Italy's Tramite proposes creating trade consortium for supplying Kazakh agricultural products to Europe
ASTANA. May 28 (Interfax) - Italy's Tramite Group has initiated the creation of an Italian-Kazakh trade consortium and investment fund, which will be registered under the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), the Kazakh government's press service said following a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and National Economy Minister Serik Zhumangarin and the company's founder Gianantonio Tramite.
"The project envisions the attraction of initial capital in the amount of 500 million euros, with the projected annual turnover of the consortium expected to reach 1 billion euros. The fund's ownership structure provides for 51% to Italian venture investors and Simest (a subsidiary of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti) and 49% to the Kazakh holding Baiterek," the press service said.
The aim of the project is to build a reliable logistics and investment platform that will provide Kazakh producers with access to markets in Europe and other regions. The range of exports includes grain, meat, vegetable oils, legumes, dairy products, dried fruit, vegetables and fruit purees. The sales geography covers European Union countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) including Russia, as well as China, Southeast Asia, the Persian Gulf and the United States.
Tramite Group proposes a comprehensive approach to cooperation, including investment in Kazakhstan's agro-industrial infrastructure, long-term procurement contracts with leading European companies such as Parmafood, Inalpi, Sterilgarda, and Zanetti, and joint supply chain management.
Seven major Italian food industry companies have already expressed interest in localizing their production in Kazakhstan, Tramite said.
A key point of discussion was the cluster project Shardara Export Agro-Industrial Cluster in the Turkistan region, being implemented by Agriqa Asia LLP. From 2024 to 2028, 200 million euros will be invested in the project. It includes the construction of a 22-hectare greenhouse complex, a fruit processing plant, an alfalfa pellet plant, a tomato processing plant, and the development of an agricultural division with the cultivation of 8,000 hectares of land under drip irrigation.
Zhumangarin, on behalf of the Kazakh government, expressed full readiness to support the initiative.
Tramite Group was founded in 1993 and is engaged in the distribution of food, beverages, and non-food products to retail chains in Italy and other countries.
