan’s export potential.
During the meeting, the results of work in the field of standardization were presented, and key priorities for the sector’s further development were identified.
As Zhanna Yessenbekova, Chair of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted, the role of standardization is growing significantly and is becoming one of the key instruments of the country’s technological and economic development.
“Today, standardization is no longer just a system of requirements for finished products. It is becoming a tool for technological development and for supporting production, investment, and access to new markets. We are moving from standards that formalize established practices to standards that proactively create the conditions for technological advancement,” Zhanna Yessenbekova emphasized.
One of the key priorities remains providing support for investment projects at their early stages. During production planning, companies receive assistance in refining technical requirements, selecting standards, and identifying the infrastructure needed to ensure quality.
In the petrochemical sector, a standard for multilayer polyethylene film is being developed, taking into account modern production technologies. The meeting also addressed KazStandard’s involvement in preparing the regulatory framework for Alatau City.
Particular attention is being paid to the quality and safety of products and services used in everyday life. Standards have been adopted for video surveillance systems, the refrigerated and frozen transportation of goods with temperature monitoring, and electronic medical records and documentation. Standards have also been approved for electric vehicle charging stations. These standards establish requirements for verification and metrological support to ensure reliable measurement and accounting of the electricity supplied.
The regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI) and scientific activities is also being developed. In 2025, seven national standards in the field of AI were approved for the first time. They cover architecture, data, risk management, and privacy.
In 2026, the standard “Scientific Research and Introduction into Production” was adopted. It addresses the assessment of technological readiness of developments, the digitalization of research, and the principles governing the handling of scientific data.
It should be noted that the Unified Fund of Regulatory and Technical Documents currently contains 76,174 documents, including 9,789 national standards. The implementation rate of national standards stands at 74%.
Kazakhstan has approved a national standard for pasteurized camel milk. The standard establishes uniform product requirements and aims to help domestic enterprises expand their product range and develop exports. The document will come into force on November 1, 2026.
The national standard ST RK 4050-2026, “Pasteurized Camel Milk. Technical Specifications,” was approved by Order No. 41-NQ of September 11, 2026, issued by the Chair of the Technical Regulation and Metrology Committee of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The document was developed by the Kazakhstan Institute of Standardization and Metrology (KazStandard) under the National Standardization Plan for 2026. The applicant was Antigen Research and Production Company LLP.
In Kazakhstan, camel milk has traditionally been used to produce fermented dairy drinks such as shubat and kymyran. Over the past 15–20 years, global interest in camel milk has grown, along with the range of products made from it.
Camel milk is used to produce ice cream and confiture, as well as in coffee-based drinks. For example, it can be used to prepare camelccino, a camel-milk version of cappuccino. Pasteurized camel milk is used in the production of such products.
The new standard establishes requirements for product quality and safety, labelling, packaging, transportation and storage. It also defines common terminology, product classifications and indicators for assessing product characteristics.
The standard will enable producers to expand their product range for domestic and international markets. The countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, China and the Middle East are considered promising export destinations.
The introduction of uniform requirements is intended to support Kazakhstani producers and strengthen their competitiveness. Developing this sector will also help diversify exports and increase the international recognition of Kazakhstan’s camel-milk products.
Since September 19, agricultural fairs under the “Dala Dami” initiative have been held in all regions of Kazakhstan to support domestic producers and provide the population with affordable food products. More than 13,000 tonnes of produce have been sold during the first three weeks. The fairs take place on weekends and will continue regularly throughout the year.
This week alone, the fairs held across the country offered 3,500 tonnes of food products. The largest share consisted of vegetables and melons, at 1,700 tonnes, followed by meat and meat products at 785 tonnes, and dairy products at 285 tonnes. The fairs also offer poultry, fish, fruit and berries, dry groceries, flour, bread, pasta and other food products.
Thanks to direct deliveries from domestic farmers and a reduction in the number of intermediaries, prices at the fairs are approximately 20% lower than the market average. These trading platforms also give agricultural producers across the country additional opportunities to sell their products, establish direct contact with consumers and strengthen interregional trade ties.
This weekend, residents and visitors of Astana will be able to purchase products supplied by agricultural producers from the Turkistan and West Kazakhstan regions. More than 600 tonnes of agricultural products have been delivered to the capital. These include 60 tonnes of meat and meat products, 260 tonnes of vegetables and fruit, and more than 60 tonnes of dairy products from the Turkistan Region. Producers from the West Kazakhstan Region will offer nearly 50 tonnes of meat and meat products, 80,000 eggs, 11 tonnes of fish products and other agricultural goods.
Holding these fairs in the capital creates additional sales opportunities for regional producers and helps strengthen interregional trade ties. At the same time, the fairs enable consumers to purchase high-quality domestic products at affordable prices.
Rome, October 7, 2026 – As part of his working visit to the Italian Republic, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliev chaired the 10th meeting of the Intergovernmental Kazakhstan–Italy Working Group on Industrial and Economic Cooperation and Exchanges, as well as a series of meetings with the heads of Italian companies and business associations.
The Italian side at the Working Group meeting was headed by Edmondo Cirielli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic. The sides reviewed progress in implementing previously reached agreements and discussed further expansion of trade, economic and investment cooperation. Particular attention was paid to diversifying bilateral trade, developing industrial cooperation, implementing joint investment projects, and strengthening cooperation in energy, transport and logistics, the agro-industrial sector and other promising areas.
In 2025, bilateral trade amounted to approximately USD 16.9 billion. In January–July 2026, trade turnover reached USD 9.79 billion, including approximately USD 9 billion in Kazakhstan’s exports and USD 789.6 million in imports from Italy. At the same time, Italian exports to Kazakhstan increased by 13.5%.
One of the key priorities identified by the sides was further diversification of bilateral trade and expansion of supplies of higher value-added products. According to the Kazakh side, the potential for additional exports of Kazakh products to the Italian market is estimated at approximately USD 307.5 million. Significant opportunities exist in metallurgy, petrochemicals, food and chemical industries, mechanical engineering and other sectors.
An important practical platform for strengthening business ties is the Kazakhstan–Italy Trade House, opened in Almaty in February 2026. The platform is focused on promoting exports, supporting investment projects, developing industrial cooperation and establishing direct contacts between businesses from the two countries.
Investment cooperation was another key area of discussion. To promote joint projects, the sides expressed interest in making greater use of the opportunities offered by the Astana International Financial Centre and expanding cooperation between financial institutions and business communities of the two countries.
Considerable attention was also paid to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) as a reliable and efficient multimodal corridor connecting Central Asia and Europe. Kazakhstan invited Italian railway and logistics companies to participate in joint projects using the capabilities of the ports of Aktau and Kuryk. In the energy sector, the sides confirmed their interest in further developing cooperation in traditional areas.
In the agro-industrial sector, the sides discussed prospects for cooperation in crop production, grain processing and livestock farming. They agreed to continue efforts to increase the level of localization and develop the component base, with a view to integrating Kazakh-made components into global supply chains.
The sides also agreed to expand cooperation in environmental protection and sustainable water resource management, tourism and sports, culture and education. Particular attention will be given to climate initiatives, energy efficiency, decarbonization, the introduction of modern engineering and digital solutions in water management, as well as the development of professional and educational exchanges.
The business programme of the visit served as a practical continuation of the Working Group’s agenda. The key focus of meetings with Italian companies was to expand practical cooperation between businesses in Kazakhstan and Italy – from promoting Kazakh products and establishing direct commercial ties to attracting investment and technology and implementing joint projects.
A significant part of the discussions focused on attracting Italian and European businesses to investment and industrial projects in Kazakhstan. During meetings with representatives of Blacktrace and Value Partners, the sides explored opportunities to develop a concrete project pipeline and attract investors, technology providers and engineering partners. Potential areas included the deep processing of critical minerals and rare earth metals, development of logistics infrastructure along the Middle Corridor, water-saving technologies, data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
At the same time, the Kazakh side emphasized that its interest extends beyond attracting investment and contractors to deeper industrial cooperation, including localization of engineering expertise and technologies, greater involvement of domestic contractors, workforce training and a gradual increase in local content. As a next practical step, the sides proposed identifying several pilot projects and developing specific cooperation models for them.
Another important area of the business programme was the creation of new channels for Kazakh producers to enter the Italian market. During talks with Crai Mediterranea, the sides discussed the possibility of direct supplies of Kazakh food products to Italian retail chains. Promising categories include vegetable oils, honey, confectionery, grain and flour products, pulses and organic products. As a practical mechanism, the sides proposed launching a pilot shelf featuring Kazakh products in selected stores, followed by an expansion of supplies through the Gruppo CRAI network. The possibility of producing goods by Kazakh companies under the Italian group’s private-label brands was also discussed.
The export agenda continued during talks with ASSOEBIOS, which represents Italian electricity sector operators working with sustainable bioliquids. The Italian side expressed interest in purchasing Kazakh agricultural raw materials for further processing and use in bioenergy. There is potential for supplies of oilseeds and their processed products, including sunflower, rapeseed and vegetable oils.
Alongside major investment and export initiatives, the sides discussed opportunities to introduce new technology-driven business models to the Kazakh market. With CoolXp, they explored the possibility of using Kazakhstan as a pilot market for the subsequent expansion of the company’s business across Central Asia. At the initial stage, the sides proposed testing the company’s equipment in Astana and Almaty. Subject to achieving the required volumes, the parties may subsequently consider the gradual localization of service maintenance, consumables and selected components.
The issue of systematic cooperation between entrepreneurs from the two countries was also discussed with the leadership of the Italy–Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce. The sides highlighted the importance of expanding direct business contacts, supporting Kazakh companies in entering the Italian market and further strengthening ties between the business communities of Kazakhstan and Italy.
Following the meetings, the sides agreed to move the initiatives discussed towards practical implementation by identifying specific projects and potential partners, arranging direct negotiations between companies and continuing work on possible cooperation formats. The Ministry of Trade and Integration, together with QazTrade, is ready to facilitate the necessary contacts with government agencies, development institutions and Kazakh businesses to further implement the agreements reached.
On October 6, 2026, the Agreement on Economic Partnership between the Eurasian Economic Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the United Arab Emirates, on the other hand (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”), entered into force.
Reference: The Agreement was signed on June 27, 2025, in St. Petersburg. The Agreement was ratified by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 8, 2026, No. 338-VIII ZRK.
The main objective of the Agreement is the mutual elimination and reduction of import customs duties on more than 85% of the product nomenclature, as well as the facilitation of trade between the parties.
The opening of the Emirati market will enable Kazakhstani exporters to supply the UAE duty-free with such categories of agricultural and industrial products as lamb, dried leguminous vegetables, chicken meat, beef, other food products, sweetened mineral water, wheat flour, and confectionery products. Industrial goods include oil and petroleum products, refined copper, hot-rolled flat products, cold-rolled flat products, bars, cranes, valves, parts of machinery and equipment, pumps, and others.
In addition to the elimination and reduction of import customs duties, the Agreement contains provisions on customs cooperation, trade remedies, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), intellectual property, as well as relevant chapters on legal and institutional matters and agreements aimed at developing sectoral cooperation, enhancing interaction between small and medium-sized enterprises, e-commerce, and other areas.
The establishment of a comprehensive preferential trade regime and the regulation of a broad range of issues under the Agreement will help unlock the potential of mutual trade and bring Kazakhstan–UAE trade and economic relations to a qualitatively new level.
The full text is available on the website: https://eec.eaeunion.org .
Work on developing cross-border trade and logistics hubs in Kazakhstan is continuing and gradually moving from the planning stage to concrete implementation. The focus is no longer limited to building infrastructure along the borders: projects are now moving into the construction of production facilities, attraction of investment, launch of new logistics capacities and the development of initial cargo flows. The Ministry of Trade and Integration is coordinating work on five key hubs designed to strengthen Kazakhstan’s trade ties with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, China and the Caspian region. Their development is expected to streamline logistics procedures for businesses and contribute to increasing non-commodity exports to 30%.
The most visible progress is being made in the eastern direction. At the Khorgos – Eastern Gate Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the number of projects has increased from 14 in 2022 to 69, while the volume of attracted investment has grown from KZT 340 billion to KZT 652.8 billion. Today, 40 projects worth KZT 75 billion are being implemented, creating 864 jobs. In the first half of 2026 alone, nine new participants were registered, with investments totaling KZT 9.3 billion and 230 jobs to be created. During the same period, the value of manufactured products reached KZT 12.7 billion, up 74% compared with the same period in 2025.
The infrastructure at Khorgos is also expanding. The SEZ already has an inland dry port with an annual capacity of 540,000 containers, as well as a 25,000-square-metre Class A warehouse complex. Two more major logistics projects are currently at the design stage. By 2028, 28 projects worth KZT 577.7 billion are planned for implementation, creating around 2,800 jobs. Among the largest initiatives are the Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City industrial park, valued at KZT 330 billion, and an international passenger and cargo airport worth KZT 250 billion.
In southern Kazakhstan, projects are also moving into practical implementation. At the Central Asia International Center for Industrial Cooperation, fencing of the 100-hectare site has been completed, while internal roads and engineering infrastructure are under construction. External construction and installation works have been completed, and commissioning activities are now underway. Internal engineering infrastructure is 55% complete, with the remaining works scheduled for completion in December 2026. The local akimat has already fully completed the construction of eight production buildings, while the investment project pipeline for the center has reached KZT 89.4 billion. Construction has already begun on one of the largest projects — an industrial park worth KZT 75.3 billion.
In the Zhambyl Region, the Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex was granted Special Economic Zone status in April 2026. A 165-hectare site has been allocated for the project, and a programme for connecting the complex to engineering networks has been developed. Construction of the first-stage substation began this year. Of the KZT 12 billion allocated for these purposes, around KZT 4 billion has been provided in 2026, with the remaining funds planned for next year. At the same time, preparations for the site and the complex’s infrastructure are continuing.
The western direction is also undergoing active development. The Eurasia Cross-Border Trade Center in the West Kazakhstan Region covers 281 hectares. Part of the external engineering infrastructure has already been completed, including gas, electricity, water supply and wastewater systems. Projects are being implemented in the industrial zone for the production of asphalt concrete, recycling of automotive tires, manufacturing of aerated concrete products and construction of a gas-turbine power plant. At the same time, work is underway to establish the Eurasia Special Economic Zone, which is expected to create additional conditions for attracting investment and localizing production.
The Caspian region is seeing its own progress. Practical operations at the Aktau International Container Hub have already begun at the Port of Aktau: the first container train arrived on July 14, 2026. To date, 233 containers, equivalent to 444 TEUs, have been received. The project is being implemented in stages and is expected to increase the port’s annual container handling capacity to 240,000 TEUs, compared with the current 70,000 TEUs.
Another major facility in the Caspian hub is the container terminal at the ERSAI Industrial Port. Construction is approximately 85% complete. Ten kilometers of internal port railway tracks have already been built, while the container yard and crane tracks are nearing completion. The terminal is scheduled to be commissioned on October 1, 2026. Once it reaches full capacity, it will be able to handle up to 120,000 TEUs annually and accommodate up to 300 vessels per year. Private investment in the project exceeds KZT 15 billion.
Overall, the five cross-border hubs are gradually forming an integrated infrastructure network designed to connect Kazakh businesses with the major markets of neighboring countries. In some locations, production facilities are already operating; in others, the first container trains have arrived, while elsewhere engineering infrastructure is nearing completion and construction of new facilities is getting underway. The next stage will be to bring these projects to full capacity, expand the investor base and further increase trade and transit volumes across Kazakhstan’s borders.
For the third consecutive week, agricultural fairs under the “Dala Dami” initiative are being held across Kazakhstan. With the support of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, domestic farmers are selling their products directly to consumers, without intermediaries.
This week, the fairs across the country feature 7,568 tonnes of agricultural products. In Astana, the total volume exceeds 400 tonnes.
Prices at the fairs remain affordable. Last week, a number of products were sold at prices 15–20% lower than market levels. For example, in Astana, a kilogram of beef and horse meat was offered at KZT 3,500, while in Kostanay, beef was priced at KZT 3,200–3,500 per kilogram, and horse meat and lamb started from KZT 3,000 per kilogram.
This weekend, farmers from the East Kazakhstan and Aktobe regions are presenting their products in the capital.
The fairs offer a wide range of locally produced goods, including meat and dairy products, fruits and vegetables, fish, grains and other products. Meat products remain particularly popular among consumers.
A key feature of the “Dala Dami” fairs is that farmers can sell their products directly to consumers. Trading spaces are provided free of charge to local agricultural producers.
The “Dala Dami” fairs are held in all regions of the country every weekend.
The Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan informs that the draft Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments to Resolution No. 441 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 21, 2018, ‘On Approval of the List of Goods Subject to Prohibition of Conditional Release’” (hereinafter referred to as the draft resolution) has been published on the Ministry’s official website and the Open Legal Acts portal.
The draft resolution was developed pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Comprehensive Plan for Countering Illegal Trade in Goods at the State Borders, approved by Resolution No. 585 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated August 31, 2021. The plan provides for additional measures to strengthen control over compliance with prohibitions and restrictions on the import of certain categories of vehicles.
The draft resolution proposes adding motor vehicles, including mopeds, motorized bicycles and mokiks, to the list of goods subject to prohibition of conditional release.
The draft is available for public discussion on the Open Legal Acts portal from October 1 to October 15, 2026.
All interested parties are invited to participate in the discussion by following the link: https://legalacts.egov.kz/npa/view?id=15923032
The 10th Meeting of the Kazakhstan-Mongolia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation was held in Astana on October 1, 2026.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state of bilateral trade and practical measures to further expand trade relations.
First Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aizhan Bizhanova noted that Kazakhstan and Mongolia have significantly intensified their cooperation since the beginning of the year. In the first eight months of 2026, bilateral trade reached approximately USD 77 million.
At the same time, the sides have carried out substantial work this year to develop legal, trade and financial instruments to further increase bilateral trade.
One of the key developments was the entry into force on July 22 of the Interim Trade Agreement between the EAEU and Mongolia. The agreement provides preferential conditions for 367 tariff lines. Kazakhstan sees significant potential for increasing exports of agricultural products, machinery, metals and chemical industry products.
In parallel, infrastructure is being developed to promote Kazakh products in the Mongolian market. Several agreements have been signed with major Mongolian partners this year.
Under one of these agreements, concluded with Mon-Kaz Trade & Investment Hub, preparations are underway in Ulaanbaatar to launch a trading platform under the Made in Kazakhstan brand, where Kazakh products will be presented on a permanent basis.
Particular attention was also paid to the development of trade financing. The Kazakhstan Export Credit Agency has approved a USD 33 million limit for Mongolia’s Trade and Development Bank. Under this mechanism, three transactions for the supply of Kazakh railway gondola cars, with a total value of approximately USD 21 million, are already being worked on. At the same time, cooperation with other Mongolian banks is also underway.
The Kazakh side also proposed exploring a reciprocal financing mechanism that would allow domestic businesses to purchase Mongolian products on more favorable terms. This would help use trade finance instruments to increase mutual supplies between the two countries.
Another practical outcome was the development of cooperation in the field of technical regulation. On September 28, a Memorandum was signed between the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology. The cooperation is aimed at simplifying procedures and reducing technical barriers to bilateral trade.
Particular attention during the meeting was also given to transport and logistics connectivity between the two countries. Kazakhstan supported the Mongolian side’s initiatives to improve trade routes, develop transportation through the territory of China and reduce logistics costs.
“Over the course of this year, we have carried out substantial preparatory work together. Trade, financial and organizational instruments have been established. Our common task now is to translate these mechanisms into concrete transactions, secure new contracts and increase bilateral trade,” Aizhan Bizhanova said.
The Kazakh side expressed its readiness to continue practical work to promote joint trade projects and provide the necessary support to Mongolian businesses in the Kazakh market.
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, annual inflation in Kazakhstan stood at 9.3% in September 2026. Food prices increased by 8.5%. On a month-on-month basis, inflation remained at the August level of 0.6%.
At the same time, prices for a number of food products declined in September. Onion prices fell by 20.7%, lemons by 13.9%, carrots by 13.6%, potatoes by 13.4%, eggplants by 11.2%, and cabbage by 10.1%. Prices for sweet peppers, apples, pears, garlic and bananas also decreased. Prices for baby food cereals fell by 6.1%, while sugar prices decreased by 1.3%.
The decline in prices for certain fruits and vegetables was also recorded year-on-year. Over the past year, apple prices decreased by 11.1%, lemons by 8.3%, beets by 6.9%, cabbage by 6.1%, bananas by 5.6%, and sweet peppers by 3.9%.
The Ministry of Trade and Integration continues to take measures to stabilize prices for socially significant food products. The main focus is on maintaining sufficient supply, ensuring direct deliveries from producers, reducing unnecessary intermediaries and monitoring trade markups.
Since the beginning of the year, the direct supply mechanism has brought approximately 33.2 thousand tonnes of potatoes, 13.9 thousand tonnes of carrots, 4.7 thousand tonnes of onions and 177.7 tonnes of white cabbage to the domestic market. The main volumes have been supplied from China, Uzbekistan and other countries in the region.
Stabilization funds and the “revolving scheme” are also being used to help contain prices. Regional commissions continue to identify unproductive intermediaries and remove them from supply chains. Since the beginning of the year, 816 meetings have been held, 3,391 violations have been identified, and 222 unproductive intermediaries have been removed from supply chains.
Compliance with the 15% trade markup limit for socially significant food products remains under regular monitoring. Since the beginning of the year, 3,610 administrative decisions have been issued for exceeding the established markup.
Additional measures are also being taken to reduce costs for producers and suppliers. Since June, a reduced railway transportation coefficient has been applied to socially significant food products and wheat intended for flour-milling and baking enterprises. This has made it possible to reduce transportation costs by up to 40%. A reduced electricity tariff is also available to producers of socially significant goods that undertake commitments to stabilize prices.
Work to ensure price stability continues. Particular attention is being paid to goods that have the greatest impact on food inflation, as well as to ensuring a stable and uninterrupted supply of the domestic market.