// Tokayev
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the United States, which served as a platform for constructive negotiations with leading international corporations and financial institutions. The main focus was on long-term investments, localization of production, and integrating Kazakhstan into global value chains.
One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the signing of an investment agreement worth approximately $180 million between the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and Mars, Incorporated. Under this agreement, a pet food manufacturing plant is planned to be built in the city of Alatau, which will focus on deep processing of agricultural raw materials and the production of high-quality products.
Mars CEO Paul Veithrauch emphasized that the new enterprise in Kazakhstan will serve as a foundation for expanding the company's presence in Central Asia and neighboring regions.
During the visit, a separate round of negotiations was also held on healthcare issues. Discussions with Ashmore Group focused on constructing an international clinic in collaboration with Ashmore Healthcare International and Samruk-Kazyna Invest, with Mount Sinai Health System participating as the operator.
This initiative fully aligns with Kazakhstan's strategy for developing medical infrastructure and medical tourism, as well as the "Open Investment Partnership" program aimed at high technologies.
The aviation sector also played an important role during the visit. During a meeting with Boeing's leadership, Tokayev confirmed the interest of Kazakh airlines Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, and VietJet Kazakhstan in deepening cooperation.
Air Astana plans to acquire Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in 2026, which could lead to the opening of direct flights between Kazakhstan and the USA. Additionally, the airline is considering purchasing additional aircraft and establishing its first maintenance and repair center at Shymkent Airport in partnership with an American company.
At the conclusion of the visit, negotiations took place involving the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). DFC CEO Ben Black noted that Washington views Kazakhstan as an important partner in Eurasia. Discussions focused on projects in the mining sector and the development of transport infrastructure, which is crucial for regional and interregional trade.
According to the UNCTAD report on global investments for 2025, Kazakhstan ranks first in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) volume in Central Asia. In 2024, the volume of FDI attracted from Kazakhstan amounted to approximately $151 billion, significantly exceeding the figures for Turkmenistan (around $45 billion) and Uzbekistan (around $17 billion), as well as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (about $4 billion each).
The negotiations in Washington highlight Kazakhstan's strategic approach to creating long-term institutional partnerships, demonstrating to international investors the stability and openness of the local market.
