A record-breaking package of export and investment documents worth $335.4 million was signed at the Gulfood 2026 international exhibition in Dubai. The agreements were reached during a roundtable discussion organized by the QazTrade trade policy development center and became one of the key practical outcomes of Kazakhstan's participation in the world's largest food industry exhibition.

The event was attended by over 35 representatives of Kazakhstani businesses and over 50 foreign companies and organizations from the UAE, the Gulf states, Turkey, China, and other markets. The roundtable brought together producers, traders, distributors, representatives of chain retailers, HoReCa, and investment structures, and was focused on concluding specific commercial agreements.

A total of 19 documents were signed or announced, covering the export of grain, highly processed grain products, oil and fat products, confectionery, legumes, and rice, as well as the distribution of Kazakhstani food products in the UAE market. The largest agreements relate to the supply of grain crops. Cooperation agreements for the export of up to 800,000 tons of grain with partners from the UAE and Oman, worth over $240 million, have been established. Separate contracts cover the supply of durum wheat, feed flour, legumes, and rice, as well as the development of distribution channels through local retail chains and specialized distributors. A number of memorandums are aimed at creating a sustainable infrastructure for the presence of Kazakhstani companies in the region, ranging from logistics and service solutions to the promotion of high-value-added products.

The roundtable, organized by QazTrade, served as a working platform for substantive dialogue between producers and foreign partners. Discussions focused on the transition from one-time deliveries to long-term contracts, GCC market requirements for quality and certification, logistics, and the development of direct B2B supply chains without intermediaries.

The business program also included a working meeting between Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the management of LuLu Group International, one of the largest retail chains in the Middle East and Asia.

The parties discussed expanding the presence of Kazakh goods in the LuLu retail chain, developing direct contracts with domestic producers, and increasing the supply of high-value-added products. Special attention was paid to investment opportunities, including the development of logistics and warehousing infrastructure in Kazakhstan, packaging and pre-sale preparation projects, and the development of long-term purchasing programs for export markets.

The signed agreements and negotiations take place against the backdrop of Kazakhstan's first-ever participation in Gulfood with a single National Pavilion. The exhibition, held in Dubai from January 26 to 30, is a key global platform for the international trade of food and beverage products. For Kazakhstani companies, participation in Gulfood 2026 has become more than just a showcase, but a practical tool for entering the markets of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, where export intentions are transformed into specific contracts and long-term partnerships.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1150553?lang=kk