// Tokayev
The visit of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the USA opened new horizons for constructive discussions with leading global companies and financial institutions. The main focus was on long-term investments, localization of production, and Kazakhstan's integration into international value chains.
One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the signing of an investment contract 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 the city of Alatau, which will focus on deep processing of agricultural raw materials and the production of high value-added goods.
Mars CEO Paul Vaichrauh emphasized that the new enterprise in Kazakhstan will serve as a foundation for expanding the company's operations in Central Asia and neighboring countries.
In addition, separate negotiations addressed healthcare issues. During meetings with Ashmore Group, the construction of an international clinic in collaboration with Ashmore Healthcare International and Samruk-Kazyna Invest was discussed, with Mount Sinai Health System acting as the operator.
This initiative fully aligns with Kazakhstan's strategy for modernizing medical infrastructure and developing medical tourism, as well as the "Open Investment Partnership" program aimed at high-tech sectors of the economy.
Another key point of the visit was discussions in the aviation sector. At a meeting with representatives of Boeing, Tokayev confirmed the interest of Kazakhstani carriers Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, and VietJet Kazakhstan in increasing cooperation.
Air Astana plans to acquire Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in the second half of 2026, which could open new opportunities for launching direct flights between Kazakhstan and the USA. At the same time, the company is also considering the possibility of purchasing additional aircraft and establishing its first maintenance and repair center at Shymkent Airport in partnership with an American company.
At the conclusion of the visit, negotiations were held with the participation of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). DFC CEO Ben Black noted that Washington views Kazakhstan as an important partner in Eurasia. Discussions focused on projects in the mining sector and the development of transport and transit infrastructure, which is critical for regional trade.
According to the UNCTAD World Investment Report 2025, Kazakhstan ranks first in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Central Asia. In 2024, the volume of FDI attracted from Kazakhstan amounted to about $151 billion, significantly exceeding the figures for Turkmenistan (about $45 billion), Uzbekistan (about $17 billion), as well as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (about $4 billion each).
The negotiations in Washington highlight Kazakhstan's strategic focus on creating long-term institutional partnerships rather than just individual investment deals, which should strengthen international investors' confidence in the stability and openness of the Kazakh market.
