EXHIBITION SEASON-2025: HOW KAZAKHSTAN STRENGTHENS ITS POSITION ON THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MAP
IT IS WELL KNOWN IN THE WORLD: ONE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EVENT CAN REVIVE A CITY'S ECONOMY MORE THAN A TOURIST SEASON.
During such events, hotels operate without vacancies, restaurants are fully booked, and airports and taxis are at full capacity. This happens, for example, in Abu Dhabi during the ADIPEC oil and gas exhibition or in Dubai at the Big 5 construction mega-show.
And Kazakhstan is increasingly becoming part of this global industry.
When an exhibition becomes an economic event
The largest exhibition market operator in the country — Iteca — notes: business events have long become a tool for economic development. Government bodies, large companies, investors, and technology leaders meet at exhibition venues. Contracts are signed, international projects are launched, and connections are formed that impact regional economies.
The themes of the exhibitions are increasingly linked to government policy priorities. For the first time in Kazakhstan, the Plastex Qazaqstan exhibition was held, dedicated to the development of the chemical and polymer industry — a sector currently receiving government support. FoodExpo Qazaqstan and AgroWorld Qazaqstan address food security challenges, while TransLogistica Kazakhstan contributes to turning the country into a key transport hub in the region.
Records of 2025
Interest in Kazakhstan is growing — and this is evident in the numbers. In the 2025 season, Iteca events gathered:
• 3,946 participating companies from 66 countries
• 67,441 visitors from 100 countries
Such a scale makes exhibitions not only industry events but also diplomatic platforms. International associations, large corporations, and government structures are present here — and it is this combination that creates a sustainable platform for dialogue.
The result — new agreements, the launch of joint projects, the implementation of technologies, and the modernization of industries.
Direct benefits for Kazakhstani people
For a broader audience, exhibitions are not just about business. They are real money that remains within the economy.
According to Mastercard, foreign participants and guests spend an average of three days in Almaty, spending about $440 per day on:
• hotels,
• restaurants,
• transport,
• excursions,
• and shopping.
If we recalculate the expenses of at least part of the foreign flow of Iteca exhibitions, it becomes obvious: thousands of Kazakhstani entrepreneurs — from cafes to service companies — receive direct benefits.
Exhibitions create jobs, stimulate demand for logistics, booth construction, marketing, technology — forming a multiplier effect for the entire economy.
New projects — new opportunities
Iteca is already preparing to expand its exhibition lineup. In the spring of 2026, three new projects will launch:
• KITME — equipment and goods for the textile industry,
• NDT Kazakhstan — non-destructive testing and technical diagnostics technologies,
• VisionCare — optics, ophthalmology, optometry.
The themes of the new projects also reflect the state's demands — from industrial development to strengthening the nation's health.
Each new exhibition is a new growth point for small and medium-sized businesses, new contracts, new foreign connections, and new economic activity in the city.
Kazakhstan strengthens its position on the world business map
The exhibition season-2025 confirmed: Kazakhstan is becoming an increasingly significant participant in the global business community. By developing the industry, Iteca is effectively helping the country create an international-level economic ecosystem.
Exhibitions are no longer just events. They are infrastructure that works for the economy 365 days a year.
And judging by the plans for 2026, an even more active growth phase lies ahead.