A Chinese investor plans to build a vegetable processing plant and warehouses at the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The Mazhilis has ratified the agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan regarding the regulation of the activities of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation "Central Asia," as reported by Orda.kz.

https://orda.kz/zavod-po-pererabotke-ovoschej-i-sklady-postroit-kitajskij-investor-na-granice-kazahstana-i-uzbekistana-397724/2025-02-05 07:31:37

The International Cooperation Center is set to become the largest hub for consolidation and processing of cargo flows in the region, facilitating cooperation within the North-South corridor. The center will be situated near the border crossing points of Atameken (Maqtaaral district of Turkestan region in Kazakhstan) and Gulistan (Uzbekistan). On a territory of 1 square kilometer (50 hectares owned by Kazakhstan), logistics infrastructure, warehouses, and vegetable processing plants will be established.

“A plant for processing vegetables and fruits, as well as food production, is planned to be constructed. The Akimat of Turkestan region has reached an agreement with a Chinese investor, and they are currently in negotiations. They also plan to build large warehouses. Other manufacturing projects are expected,” said Arman Shakkaliev.

Additionally, new manufacturing facilities in the fields of machine engineering, metal processing, pharmaceuticals, and others are planned for the center’s territory. All of this will be funded entirely by investors, without utilizing budget resources.

The technical launch of the International Industrial Cooperation Center is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, with the official opening anticipated in the first half of 2027.

Both governments have high hopes for this center. In recent years, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan has been declining, with open data indicating that in 2022 it reached 5 billion dollars, while the results for 2024 showed a reduction to 4.5 billion dollars.

It is expected that the launch of the industrial cooperation center will act as a catalyst for the development of international trade and the integration of the economic systems of both countries, potentially increasing the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to 10 billion dollars.

On February 4, it was announced that one of the border crossing points on the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border -- “Zhibek Zholy” in Turkestan region will be closed for four months starting from February 5.