Processing of cotton, rice, grains, and oilseeds will be launched at the International Center for Industrial Cooperation "Central Asia," which is being built on the border with Uzbekistan near the Atameken and Gulistan checkpoints. The center is scheduled to open in 2026, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev announced during a government meeting.
He clarified that construction of the ICIC is being carried out in two phases. All work on the first phase will be completed by the end of this year. Zoning of the 100-hectare site has been completed, and eight production buildings have been erected.
Seven investment projects have been identified for the second phase, including the production of drip irrigation systems and the processing of cotton, rice, grains, and oilseeds.
An industrial park is also planned for the center.
"The total investment is 185.1 billion tenge. 1,150 jobs will be created." "The project's implementation will strengthen trade and economic relations with Uzbekistan and ensure mutual trade grows to $10 billion over a five-year period," Shakkaliyev noted.
The Minister of Trade reported that five major cross-border hubs are being developed in Kazakhstan. Among them, the Khorgos Hub, which includes the Khorgos ICBC and Khorgos-Eastern Gate SEZs, is being developed in the east of the country. The SkyHansa International Airport and new logistics complexes are being built here to increase throughput with China.
At the same time, he reported, work is underway to develop the Caspian Hub, where a container hub and the Sarzha multifunctional terminal are being built in the ports of Aktau and Kuryk.
On the western border, in West Kazakhstan, the Eurasia Cross-Border Trade Center, focused on exports to Russia, is operating, and an Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex is being created in the Zhambyl Region on the Western Europe – Western China route. It will ensure the processing and distribution of commodity flows at the border with Kyrgyzstan.
"We are entering the active phase of investment project implementation. At this stage, the focus will be on the practical launch of projects, expanding logistics capabilities, and engaging businesses in new cooperation formats. The launch of these hubs will significantly accelerate trade processes with neighboring countries, increase the volume of non-resource exports by 30%, and provide effective logistics conditions for Kazakhstani companies," the minister emphasized.