Poland and Kazakhstan Hold Talks to Strengthen Agricultural Cooperation

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In a bid to enhance bilateral relations in the agri-food sector, the Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jacek Czerniak, met with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Poland, H.E. Nurlan Zhalgasbayev, to discuss current challenges and future prospects for cooperation. The meeting also included the participation of Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Paweł Meyer, reflecting the importance of sanitary and veterinary regulations in the ongoing dialogue.

During the talks, Secretary of State Czerniak reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s status as a strategic partner for Poland in agriculture. He highlighted the value of continued engagement and mutual understanding in expanding trade ties, citing the resumption of Polish apple exports to Kazakhstan from January 2025 as a positive step and a successful example of bilateral dialogue.

“I hope that real cooperation will allow us to clarify any problematic issues,” Deputy Minister Czerniak stated, underlining the importance of an open and constructive approach.

Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Paweł Meyer presented the Polish commercial priorities, emphasizing the interest of Polish agri-food producers in the Kazakh market. Key requests included:

• Lifting the ban on poultry and poultry product imports and transit imposed due to Newcastle disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and recognizing the principle of regionalisation;

• Removing restrictions related to bluetongue disease;

• Lifting the ban on pork and pork products due to African swine fever (ASF), again with regionalisation considered;

• Establishing clear procedures for the approval of new Polish establishments interested in exporting to Kazakhstan.

Meyer noted that current Kazakh restrictions, including transit bans, not only limit access to Kazakhstan but also hinder Polish exports to neighboring Central Asian markets such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

In response, Ambassador Zhalgasbayev acknowledged the agricultural potential of both countries and expressed Kazakhstan’s continued interest in deepening cooperation. He pointed to investment opportunities in the Kazakh agri-food sector, encouraging Polish businesses to explore and engage in mutually beneficial ventures.

The Ambassador also informed the Polish delegation that Kazakh veterinary authorities are currently conducting internal reviews concerning the import of goods of animal origin from Poland. He assured the Polish side of his personal commitment to resolving outstanding issues and advancing collaboration.

Both parties agreed to continue technical and diplomatic consultations in the coming months, with the shared aim of removing trade barriers, aligning veterinary standards, and fostering long-term cooperation in the agri-food sector.