Karaganda Region has opened its “personal cabinet” in China — a representation based on QazTrade’s infrastructure in Ürümqi.
During the regional Akim Yermaganbet Bulekpayev’s working visit to China, a trilateral memorandum was signed between the Akimat, Saryarka SEC, and QazTrade. After this, the regional representation was officially opened in the QazTrade office and showroom in Ürümqi.
“This decision is not just an expansion of external relations. It changes the approach to working with the largest market in the world and forms a new standard for Kazakhstan’s regional presence in the PRC. Trade between Kazakhstan and China is growing, but the potential of the regions is not fully unlocked. The cooperation of regional producers strengthens Kazakhstan’s national presence in China,” noted QazTrade CEO Aitmukhamed Aldazharov.
From January to October 2025, mutual trade between Kazakhstan and China amounted to $39.8 billion, an increase of 8.8% compared to the same period in 2024.
- Export: $15.8 billion (+18%)
- Import: $24.0 billion (+3.6%)
- Trade balance: improved from –$9.8 billion to –$8.2 billion
Why this step became significant
Despite the active growth of trade between Kazakhstan and China, regional export had long developed sporadically. Companies entered the Chinese market episodically, and without systematic local support, promising niches were often taken by large or foreign players.
New competition among Kazakhstan’s regions
Now, the opening of the representation in Ürümqi creates a new reality:
- The best market niches will be taken by those who enter China first. Shelves, distributors, and investors are allocated to early movers.
- Chinese investors choose regions with real presence. For them, an office is a sign of serious intention and readiness to work long-term.
- Regional export becomes an independent strategic task. Each region can now form its share of the Chinese market through its own representation.
QazTrade’s official representative in China, Erkhan Erkin, outlined what other regions need to do now:
- Use QazTrade’s infrastructure and support;
- Define the export portfolio: top-20 goods, ready producers, volumes, certification;
- Prepare high-quality investment projects for Chinese partners;
- Transition from formal visits to KPI-driven effective B2B missions.
Алдағы уақытта бұл модель Қазақстанның басқа өңірлері мен әлеуметтік-кәсіпкерлік корпорацияларына таратылады. «Сарыарқа» SEC өкілдігінің ашылуы — Қазақстанның Қытай нарығына өңірлік интеграциясының жаңа кезеңінің бастауы.
China is transitioning toward a decentralized model of trade, where provinces and cities form their own procurement plans and work directly with foreign suppliers. For Kazakh regions to enter this system, they need physical presence in the PRC, a local negotiation channel, access to procurement structures, and operational work with partners on the spot.
Karaganda Region has already embedded itself into this new architecture of cooperation, setting the pace for others. Who will be next?