AGROWORLD QAZAQSTAN 2026 AND COLDCHAIN QAZAQSTAN OPEN IN ALMATY: 209 COMPANIES FROM 22 COUNTRIES SHOWCASE INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS

TODAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026, THE 20TH CENTRAL ASIAN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION “AGRICULTURE” AGROWORLD QAZAQSTAN 2026 AND THE 10TH CENTRAL ASIAN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION “COLD STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION AND COLD CHAIN SERVICES” COLDCHAIN QAZAQSTAN 2026 OPENED IN ALMATY.

The joint professional platform is aimed at developing the agro-industrial complex, implementing modern technological solutions, strengthening international industry cooperation, and improving the infrastructure for the storage and transportation of agricultural products.

A total of 209 companies and organizations are involved in the events, including 151 companies presenting their products and solutions at exhibition stands, 19 companies participating in the business programme, 32 media partners, as well as 7 industry organizations and associations. Among the exhibitors, 55 companies represent Kazakhstan, while another 154 companies are international participants. This year, 79 companies joined the exhibitions for the first time, demonstrating the renewal of the participant base and growing interest in the Central Asian agricultural market.

The exhibitions bring together 22 countries: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Germany, Georgia, India, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Canada, China, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Serbia, the USA, Türkiye, Uzbekistan and South Korea. National pavilions of Georgia, the Netherlands and South Korea provide an additional opportunity to present national industry expertise and technological developments. The regional representation of the Russian Federation is represented by St. Petersburg and Chelyabinsk, contributing to the development of interregional business ties and the promotion of export potential.

The international composition of exhibitors is complemented by a rich business programme, with the AgriFORUM serving as its central element. The programme of the first day, October 28, covered key areas of modern agricultural development — from the digitalization of production processes and the investment attractiveness of horticulture to the development of women’s entrepreneurship and the introduction of climate instruments into the agricultural economy. The business programme opened with a plenary session entitled “Digital Transformation of the Agro-Industrial Sector: Technologies Changing Agribusiness”, dedicated to the opportunities for applying digital tools to modernize agricultural enterprises, optimize production processes, and improve the efficiency of management decisions. The discussion was attended by: Adilbek Shakirov, Director of the Department for Development of Public Services and Digitalization of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Anvar Medelbek uulu, Executive Director of the Association for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Kyrgyz Republic; Ari Veldhuizen, Counsellor for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, Embassy of the Netherlands in Central Asia; Kairat Sultanbekov, Smart Center Platform Architect. The moderator of the plenary session was Kairat Bisetayev, headed the Board of Directors of NASEC. In his welcoming remarks, Adilbek Shakirov, Director of the Department for Development of Public Services and Digitalization of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted: “Our common task is to move from fragmented digitalization of individual processes to an integrated digital ecosystem of the agro-industrial complex. Digital Agro Platform and Smart Data Agro should become an important foundation for this transition: ensuring the interoperability of existing solutions, improving the quality of sectoral data use, and creating new opportunities for analytics and forecasting. This requires joint efforts by the government, agricultural businesses, the scientific community and IT companies, as well as consistent work on processes, data and competencies. I am confident that it is precisely a practical approach — when each technology addresses a clear task and delivers measurable value — that will unlock the potential of digitalization, increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s agribusiness, and create a foundation for the sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex”. The plenary session concluded with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which an overview VIP tour of the exhibition was organized for distinguished guests, during which they familiarized themselves with the technological solutions and developments presented by the participants.

Throughout the day, AgriFORUM sessions were held at the venue, focusing on the digitalization of the agro-industrial complex, investment in horticulture, ESG and agribusiness development. In the context of 2026, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Women Farmers, the strategic session “Women in AgroBusiness: Women Who Grow Businesses and Transform the Agricultural Sector” was of particular significance. The discussion focused on the development of women’s entrepreneurship, professional leadership, expanding women’s economic opportunities, and their growing role in transforming Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector. The economic aspects of horticulture development were discussed during the panel discussion “An Apple Orchard as an Investment: Where to Start, How Much It Costs and When It Pays Off”. The environmental component of the transformation of the agricultural sector was presented during the ESG session “From the Field to a Carbon Unit: Climate Economics in Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Sector”. The international dimension of the business programme was highlighted during the presentation meeting “Made in St. Petersburg. Made Smart. Export Potential and Technological Innovations in the Agro-Industrial Complex”, dedicated to the export opportunities and technological developments of St. Petersburg’s agro-industrial complex.

Tomorrow, October 29, as part of the international AgriFORUM, a series of specialized events will take place focusing on increasing the efficiency of agricultural production, developing agribusiness, and attracting investment. The second day’s programme will include the Farmers’ School on “Efficient Livestock Farming: Feed, Animal Health and High Productivity”. a presentation of the Poultry Forward Kazakhstan programme, the Aeres training centre, Wageningen University & Research and the European Bank, as well as panel sessions “From Orchard to Shelf: Variety Policy, Storage, Packaging and Apple Sales” and “From Project to Deal: How to Attract a Foreign Investor”.

The opening of AgroWorld Qazaqstan 2026 and ColdChain Qazaqstan 2026 marked the beginning of a three-day professional platform bringing together an international exhibition, expert dialogue and business cooperation. The broad geography of participants, the presence of new companies and the comprehensive agenda of AgriFORUM create conditions for establishing business contacts, exchanging technological expertise, and identifying prospects for the further development of the agro-industrial complex and cold logistics in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

The exhibitions are held with the official support of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Almaty City Akimat, the Union of Poultry Farmers of Kazakhstan, the Association of Horticulturists of the Almaty Region, the Association for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Sector of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The organizers of the exhibitions are the Kazakhstan Exhibition Company Iteca and its international partner — the ICA Events Group of Companies.