ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 29. Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with the Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu, who arrived in Kazakhstan to participate in the Astana International Forum, Trend reports.
In the course of the meeting, the sides reviewed the progress of implementing agreements reached during high-level negotiations in 2024. Current issues and work plans under the Kazakhstan-FAO Partnership Program were discussed.
Moreover, attention was given to prospects for deepening cooperation in agro-processing and increasing exports of high-value-added agricultural products.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan emphasized that agriculture is one of the key sectors of the national economy. Kazakhstan exports agricultural products to 80 countries worldwide and ranks 32nd out of 113 countries in the Global Food Security Index.
"Efforts to develop the sector are yielding results: last year, we recorded a 13.7 percent growth in gross agricultural output. In the coming years, Kazakhstan intends to actively develop agro-processing and increase the share of high-value-added products to 70 percent. Construction of new and modernization of existing processing enterprises is planned. Over the next three years, we plan to implement more than 600 investment projects in the agro-food sector totaling over $4.8 billion," emphasized Olzhas Bektenov.
In turn, the FAO Director-General highly praised Kazakhstan's potential and expressed confidence in further deepening cooperation.
"Kazakhstan, with its vast land resources, rich agrobiodiversity, and strategic position at the heart of Eurasia, has enormous potential to become a global leader in sustainable agriculture. As the ninth largest country in the world, Kazakhstan has all the capabilities and ambitions to turn its agri-food systems into a driving force for sustainable development, economic growth, and environmental responsibility. FAO is proud of its strong partnership with Kazakhstan and intends to continue supporting the country in achieving food security, implementing innovations, and promoting sustainable solutions for future generations," said Qu Dongyu.
One of the priorities of cooperation is the introduction of digital solutions in the agricultural sector. Kazakhstan initiated the creation of a geographic information system based on artificial intelligence and a unified digital platform, FitoSpace, to combat and prevent the spread of migratory locusts. This service will increase monitoring accuracy, minimize pesticide use, and reduce environmental risks, which will contribute to agricultural efficiency and strengthen phytosanitary control.
Overall, the activities of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Kazakhstan include assisting in the development of national strategic documents for the development of the country's agro-industrial complex. Currently, the FAO project portfolio in Kazakhstan includes more than 55 initiatives, including 33 completed projects and 22 ongoing.
