Uzbek Firms Invited to Raise Livestock in Kazakhstan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Participants at the Uzbek-Kazakh Business Forum in Tashkent discussed an initiative that could give Uzbek entrepreneurs access to pastureland in Kazakhstan to raise livestock for export. A pilot project covering at least 50,000 hectares was proposed.

Davron Vakhabov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, proposed allowing Uzbek entrepreneurs to invest in purchasing and raising cattle in Kazakhstan, from acquiring young animals to fattening them, with the right to export livestock weighing more than 400 kg to Uzbekistan.

As an example, Vakhabov referred to arrangements previously reached between Uzbekistan and Belarus, under which an investor who independently develops a feed base and raises livestock from the outset is permitted to export both meat and live cattle weighing more than 400 kg.

"If an entrepreneur from Uzbekistan buys a young bull from scratch, develops both dairy and beef production there, and then exports the livestock that he has raised himself to Uzbekistan, why shouldn't we raise this issue?" Vakhabov said.

He proposed identifying a pilot area of at least 50,000 hectares, citing differences in land availability. According to Vakhabov, up to 0.5 hectares of land are allocated per head of livestock in Uzbekistan, compared with between two and seven hectares per head in Kazakhstan.

Commenting on the proposal, Dauren Salykov, Chairman of the Livestock Union of Kazakhstan, said the current restrictions on exports of live livestock and meat from Kazakhstan are linked to veterinary safety requirements and the need to supply the domestic market. An export quota of 25,000 tonnes of meat has been set for the second half of the year.

Salykov proposed distinguishing between different categories of producers.

"If someone comes, invests money, builds facilities, buys and fattens livestock themselves, they should be allowed to export it. We simply need to agree with the Ministry of Agriculture so that such operators have centralized permits and oversight," he said. He added that a separate quota regime could be introduced for Kazakh farmers who specialize in breeding livestock without carrying out the fattening stage.

Kanat Sharlapayev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, backed the proposal, highlighting its benefits for Kazakhstan.

"If an entrepreneur comes, builds a feedlot, we know why it was built — to take the product. They will buy equipment and agricultural machinery and employ workers. Most importantly, a large share of the added value will remain and be shared between the investor and the Republic of Kazakhstan. That is exactly what we need," he said.

The parties agreed to continue discussions. The forum did not define specific details of the pilot project, including the location of the land, investor eligibility requirements or permitting procedures.

According to the forum, Kazakhstan exported 32,000 tonnes of beef and 34,000 tonnes of lamb to Uzbekistan in 2025, 1.7 times more than a year earlier, with exports valued at about US$300 million. Uzbekistan accounted for more than 90% of Kazakhstan's meat exports.

Kazakhstan has 188 million hectares of pastureland and, according to the Livestock Union of Kazakhstan, has the potential to increase its cattle herd from the current 9 million to 25 million head. The country also operates a state-backed financing programme offering loans at 5% annual interest for 10 years, including a two-year grace period, to support the import of 50,000 pedigree breeding females.