A presentation and signing ceremony for the roadmap to implement a project to construct a salty snack production plant in Kazakhstan took place in Astana last week. The facility, to be located in the Almaty region, will produce potato chips under the globally renowned Lay’s brand. The American company PepsiCo plans to invest $160 million, creating 350 jobs. Initially, the plant’s capacity will range from 14,000 to 16,000 tons, with a subsequent increase to 21,000 tons, the national company Kazakh Invest reported.
The production will utilize Kazakhstani potatoes. By the end of 2024, PepsiCo will launch a partnership program for Kazakhstani agricultural producers. As part of this program, PepsiCo will supply farmers with seeds of special “chip” varieties, and the company’s agro-team will continuously advise partners to implement modern sustainable farming technologies, crop cultivation, and preservation techniques. PepsiCo is already collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan to ensure future production is supplied with local raw materials. The company aims to use only Kazakhstani-grown potatoes for production by 2033.
The first phase of the plant’s construction is expected to be completed in 2026. The plant’s launch will create hundreds of new jobs for potato suppliers, transportation, and logistics partners.
David Manzini, President of PepsiCo Russia, Belarus, Caucasus, and Central Asia, stated: “Today’s announcement of such significant investments in Kazakhstan is a big step for our business. The people of the country have known and loved our company’s products for many decades. The construction of the plant in the Almaty region will not only meet the growing demand of the Kazakhstani market but also establish export to other CIS countries. We see support from government authorities at both the highest level and at the akimat level, and we are grateful for the comprehensive support of Kazakh Invest. We are confident that the project will be successfully implemented within the planned time frame.”
Photo: Kazakh Invest
