International Islamic Food Processing Association (“IFPA”) and the international audit, tax and advisory services company KPMG Kazakhstan (“KPMG”) held a joint seminar for the JSC QazTrade Center for Trade Policy Development (“QazTrade”). This was a virtual Webinar dedicated to the promotion of exports and supply-chain linkages of food industry enterprises of Kazakhstan into intra-OIC value chains consisting of more than 30 manufacturers and agri-food sector enterprises including rice production, honey-producing, poultry meet manufacturing, flour milling and many others.
Endowed with vast fertile soil, Kazakhstan has a competitive edge in agricultural production, however, producers often struggle to access the foreign markets due to limited competitiveness, concerns about food safety standards, limited managerial skills and other export-related obstacles.
Other highlights during the Webinar included discussing promoting food producers’ international competitiveness, simplifying border procedures and decreasing administrative barriers to export, the importance of providing tailored support services including the implementation of programs for supply-chain linkages between food producers and large food retailers operating in OIC markets.
The Director General and CEO of IFPA, H.E. Sheikh Bilal Khan, welcomed participants of the Webinar and delivered a special speech where H.E. remarked: “IFPA is very keen to develop close cooperation with food enterprises to create special services in implementing a targeted program to enhance the sector’s investment and innovation; promote agri-food cluster development; increase the readiness of businesses to implement the food safety standards aligned with the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (“SMIIC”) standards; ensure access to the Halal food markets of OIC countries with required certification and accreditation; facilitate supply chain linkages between local food processors and intra-OIC markets; and attract Islamic investments and financing to projects in the agri-food industry.”
