Chinese innovative drugmakers are starting to look at Kazakhstan as a manufacturing base. On 25 September, at the Kazakhstan–China Investment Forum in Almaty, BeOne Medicines and Kazakhstan's INKAR presented a joint project to produce innovative anti-cancer drugs locally.
Confirmed details are thin. KAZAKH INVEST's press release lists the project among the forum's key stands, alongside UBTECH's robot plant, the OMODA and JAECOO localization and Fufeng's corn complex. Trade outlets PharmNews.kz and PharmReviews.kz report the same: which drugs will be made, how much will be invested, where the plant will be and when it will start have not been officially disclosed.
INKAR, founded in 1998, is one of the country's largest pharmaceutical distributors, with 13 branches in major cities. In recent years the group has been moving into manufacturing; one of its companies earlier signed a memorandum with a Jordanian firm to build a GMP-standard plant. BeOne brings innovative oncology drugs, INKAR the distribution network and local channels.
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KAZAKH INVEST chairman Sultangali Kinzhakulov cited the project, together with Fufeng's, as a sign that Kazakhstan–China cooperation is shifting from shipping finished goods to building plants, localizing and transferring technology. According to Kazakh data, trade between the two countries reached USD 48.7 billion in 2025.
For Chinese companies watching Kazakhstan's pharmaceutical market, the project is worth tracking. Drug localization usually involves registration, GMP certification and an investment agreement with the government, which takes time. Whether an investment agreement is signed and where production will be located should be checked against official announcements from KAZAKH INVEST and the companies.
Sources:
KAZAKH INVEST, https://invest.gov.kz/ru/media-center/press-releases/v-almaty-s-uchastiem-glavy-gosudarstva-prokhodit-investitsionnyy-forum-kazakhstan-kitay/
PharmNews.kz, https://pharmnews.kz/news/v-kazahstane-planiruyut-zapustit-proizvodstvo-protivoopuholevyh-preparatov-s-kitayskimi-kompaniyami_51494
PharmReviews.kz, https://pharmreviews.kz/novosti/novosti-kazahstana/beone-medicines-i-inkar-planiruyut-lokalizovat-proizvodstvo-onkopreparatov-v-rk
Key facts
- 百济神州 BeOne Medicines and INKAR presented a collaborative project to manufacture innovative antineoplastic drugs in Kazakhstan.
- KAZAKH INVEST featured the project as one of the key showcases at the Kazakhstan-China Investment Forum.
- INKAR was founded in 1998 and is a major pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor in Kazakhstan.
- INKAR has 13 branch offices in major cities nationwide, along with a distribution network and local market channels.
- The specific medicines, investment scale, production location, and production launch date for the project have not yet been announced.
FAQ
What are BeOne Medicines and INKAR collaborating to produce in Kazakhstan?
The partners presented a collaborative project to locally manufacture innovative antineoplastic drugs in Kazakhstan.
When will the project begin production?
The project debuted on September 25, 2026, at the Kazakhstan-China Investment Forum in Almaty, but the specific production launch date has not yet been announced.
What investment information has been disclosed about the project?
The specific medicines, investment scale, production location, and production launch date have all not been announced, and it remains unclear whether a formal investment agreement has been signed.
What capabilities does each partner bring to the collaboration?
BeOne brings innovative antineoplastic medicines, while INKAR brings a distribution network and local market channels. Founded in 1998, INKAR is a major pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor in Kazakhstan.
What project updates can be followed going forward?
Updates can be followed on registration, GMP certification, the formal investment agreement, and the production location. Official announcements by KAZAKH INVEST and the companies should be treated as authoritative.