The Ministry of Agriculture in Kazakhstan has introduced amendments to the Comprehensive Plan for the development of the sugar industry in the country for the years 2022-2026. The updated plan now focuses on the development of the sugar industry for the years 2024-2028.
One of the main challenges faced by the country is the high dependence on sugar imports, which has made it difficult to meet the plans for loading sugar plants with raw materials during the offseason due to a sharp increase in global prices for sugarcane raw materials.
To address these challenges, various improvement measures have been implemented for participants in the sugar market. These measures include tax incentives for sugar producers, exemptions from VAT when importing sugarcane raw materials, financial support through preferential loans, and government reserves allocated for the development of the sugar industry in the Zhetysu region.
The Comprehensive Plan also includes measures to enhance the industry's infrastructure, expand processing capacities, and protect the domestic market through the establishment of minimum price levels for sugar.
In order to ensure food security, a comprehensive approach to developing the sugar industry is necessary. This involves reducing import dependence, increasing sugar beet cultivation areas, improving irrigation systems, and upgrading sugar plants.
The plan also provides for state support through subsidies for investments in sugar plants, preferential credits, and subsidies for agricultural inputs.
The financing of the Comprehensive Plan will be carried out through the state budget and other legal funding sources. The expected outcomes include reducing sugar imports, increasing domestic sugar production, and attracting investments for modernizing production facilities.
The implementation of the plan is projected to significantly expand sugar beet cultivation areas and increase domestic sugar production, leading to a substantial rise in self-sufficiency in sugar production by 2028.
The document is currently available for public discussion on the Open Regulatory Acts website until April 8th.
