THE MARKET DEMANDS SOLUTIONS: RAW MATERIAL SHORTAGE AND COMPETITION FOR MARKETS – HOW INTERFOOD ASTANA 2026 EXHIBITION REFLECTS THE TRANSFORMATION OF KAZAKHSTAN'S FOOD INDUSTRY

IN CONDITIONS OF RAW MATERIAL SHORTAGE AND UNDERUTILIZATION OF PROCESSING CAPACITIES, AS WELL AS GROWING COMPETITION FOR EXPORT MARKETS, INTERFOOD ASTANA 2026 BECOMES A MAGNET FOR PLAYERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY.

From May 13 to 15 in Astana, manufacturers, processors, and technology suppliers from over 10 countries will gather to find new partners, build supply chains, and gain access to retail and export opportunities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

As domestic demand grows and competition from imported products intensifies, building efficient supply chains and modernizing production becomes a key factor in industry development. In this regard, participation in industry platforms gains practical significance: companies gain access to new sales channels, technological solutions, and partnerships.

For 26 years, the InterFood Astana exhibition has been uniting participants in the food industry and has established itself as an effective B2B platform for establishing business contacts and signing contracts. This year, over 50 manufacturers from 12 countries have already confirmed their participation: Austria, Belarus, Vietnam, Germany, Georgia, Kazakhstan, China, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Thailand, and Ukraine. The wide international geography of participants highlights the high level of interest in the Kazakhstani market and the growing role of the country as a regional center for the food industry.

The exhibition traditionally covers the entire spectrum of directions in the food industry. Participants will present a wide range of products and solutions, including food products, meat and sausage products, fish and seafood, cheeses and dairy products, bakery products, nuts and snacks, as well as water and non-alcoholic beverages. Separate segments of the exposition will be dedicated to ingredients, dry milk, coffee and coffee drinks, including popular formats such as bubble tea. Alongside this, significant attention is paid to the technological component: equipment for the food industry, compressor solutions, engineering, corrugated packaging, and production hygiene issues.

The InterFood Astana exhibition annually attracts a professional audience and demonstrates steady growth. Last year, about 2,000 industry specialists from 20 countries and 23 cities of Kazakhstan visited the exhibition. The platform has proven its effectiveness not only as a place for product demonstration but also as a space for concluding strategic agreements. In particular, one of the significant events was PepsiCo's presentation on the construction of a Lay's chips production plant in Kazakhstan, highlighting the high investment potential of the industry and the interest of international corporations in the local market.

Today, the market demands not just presence, but concrete solutions — from raw material supply to export entry. We see that businesses need a platform where they can not only present products but also build real supply chains and find partners. InterFood Astana is becoming such a gathering point for the industry," notes Alena Aprosimo, head of the InterFood Astana exhibition. Within the framework of the exhibition, participants can not only present their products but also gain access to an expert industry audience, including industry associations, distributors, retail, and processing enterprises.

A key substantive element of this year's exhibition will be a large-scale business program, the central event of which will be the two-day industry forum MEAT & DAIRY INDUSTRY FORUM on the topic "Industrialization of Kazakhstan's Meat and Dairy Industry: Investments, Technologies, Markets." The forum will take place on May 13–14 at the EXPO IEC and will unite representatives of government agencies, industry associations, businesses, and international experts to discuss systemic challenges and growth points of the country's agro-industrial complex.

The first day of the forum will be dedicated to the meat industry and will cover the entire production chain — from farming to export markets. The central event will be the plenary session "The Future of Kazakhstan's Meat Industry: Strategy, Investments, and Sales Markets," dedicated to the future of Kazakhstan's meat industry, during which strategic issues of industry development, investment priorities, access to financing, as well as the balance between the domestic market and exports will be considered. Special attention will be paid to the issue of processing capacity utilization, raw material base shortage, and barriers to entering international markets.

Within the framework of the panel discussion "Raw Material Base: Where Do Enterprises Purchase Meat and How to Build Stable Supplies?" participants will discuss key issues of forming a sustainable raw material base, interaction between farmers, processors, and retail, as well as requirements from the HoReCa segments and international networks.

The second day of the forum will be dedicated to Kazakhstan's dairy industry and will focus on production, modernization, and increasing product competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets. The plenary session "Strategy for the Development of Kazakhstan's Dairy Industry: Production, Modernization, State Support" will cover the sector's development strategy until 2030, including the shortage of raw milk, the launch of industrial dairy farms, state support measures, and investments in the modernization of processing enterprises.

The practical part of the second day will be presented by panel discussions "Quality of Raw Milk and Technological Modernization" and "Sales, Retail, and Export of Dairy Products," dedicated to the quality of raw milk, technological modernization, automation of production processes, and the implementation of modern standards. Separate attention will be paid to sales issues, interaction with retail, the development of private labels, packaging requirements, and shelf life, as well as export opportunities to the markets of China, Russia, and the Middle East.

Thus, InterFood Astana 2026 forms a comprehensive expert agenda — from production and processing to logistics, standardization, and export, where industry challenges are transformed into concrete business opportunities. The MEAT & DAIRY INDUSTRY FORUM will become not only a platform for open dialogue between the state and business but also a tool for developing practical solutions aimed at increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of the industry.

The event is officially supported by the Akimat of Astana city, the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, and the DAMU Fund.

The event is organized by the leading Kazakhstani exhibition company Iteca with over 30 years of experience in organizing exhibitions and its international partner – ICA Events Group.