A Polish Investor Plans to Build a $100 Million Factory in Kazakhstan
An economic forum dedicated to the development of trade and investment relations between Kazakhstan and Poland took place in Warsaw, Poland. On the sidelines of the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between "KAZAKH INVEST" and the Polish company "SENEKA" for the construction of a fish feed factory in Kazakhstan. The project's value is $100 million.
Poland is one of Kazakhstan's leading economic partners in Central and Eastern Europe. Kazakh-Polish trade turnover accounts for over 80% of Poland's total trade volume with Central Asian countries. In 2022, it exceeded $1.3 billion, with exports amounting to $770.7 million and imports reaching $587.4 million. These figures represent a 78% increase compared to 2021 ($757.8 million).
According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the gross inflow of direct investments from Poland into the Kazakh economy in 2022 amounted to $75 million, a 164% increase compared to 2021 ($28.4 million). The pool of investment projects by Polish businesses in Kazakhstan consists of 10 projects totaling $190 million.
Forum participants emphasized the significant potential for strengthening trade and investment ties between Kazakhstan and Poland. In addition to traditional raw material sectors, Polish investors show particular interest in the agro-industrial sector, which is a priority for the development of the Polish economy. Apart from the agricultural sector, Polish investors may also consider prospects in the fields of mechanical engineering, new technologies and innovations, and renewable energy sources.
Speaking with a welcoming speech, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vasilenko highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation between the countries, emphasizing shared interests and prospects for economic development. According to him, the forum is an important platform for establishing new business connections and promoting cooperation between entrepreneurs from both countries.
During the panel session on "Business Prospects: Opportunities for Financial Support for Polish and Kazakh Entities", Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Investments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Erlan Zeineshov, spoke about the investment opportunities in Kazakh-Polish cooperation. In his speech, the speaker discussed the investment opportunities in the country, state support measures, and promising areas for implementing projects by Polish investors.
In turn, Malgorzata Javorek, the Head of the Department of Investments and Real Estate at Nicolaus Copernicus University and a candidate of technical sciences, noted that the surveys of Polish companies operating in Kazakhstan demonstrate the absolute trust of investors in the country. She emphasized that based on their experience and successes, Polish companies see Kazakhstan as a promising and attractive investment market.
The session was moderated by Altynay Mukhanova, the Head of Projects at KAZAKH INVEST for European countries. In her speech, she presented the activities of the national investment company and invited Polish investors to participate in joint projects in Kazakhstan.
"Today, Kazakhstan is an economically attractive destination for foreign investments. This is evidenced by the country's stable positions in international rankings and investment statistics. In 2022, the gross inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kazakhstan reached $28 billion, which is 17.7% higher than in 2021 ($23.8 billion). This figure is the highest in the past 10 years (in 2012, it was $28.9 billion)," noted A. Mukhanova.
The Kazakhstan-Poland forum has had a significant impact on strengthening economic ties between the two countries and symbolizes the mutual interest in long-term development of bilateral relations.
