Beijing, (TDI): Chinese state-owned CITIC Construction has announced plans to invest over $1 billion in building a sugar substitutes plant in Kazakhstan’s Almaty region, a move set to bolster the Central Asian country’s agro-industrial capabilities.
The agreement was finalized during a recent meeting between Ermek Kenzhekhanuly, Vice Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, and a visiting Chinese delegation.
The project, situated in the Kazbek bi-industrial zone, will involve deep grain processing and aims to produce a variety of sugar substitutes including maltose, fructose, crystalline fructose, and allulose, along with other by-products such as sodium gluconate, gluten, and animal feed.
The facility will have an annual processing capacity of 300,000 tonnes of wheat and is expected to create over 2,000 new jobs.
CITIC Construction’s investment, valued at approximately $1.07 billion, will generate products worth $1.87 billion annually, according to official sources.
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This development comes as part of a broader initiative to enhance Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial sector, following a mid-July agreement between the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, CITIC Construction, and Beijing Capital Agro.
The partnership, valued at $600 million, aims to modernize beef cattle breeding in Kazakhstan through the establishment of feedlots in collaboration with over 600 farms across the country.
China Kazakhstan’s Largest Trading Partner
China remains Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner, with agricultural exports from Kazakhstan to China reaching $1 billion by the end of 2023—doubling from the previous year.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $41 billion in 2023, with both sides expressing aspirations to significantly expand this figure.
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Over the past 15 years, China has invested close to $25 billion in Kazakhstan, making it one of the largest foreign investors in the country’s economy.
The latest project underscores Beijing’s strategic interest in Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector and its potential for further growth.
