Kazakhstan wants to expand export of value-added products

Kazakhstan is going to focus on value-added product exports, as Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said during a Taldau Talks podcast.

«When you export your products, you have to gain a high profit. Competition in the market is becoming more intense. Unfortunately, the share of the non-commodity sector is still small. Ten years ago, we had a 70/30 ratio, now it is 65/35. This is not a big change. We have to pursue better results,» the minister emphasized.

According to Shakkaliyev, there are more than 80 export-oriented companies in Kazakhstan that already sell their products abroad. In 2024, Kazakhstan’s external trade turnover reached $141 billion.

The episode featuring Shakkaliyev was devoted to current issues in Kazakhstan’s external trade and efforts needed to promote exports. The guests discussed global tariff trends, support for domestic exporters, and the development of supply chains and transport infrastructure.

Joining the minister were Andrey Shin, president of the Shin-Line Group, and Bolat Mynbayev, partner at KPMG for the Caucasus and Central Asia..

They discussed the protectionist policies of the U.S. government, global logistical changes and the expansion of Kazakhstani manufacturers into foreign markets. The host of the podcast, Maulen Ashimbayev — who is also the speaker of the Senate, the upper chamber of Kazakhstan’s parliament — emphasized that Kazakhstan should become an export-oriented country, and that its companies must strive to be competitive in the global market.

«In this regard, state support must be clear and effective, facilitating Kazakhstani manufacturers to enter and set a well-established presence in foreign markets,» the Senate speaker said.

During the discussion, the experts emphasized that trade wars are opening new opportunities for Kazakhstan.