Operational Headquarters for Export Promotion

To promptly address the challenges faced by Kazakh exporters, QazTrade convened an Operational Headquarters for Export Promotion.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the business community, government agencies including the Ministry of Trade and Integration, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the national railway operator – JSC “NC KTZ”.

Developing Honey Exports to the UAE

Aitmukhamed Aldazharov encouraged Kazakh honey producers to actively develop exports to the United Arab Emirates:

“We are currently working actively in the UAE. Recently, we established cooperation with one of the largest retail chains in the Persian Gulf – LULU Group. This company operates more than 280 hypermarkets around the world. They are ready to purchase honey in large volumes. During our meeting, we discussed logistics and certification issues.”

According to him, the parties are close to signing a contract. In this regard, the CEO of QazTrade urged domestic honey producers to get involved in the process:

“What matters are tangible results — your contract, your actual sale. We are ready to help, but we need specific information from you: what volumes you can supply, in what timeframes, and what documentation you have. With this data, we can quickly include you in the ongoing negotiations.”

Export Challenges and Solutions

Industry representatives shared the current situation. The main sales market is Uzbekistan, but prices there are very low (700–750 tenge per kg), which does not cover production costs. Additionally, smuggling distorts the market and hinders sector development.

Export to the European market is also under consideration, but as noted by Gabit Nuradil, President of the National Beekeepers Union of Kazakhstan “Bal-Ara”:

“There is also the European market, but we are just starting to work with it. Entering this market requires passing strict inspections — everything will depend on how quickly we can adapt.”

Outcomes and Next Steps

According to QazTrade, in 2024 Kazakhstan exported honey worth $1.6 million — an increase of $560,000 (almost 56%) compared to 2023.

During the meeting, it was also announced that the Export Headquarters will now operate in manual mode. Unresolved issues raised on the QazTrade platform will be escalated to the Ministry of Trade and Integration and then to the Government Office for consideration.