The Association of Kazakhstan Machinery Industry held its second online meeting of 2026, attended by regional representatives and industry partners.

The main topics of the meeting were the development of local content in oil and gas engineering and preparations for the 13th Forum of Kazakhstan Machinery Manufactures.

Ibrahim Amankulov, Deputy Director General of the International Center for the Development of Oil and Gas Engineering (IMB Center), spoke about the activities of the organization, established at the initiative of the Government of Kazakhstan and the country’s largest oil and gas operators, aimed at promoting localization and increasing the share of domestic production.

“Our mission is to connect major operators in the oil and gas sector with the engineering industry, providing analysis of manufacturers’ needs and capabilities, as well as promoting the development of domestic equipment production and increasing local content in procurement,” noted Ibrahim Amankulov.

The IMB Center has already analyzed the operations of more than 600 domestic manufacturers and identified a systemic problem: the lack of international certifications among many companies. The high cost of certification, coupled with a low threshold for government support, has not encouraged manufacturers to pursue international certification.

To address this issue, the IMB Center, in collaboration with the Union of Machine Builders of Kazakhstan, increased the reimbursement threshold for certification costs fivefold—from 3,000 MPR to 15,000 MPR.

This measure will significantly enhance the appeal of government support and help domestic manufacturers improve their competitiveness in international markets.

In addition, the IMB Center analyzed more than 115,000 product lines required by oil and gas field operators, identifying over 100 types of goods in high demand and more than 50 manufacturers capable of meeting these needs.

Yerkhanat Makanov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Association of Kazakhstan Machinery Industry, presented the concept for the upcoming 13th Forum of Kazakhstan Machinery Manufactures, which will take place on April 2–3, 2026, in Astana.

“The Forum is a unique platform for interaction between business and the government, for exchanging experiences, and for discussing innovations. This year, we expect over 1,000 participants from 20 countries,” emphasized Yerkhanat Makanov.

The Forum’s agenda includes discussions on a comprehensive development plan for the industry, the role of international partners, trends in automation and digitalization, as well as workforce training. Special attention will be paid to the development of core industries and promising sectors: railway, agricultural, oil and gas, electrical engineering, automotive, mining and metallurgical machinery, and green energy.

As part of the forum, the international exhibition “Kazakhstan Machinery Fair 2026” will be held from April 1 to 3, 2026, at the EXPO International Exhibition Center, where Kazakhstani and foreign machine builders will present their products and latest developments.

Presentation by the Association “International Center for the Development of Oil and Gas Machinery”