Kazakhstan Showcases Trade and Tourism at Shanghai Import Expo

The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) has kicked off in Shanghai, bringing together 4,100 companies from 155 countries and attracting over 449,000 professional visitors.

This year, more than 100 Kazakh producers-the country’s largest delegation to date-are participating, showcasing a wide range of agricultural, food, and industrial products, The Caspian Post informs via Kazakh media.

Kazakh Trade and Integration Minister Arman Shakkaliyev highlighted the event’s role as a gateway not just to China, but to global markets, noting that Kazakhstan-China trade nearly doubled over five years, reaching $30.2 billion in 2024. Exports from Kazakhstan to China also doubled during this period.

Over the past years, contracts signed at CIIE have totaled $306.5 million, covering supplies of vegetable oils, meat, dry camel milk, juices, and purees. This year, Kazakhstan expects new long-term deals targeting China, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf region.

In a key development, QazTrade and Shenzhen’s Optimize Integration Group (OIG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop digital trade platforms, promote Kazakh food and agricultural products, and enhance logistics, branding, and payment systems.

Shakkaliyev emphasized that Kazakhstan now operates pavilions and trade houses across Chinese provinces, with offices in Urumqi and Nanjing already functional. This year’s expo marked a milestone with representation across four major venues: the National Pavilion, China Co-Op Platform, Jiangsu SOHO Platform, and the Almaty City Pavilion, the latter featured for the first time.

Beyond trade, Kazakhstan also showcased its tourism potential at WTM London 2025, signaling a broader push to strengthen its global presence and international partnerships.