Kazakhstan continues to hold leading positions in Central Asia in attracting foreign investments
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's recent visit to the USA marked an important milestone in strengthening ties with international financial institutions and major corporations focused on long-term investments, localization of production, and the integration of the country into global value chains.
One significant outcome of the trip was the signing of a cooperation agreement worth approximately $180 million between the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and Mars, Incorporated. Under this agreement, a pet food manufacturing plant is planned to be built in Alatau, aimed at deep processing of agricultural raw materials and creating high-quality value-added products.
Mars CEO Paul Veichrauch emphasized that this plant will serve as an important base for expanding the company's presence in Central Asia and neighboring regions.
Additionally, during the visit, a meeting was held to discuss healthcare issues. Negotiations with Ashmore Group addressed a proposal to establish an international clinic in collaboration with Ashmore Healthcare International and Samruk-Kazyna Invest, supported by Mount Sinai Health System, which will act as the operator.
This initiative aligns with Kazakhstan's strategy for developing medical infrastructure and medical tourism, as well as the "Open Investment Partnership" program aimed at high-tech sectors of the economy.
Aerospace manufacturing also became an important topic of discussion. In a meeting with representatives from Boeing, Tokayev confirmed the interest of Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, and VietJet Qatar in deepening cooperation.
For instance, Air Astana plans to acquire Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in the second half of 2026, which could pave the way for direct flights between Kazakhstan and the USA. At the same time, SCAT Airlines is considering the purchase of additional aircraft and the establishment of the first maintenance and repair center at Shymkent Airport in collaboration with an American partner.
The visit concluded with negotiations involving the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). DFC CEO Ben Black noted that the USA views Kazakhstan as a key partner in the Eurasian region. Discussions focused on projects in the mining sector and the development of transport infrastructure, which are crucial for regional trade.
According to the UNCTAD report on global investments for 2025, Kazakhstan holds a dominant position in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Central Asia. In 2024, the volume of incoming FDI in Kazakhstan amounted to about $151 billion, significantly exceeding the figures for Turkmenistan (around $45 billion), Uzbekistan (around $17 billion), as well as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (about $4 billion each).
The negotiations held in Washington emphasize that Kazakhstan is focused on forming long-term institutional partnerships rather than one-off deals, which should strengthen international investors' trust in the stability and openness of the Kazakh market.
As previously reported, Tokayev also participated in the first meeting of the Council of Peace in Washington, where Kazakhstan expressed its readiness to contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza and broader stabilization efforts, including potential financial support and participation in peacekeeping initiatives.
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