Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin met with Al Khaleej Sugar President Jamal Al Ghurair to discuss preparations for the launch of the country’s largest sugar plant.
A 1,000-hectare site in Konaev within the Alatau SEZ has already been allocated, with gas and electricity infrastructure now being put in place. Work is also underway to secure raw materials: 65,000 hectares have been designated for sugar beet cultivation in the first stage, with further expansion planned. Land preparation and irrigation planning are in progress, and international financing is expected for water infrastructure.
Farmers in the region have confirmed readiness to cultivate nearly 100,000 hectares of sugar beet, ensuring full supply for the plant.
The parties agreed to accelerate the transition to the construction stage and proposed establishing a working group for coordination. The UAE side expressed readiness to sign an EPC contract.
The project is being developed by QazaqArab Sugar. It will have an annual capacity of 500,000 tons, require 313.6 billion tenge in investment, and is scheduled for 2025–2028. Around 450 permanent jobs will be created.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture
