Changing Patterns of Livestock, Meat, and Dairy Marketing in Post-Communist Kazakhstan

This Discussion Paper describes the challenges associated with marketing livestock, meat, milk, and dairy products in Post-Communist Kazakhstan. A major finding is that Food Master, a joint venture between Developed Technologies, Inc. of the US and Ak-Bulak, Ltd. of Kazakhstan, achieved profits and large market shares in the fluid milk business in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. Food Master's milk procurement practices also changed the structure of the dairy business in Kazakhstan's Almaty region and provided a model for slowing the downward spiral in milk production in Kazakhstan. The study contains lessons for other agribusinesses wishing to form joint ventures in Post-Communist Central Asia.