Kazakhstan’s main imports are:

• Electronics
• Machinery and mechanical appliances
• Mineral products
• Transport equipment
• Base metals and related products
• Chemicals and related products
• Foodstuffs and beverages

Oil and gas

• Kazakhstan is among the top 10 countries in the world for oil and gas reserves. Reserves are estimated at 5.3 billion tonnes of oil, and about 3.3 trillion cubic meters of gas.
• Kazakhstan plans massive further development on the Caspian Sea and in the extractive industries.
• Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry offers a wide range of opportunities to UK companies able to offer high quality products, cost-effective and competitive performance. Top opportunities include: pipes, pipe fittings/flanges, filters, valves, pressure vessels, special chemicals production and electrical and instrumentation products

Mining

• Kazakhstan is one of the world’s most promising emerging markets for natural resources. The sector is responsible for around 17% of GDP, 16% of exports, and employment of around 200,000 people.
• There are great opportunities for UK companies in:
  • geological exploration
  • mining software and systems development
  • drilling
  • integrated project management
  • contract mining
  • innovative equipment supply
  • laboratory and consultancy services
  • engineering services

Agriculture

• Kazakhstan ranks among the world’s top 10 grain producers so agriculture is important to the economy. The Kazakhstan government is looking to develop its regions, and for investment in food production, crop development and animal processing.
• Major areas of opportunity for UK exporters and investors include:
  • supply of pedigree animals and genetic material, artificial insemination and embryo transplant technologies
  • supply of seeds, feed premix and vaccines
  • agricultural machinery and software
  • farm management technologies and services
  • agricultural consulting services, such as pasture development
  • cooperation between scientific research institutions
  • vocational education
  • water saving technologies and sustainable irrigation/water supply systems
  • development of organic agricultural standards

Green energy

• Kazakhstan has huge renewable energy potential, particularly for hydropower, solar and wind. This is almost entirely untapped with renewables currently making up about 1% of Kazakhstan’s energy balance.
• The target in the government’s action plan for 2050 is that renewable energy will meet 3% of the total demand by 2020 and 30% by 2050.
• Opportunities for UK companies include:
  • project management services
  • consultancy services in green energy, waste management, energy efficiency
  • engineering and construction services for onshore wind, solar, biomass power
  • innovative equipment supply for onshore wind, solar, biomass

• The World Bank’s latest Ease of Doing Business index ranks Russia as an easier place to do business than almost a dozen EU member states and puts it above China, India and Brazil.
• Russia imports grew by 2.6% in 2018, with the IMF predicting sustained growth over the next five years.
• Russia ranks 43rd out of 140 countries in The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2018.
• Russian consumer spending power continues to grow, with the IMF predicting in 2019 that sustained growth in Russian GDP will continue for at least the next five years.
• Russian oil and gas investment is set to top $102 billion by the end of 2020.
• Russian is the largest country in the world with an area of over 17 million sq km, spanning 11 time zones.
• Massive population of 144 million.
• Russia joined The World Trade Organization in 2012 and is committed to reducing trade barriers and simplifying trade.
• Russia has established several “special economic zones” to encourage investment from foreign companies.
• Just a 3.5 hour flight from London
• Russia, as the largest producer of natural gas, 2nd largest supplier of crude oil and coal, has disposable income.
• 51% of fixed direct investment in Russia has gone into manufacturing, with over 400 FDI projects – the fourth largest in Europe — while 9% was directed to the business services sector. (Ernst & Young’s 2012 attractiveness survey).
• Russia has massive infrastructural needs in numerous sectors, making it a very attractive export market.

• Great opportunities exist for UK businesses across a range of sectors including, but not limited to, high tech engineering and machinery, medical products and pharmaceuticals, consumer products, including food and drink, oil and gas, leisure products and services, electronics and telecoms.
• Russia has competitive and skilled labour, and the availability of technically capable people is a positive factor for doing business in Russia.
• Russia is investing £4.5bn in nanotechnology.
• Russian manufacturers in many industries seek partnerships with foreign firms to improve local quality.
• Russia is investing in the aviation industry, which requires foreign input in the form of expertise, products and software.
• In 2013 Russia imported US$ 317.8 billion worth of goods. That total is up by 86% since 2009.
• Over half Russia’s imports are engineering machines and equipment.

• The country is the world’s largest producer of sugar beets and sunflower oil.
• Ukraine is the second-largest nation in Europe.
• Producing 90-100 million tonnes of grains annually, Ukraine maintains its leading position in the world. What is more, Ukraine is the 3rd largest grain exporter worldwide.

Agriculture

• With 41.5 million hectares of agricultural land covering 70 % of the country and about 25 % of the world’s reserves of black soil, agriculture is Ukraine’s largest export industry.
• Major areas of opportunity for UK exporters and investors include:
• agricultural machinery and equipment. Operational need for agricultural machinery and equipment is estimated at $20 billion in 2025.

Best Prospects include:

• Tractors
• Harvesters
• Tillage equipment
• Seeding equipment
• Sprayers and fertilizer distributors
• Irrigation equipment
• agricultural chemicals, including growth enhancers and micronutrients.
• farm management technologies and services.

Green energy

• The renewables potential of Ukraine is vast – the International Renewables Energy Agency estimates onshore wind could reach 320GW and solar 70GW by 2030, almost all of it cost competitive. The World Bank estimates the country’s offshore wind potential at 183GW of fixed turbines and 68GW of floating turbines
• DTEK, the largest Ukrainian private energy company, has committed to carbon neutrality by 2040.
• Opportunities for UK companies include:
• project management services
• consultancy services in green energy, waste management, energy efficiency
• engineering and construction services for onshore and offshore wind, solar, biomass power
• innovative equipment supplies for onshore and offshore wind, solar, biomass