EU Agri-Food Business Delegation to Kazakhstan

Brussels, 22 May 2024 – Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the EU Margulan Baimukhan met with European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the forthcoming visit of the EU high-level agri-food mission headed by Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski to Kazakhstan, which will be held for the first time in the period from 27 to 31 May 2024. The business mission of the agri-food sector includes more than 40 companies from 16 EU member states.

As part of the visit, activities are planned to establish close contacts and identify specific areas of co-operation between representatives of business circles of the Kazakhstan and the EU.

The European Union is an important trade and investment partner for the Kazakhstan. Bilateral trade and economic relations continue to maintain positive dynamics.  Bilateral trade turnover in 2023 totalled 41.4 billion US dollars (+3.5% growth).

At the same time, agricultural co-operation is high on the agenda of the Kazakhstan and the EU. In 2023, trade turnover of agricultural products increased by 13.4% to reach 1.1 billion US dollars. The main agricultural commodities exported from the Kazakstan to the EU are wheat, flax seeds, rapeseeds, processed cereals, etc.

The parties are interested in the implementation of investment projects in the agro-industrial complex and cooperation in the creation of an agro-food hub in Kazakhstan.

For reference: The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan (December 2015), which covers 29 areas, provides a framework for further deepening trade and economic co-operation, including in the field of agriculture.

The visit of the high-level agri-food mission is aimed at strengthening the EU's position in the field of agri-food products in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The EU agri-food mission is conducted annually to different countries, mainly to major trade partner countries.

There were visits to Japan on 2-6 July 2023, India on 6-12 December 2023, China on 21-26 April 2024 and Kazakhstan on 27-31 May 2024.