The first meeting of the ministers of agriculture of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on the development of the agro-industrial complex in Turkic countries took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Delovoy Kazakhstan reports.
The Organization of Turkic States is an international organization that unites 5 states and two observer countries, with a total population of about 150 million people. Because of economic dialogues, the well-established process of interaction and the mechanisms for implementing confidence-building measures, the OTC has the prospect of becoming an effective tool for jointly confronting new challenges and threats.
Trade relations between Kazakhstan and OTC members have great potential for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
Despite the pandemic and related factors, exports of Kazakh agro-industrial products in 2021 amounted to $3.7 billion. At the same time, about 36% of all products ($1.3 billion) exported to the OTC countries. The turnover of agricultural products between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the OTC countries in 2021 amounted to $1.79 billion, which is 17.1% more than in the same period in 2020 ($1.533 billion).
Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Karashukeev in his speech noted the importance of ensuring food security, taking emergency response measures, as well as improving the efficiency of mutual food supplies.
“Kazakhstan is the main country in ensuring food security throughout the Central Asian region, occupying a leading position in the production and export of grains and oilseeds. Taking into account the geographical location, rich land resources, as well as favorable climatic conditions, the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan in the future can play an important role in stabilizing and improving the food situation in the world,” the minister said.
In addition, Saule Sabyr, deputy director of the project department of KAZAKH INVEST, presented the investment opportunities of Kazakhstan within the framework of the visit. A meeting was also held with Evren Albach, the head of the Turkish company "Tat Gida" on the issue of creating a tomato processing project. Now, the project, supported by KAZAKH INVEST, is in the active development phase, negotiations are underway with financial institutions.
