The administration of the Pavlodar region signed a memorandum with China’s Snow Valley Agricultural Group Co. Ltd. to launch a large agro-industrial project with total investments of up to $200 million.
Under the document signed by Gov. Assain Baikhanov, Snow Valley Agricultural Group Chairman Wang Dengshe, and CEO Zhang Fan, the Chinese investor will build a deep-processing potato complex with a capacity of 100,000 to 200,000 tons per year. The key focus will be on producing high-value-added products, including French fries.
The project will cover the entire production cycle, from breeding to processing. Plans include building a breeding and research center, a facility for producing French fries and other products, and developing warehouse and logistics infrastructure.
Local authorities are hopeful that the launch of the production facility will help alleviate the capacity shortage in the deep processing of agricultural products and create new jobs.
«The governor’s office is ready to support initiatives aimed at creating high-tech, high-value-added production,» Baikhanov said, emphasizing his readiness to provide the project with the necessary infrastructure and administrative support.
In turn, Wang Dengshe noted the potential of the Pavlodar region and confirmed his interest in long-term cooperation.
Snow Valley Agricultural Group Co. Ltd. is a Chinese agricultural holding company operating a full cycle of potato processing, from breeding to cultivation. The company produces, among other things, blast-frozen products and exports them to more than 40 countries.
Kazakhstan is a major producer of potatoes, as they are a staple in the country. Potato products, especially chips, are highly popular among local consumers, attracting the attention of foreign investors. For example, Kazakh agricultural company Altyn Dan has begun cultivating a potato variety for the production of Lay’s chips. This follows PepsiCo’s decision to allocate $160 million for a new potato chip manufacturing facility — the largest in Central Asia — in the Almaty region.
