Press Release

CNFA Hosts Kazakhstan Business Development Tour in Midwest

Tour will connect Kazak participants with U.S. businesses  and provide training in the U.S. livestock industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As an extension of the Kazakhstan Business Connections Program, a two-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), CNFA is hosting a three-week business development tour for ten participants from Kazakhstan to meet with U.S. businesses and attend training seminars in Kansas and Nebraska.  Nine businessmen, involved in beef and poultry production and one government representative will visit over a dozen businesses related to livestock production, processing and marketing including AGCO, Luco Manufacturing and Great Plains.  In addition to these business and association visits, the tour also includes an educational component where participants will attend a four-day training seminar at Kansas State University, meet with the University of Nebraska staff and receive a presentation from the Kansas State Department of Agriculture.  While the primary goal of the tour is to provide training and opportunities for Kazak businesses, the tour also provides opportunities for U.S. businesses as well.  The tour will conclude in Washington, D.C. for a debrief and reception with representatives from the Kazakhstan Embassy and livestock industry.

The Kazakhstan Business Connections program aims to build the capacity and competitiveness of Kazakhstani small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through their modernization and expansion.  The program aligns with the Government of Kazakhstan’s (GOKZ) national development plan to diversify the economy through the development of Kazakhstani SMEs.  Although this is a USAID-funded project, the Government of Kazakhstan contributes 50 percent of the operating expenses.  Click here for more information on the Kazakhstan Business Connections Program.

CNFA, based in Washington, D.C., stimulates economic growth and improves rural livelihoods by empowering the private sector.  CNFA’s unique approach is founded on six core capacities: 1) commercial input supply and farm services; 2) economic resilience and rapid recovery; 3) agricultural productivity, food security and nutrition; 4) value chain development; 5) volunteer technical assistance and 6) access to finance. CNFA has worked in over 38 countries worldwide and impacted the lives of more than 70 million people.  For more information, visit www.cnfa.org.