A meeting was held at the Ministry of National Economy of the RK between Vice-Minister Yerlan Sagnayev and the head of the International Co-operative Alliance for the Asia-Pacific region, Balasubramanian Iyer, with the participation of representatives of state bodies, national institutions, and industry associations.

Opening the meeting, Yerlan Sagnayev emphasized that cooperatives play a special role in the economy: they involve citizens in entrepreneurial activity, create jobs, support small and medium-sized businesses, and also act as a link between society and the state.

One of the key issues was the development of a product certification system. Kazakhstan already has accredited laboratories that meet international requirements. Joint work to bring their activities in line with the standards of the Asia-Pacific region countries will expand the export potential of domestic producers.

The prospect of localizing the production of international companies in Kazakhstan on the basis of cooperative projects was discussed separately. Such an approach will open access to advanced technologies and create new opportunities for integration into global value chains.

The vice-minister also noted that for Kazakhstan, transport connectivity remains a key factor in the development of cooperation. The completion of the construction of more than 800 km of railway tracks on the «Dostyk - Moyinty» section has significantly increased the country's logistics potential, providing a more effective outlet for goods to foreign markets.

Among the promising areas of cooperation, the participants highlighted the development of credit unions with flexible financing conditions - at low interest rates or with repayment in the form of products. Kazakhstan intends to study the possibility of introducing this practice.

In turn, Balasubramanian Iyer recalled that the UN General Assembly declared 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives under the motto «Cooperatives Build a Better World». He noted that cooperatives have a significant impact on economic, environmental, and social development: today more than a billion people, or about 12% of the planet's population, are their members. Balasubramanian Iyer stressed the readiness of the International Co-operative Alliance to work more actively in Central Asia, to assist in the search for new markets and the promotion of products, and also invited Kazakhstan to join the ranks of the ICA.

Following the negotiations, the parties expressed their readiness to consider the possibility of creating joint working groups, holding expert meetings, and participating in regional forums, exhibitions, and electronic trading platforms.

For reference: The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is a global federation that unites more than 310 member organizations from 110 countries around the world. Founded in 1895, the ICA is one of the oldest and largest associations in the non-governmental sector and a partner of the UN, which actively promotes the cooperative model of sustainable development.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy/press/news/details/1069684?lang=kk