On the sidelines of the 17th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum “Summer Davos” in China, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held meetings with heads of major Chinese companies that hold leading positions in industry and digitalization. In particular, with General Manager of Yulin Irrigation Qi Yubo, Chairman of the Board of Xiamen Wanli Stone Hu Jinpei, Chairman of the Board and CEO of SuperX AI Technology Limited Huang Chenghong, Chairman of the Board of Jinyi Holding Group Jin Peng, Chairman of the Board of Guangzhou Automobile Group Feng Xingya, founder and Chairman of the Board of CATL Zeng Yuqun, and Vice President of CISDI Engineering Yong Liu.

Attention was focused on prospects for launching new foreign projects in priority sectors for Kazakhstan — the agro-industrial complex, industry, coal chemistry, automotive manufacturing, and data center construction. In line with the tasks set by the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, opportunities were considered for attracting foreign investment, localizing production, and transferring technologies.

During the meeting with General Manager of Yulin Irrigation Qi Yubo, issues of introducing modern irrigation technologies in Kazakhstan, including the assembly of irrigation equipment in Kyzylorda Region, were discussed. Rational use of water resources and development of irrigation infrastructure are among the key priorities of state policy in Kazakhstan’s agriculture. The country is interested in increasing the productivity of the agricultural sector through the introduction of modern irrigation technologies. Yulin Irrigation is one of the leading manufacturers of irrigation equipment in China, specializing in the development, production, implementation, and after-sales service of modern irrigation systems.

With Chairman of the Board of Xiamen Wanli Stone Hu Jinpei, prospects for cooperation in coal chemistry, metallurgy, and deep processing of mineral raw materials were reviewed. The project envisages the creation of an integrated value chain “coal – electricity – chemicals – metallurgy”, where coal is processed into semi-coke, hydrogen, and high-quality petroleum products, as well as deep processing of rare metals such as molybdenum, germanium, and rhenium.

With Chairman of the Board and CEO of SuperX AI Technology Limited Huang Chenghong, plans for creating modern data centers in Kazakhstan were discussed. The company develops solutions for AI infrastructure and high-density data centers and is interested in establishing an AI Data Center cluster in Kazakhstan with a capacity of up to 1 GW, with phased launch in 2026–2029. The project provides for the construction of an AI campus, development of power supply and digital infrastructure, as well as the supply of server equipment and technological solutions for data centers.

Digitalization and the introduction of artificial intelligence in all sectors of the economy are of strategic importance for Kazakhstan. On the instruction of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 2026 has been declared the Year of Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization. The President has also approved the National Strategy “Digital Kazakhstan” until 2029, which defines new priorities for the country’s technological development. Following the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed the creation of a working group to study the proposal in detail and coordinate interaction with the investor.

Issues of creating special industrial zones and expanding investment cooperation were discussed with Chairman of the Board of Jinyi Holding Group Jin Peng. The holding operates in the fields of industrial investment, logistics, and new energy. Jinyi Holding Group is already implementing two investment projects in Kazakhstan: a “green” copper industry plant in Aktobe and an industrial-logistics hub in West Kazakhstan Region.

Separately, an initiative to create a large turnkey industrial-logistics park with ready-made engineering infrastructure for accelerated localization of foreign manufacturers in Aktobe Region was discussed. The focus is on production oriented toward high value-added finished products, which will contribute to the development of deep processing and industrial cooperation.

Prospects for localizing automobile production in Kazakhstan were the subject of a meeting with Chairman of the Board of Guangzhou Automobile Group Feng Xingya. GAC is a major Chinese automaker included in the Fortune Global 500 ranking.

The project implementation provides for a transition from distribution of GAC vehicles in the Kazakh market to local production. In 2026–2028, it is planned to produce 17,000 vehicles, including models with internal combustion engines and hybrid power units.

Opportunities for creating a new technological production of battery cells and energy storage systems in Kazakhstan were discussed with the founder and Chairman of the Board of CATL Zeng Yuqun.

Prospects for implementing joint high value-added projects — from raw material processing to the production of finished batteries and energy storage systems, as well as recycling used batteries — were reviewed. CATL is the world’s largest manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, holding a global market share of about 40% in traction batteries.

Issues of technological modernization of the domestic metallurgical sector and the introduction of advanced engineering solutions were discussed at a meeting with Vice President of CISDI Engineering Yong Liu. Attention was paid to the high-quality and timely implementation of the project for iron desulphurization, which will become an important step in strengthening Kazakhstan’s metallurgical potential. In addition, opportunities for CISDI Engineering to act as an engineering partner in the construction of a new casting and rolling complex in the republic were considered. The company is one of the recognized world leaders in metallurgical engineering, comprehensive design, and implementation of large-scale metallurgical facilities.

Following the meetings with business leaders, Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that Kazakhstan is open to investors focused on long-term work, production localization, technology transfer, and the creation of high value-added products. The Prime Minister noted that Kazakhstan views the interest of Chinese companies in investing in the country’s economy as the basis for long-term strategic partnership. The Government is ready to provide the necessary conditions for the sustainable operation of projects and their further expansion. Relevant state bodies and the national company Kazakh Invest were instructed to ensure further support for investment initiatives and to work out practical issues of their implementation.

#Olzhas Bektenov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Digitalization #International Cooperation #Investments

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