Kazakhstan’s participation at the Gulfood 2026 international exhibition in Dubai resulted in the signing of export and investment agreements worth $335.4 million.

The deals were finalized during a business roundtable organized by QazTrade, becoming one of the key practical outcomes of Kazakhstan’s presence at the world’s largest food industry exhibition, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The event brought together around 35 Kazakh companies and more than 50 foreign businesses and organizations from the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf states, Türkiye, China, and other markets.

In total, 19 documents were signed or announced, with the largest agreements covering grain exports. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration, cooperation deals worth $240 million were reached with partners from the UAE and Oman, providing for the export of up to 800,000 tons of grain. Several memorandums also focus on building long-term infrastructure in the region, including logistics, service support, and promotion of high value-added products.

On the sidelines of Gulfood 2026, Trade and Integration Minister Arman Shakkaliyev held talks with senior executives of LuLu Group International, one of the largest retail groups in the Middle East and Asia. Discussions centered on expanding the presence of Kazakhstani goods in LuLu stores, establishing direct contracts with domestic producers, and increasing supplies of processed and value-added products.

The talks also highlighted investment opportunities, including the development of logistics and warehouse infrastructure in Kazakhstan, packaging and pre-sale preparation facilities, and long-term purchasing programs for export markets.

Gulfood 2026 marked Kazakhstan’s first-ever participation with a unified national pavilion, underscoring the country’s ambition to strengthen its position in global food markets.