Almaty, June 11, 2026 – The International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA), in cooperation with the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), convened a roundtable on June 11 in Almaty dedicated to strengthening meat trade and supply chain cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The event brought together representatives of livestock producers, meat processors, exporters, logistics providers, industry associations, financial institutions and international organizations to discuss opportunities for expanding trade, improving logistics connectivity and attracting investment across the meat value chain.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the IOFS, emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to enhance food security, improve market access and build resilient food supply systems.
Participants noted that Kazakhstan possesses significant potential to increase exports of high-quality halal meat products, supported by vast pasture resources, a growing livestock sector and ongoing modernization of meat processing facilities. At the same time, the UAE was highlighted as a strategic trade, logistics and distribution hub with access to markets across the Gulf region, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Discussions focused on practical measures to facilitate meat exports from Kazakhstan to the UAE and other regional markets. Participants examined issues related to certification and compliance requirements, veterinary controls, logistics and cold-chain infrastructure, market access and investment opportunities throughout the production and distribution process.
Representatives of IFPA presented the association’s vision for strengthening commercial cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UAE, while experts highlighted the growing demand for halal food products and the importance of developing efficient supply chains capable of meeting international market requirements.
Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Chief Executive Officer of IFPA, emphasized that establishing a strong international presence for Kazakh meat requires a long-term, coordinated strategy built on three pillars: pillars: product availability, increasing market visibility and strengthening promotional efforts. He noted that developing Kazakhstan’s meat exports should be viewed as a strategic, long-term effort involving government institutions, producers and private-sector stakeholders.
Special attention was devoted to logistics solutions that could support sustainable trade flows between Kazakhstan and Gulf markets. Participants discussed the potential development of consolidated export platforms, modern cold-storage facilities, specialized distribution centers and enhanced cargo connectivity between Kazakhstan and key logistics hubs in the UAE.
A presentation by representatives of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) highlighted opportunities for trade facilitation, logistics cooperation and investment partnerships that could support the development of meat supply chains between the two countries.
During the interactive discussion, stakeholders identified several priorities for future cooperation, including expanding processing capacity, improving compliance with international and halal certification standards, strengthening cold-chain infrastructure and creating new mechanisms to facilitate trade and investment.
The roundtable concluded with a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing market access, addressing logistical bottlenecks and promoting investment across the livestock and meat processing sectors. Participants underscored the importance of continued collaboration among governments, businesses, financial institutions and international organizations to unlock the full potential of Kazakhstan-UAE meat trade.
