THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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November, 2024
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture is working to open the Turkish market to Kazakh meat exports. Deputy Minister Amangaly Berdalin stated that Türkiye is willing to pay nearly double the price offered by China for Kazakh beef, at 11 dollars per kilogram, reports the Times of Central Asia.
Although Kazakhstan recently gained access to China’s market, exports remain limited due to uncompetitive pricing and restrictions allowing only four processing plants to export up to 8,000 tonnes of frozen beef annually. Chinese buyers pay 5.5 dollars per kilogram, similar to domestic prices, making exports to China less profitable.
“Our ministry’s objective is to open as many markets as possible for our producers, particularly those offering attractive prices,” Berdalin stated at the Vet Astana 2024 International Exhibition on Feed and Veterinary in Astana. “That is why our inspectors are actively collaborating with Turkish officials to understand their export requirements.”
Following Minister Aidarbek Saparov’s visit to Ankara, contracts worth 80 million dollars were signed to supply Kazakh meat to Türkiye, contingent on veterinary compliance.
Türkiye lifted its 20-year ban on Kazakh livestock products in June 2024, but producers are navigating certification processes, with some tests outsourced to labs in Latvia and Georgia.
“To export to a country, we must meet all its import requirements. For instance, to export our honey, we need to conduct 43 specific tests. Currently, we handle 20 in-house, but the remaining 23 are outsourced to laboratories in Latvia and Georgia,” Berdalin explained.
The Kazakh government has allocated 3.8 billion tenge (7.7 million dollars) this year to support veterinary laboratories.
In 2023, Kazakhstan exported 53,000 tonnes of meat worth 153 million dollars, mostly to Uzbekistan, the UAE, and other countries. Efforts are also underway to access European markets…
Source: Times of Central Asia
