Kazakhstan, South Korea agree on $1.3mn canned meat production project

Kazakhstan and South Korea have reached an agreement on a joint investment project to launch canned meat production in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration said.

The deal was finalized at the Kazakhstan–Korea Business Forum in Almaty, which gathered more than 200 business representatives from both countries. The South Korean side was represented by about 100 companies, among them the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA). The canned meat plant will be built in Kazakhstan, with Samsar Investment representing the Kazakh side. The two sides intend to invest a total of $1.3mn in the project.

The forum also produced several supply agreements. Kazakhstan is set to export 1,000 tonnes of beef valued at $13mn to South Korea. Samsar Investment will additionally deliver 3,000 tonnes of refined sunflower oil each month. In total, commercial documents worth $54.8mn were signed at the business forum.

The event came after Kazakhstan’s participation in the Korea Import Expo 2026 in Seoul, where 15 Kazakh companies showcased agricultural and food products to South Korean businesses. Trade between Kazakhstan and South Korea reached $3.17bn in 2025, up 1.3% from $3.13bn in 2024. In January–June 2026, bilateral trade totaled $1.3bn, while Kazakhstan’s exports to South Korea rose by 17.2%.

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Aidar Abildabekov called South Korea an important trade partner and said exports of finished goods and products with higher added value need to grow. The forum also featured an exhibition of Kazakh products. Domestic meat products, including beef and lamb dishes presented by Terra from Merke, were displayed as part of the event.