Astana will become a platform for strategic dialogue on the future of retail and FMCG in Central Asia

On June 11, 2025, as part of the I International Expo Forum EXPOGOODS CENTRAL ASIA at the MCV EXPO, the first Astana International Trade Forum will take place on the topic “Retail NEXT Central Asia: The Future of Trade and FMCG.” The key industry event will be dedicated to the future of retail and the FMCG segment in Central Asian countries. The forum will bring together leading experts, top managers, representatives of retail chains, distributors, manufacturers, and government officials to discuss trends, challenges, and strategies for trade development in the region.

The forum will feature a rich business program, including a plenary session opened by the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliev.

Panel discussions and CEO Talks are also planned with the participation of representatives of government agencies, business, and international experts. Participants will discuss current issues related to international trade, logistics, digital retail, marketplaces, work with local brands, digitalization of trade, and sustainable development in the FMCG sector.
CEO Talks: “Retail Leaders – Course for 2025” will take place in the format of an open discussion, with the participation of owners and top managers of retail companies. The parties will share their strategic vision for industry development and discuss how consumer behavior is changing, which technologies will become defining by 2025, and how to build a sustainable business in turbulent conditions.

The session “Marketplace Dynamics: How to Work with Digital Showcases in Hypercompetition” will focus on the nuances of working on marketplaces—from optimizing product cards to interacting with platform algorithms. Participants will explore how brands can stand out among hundreds of competitors, build trust in their products, and scale sales in the face of constant price and advertising competition.

One of the most practical sessions of the forum, “Retail Access 2025: From Local to Leader,” will provide answers to questions that concern every local manufacturer: how to enter large retail chains, how to meet retail requirements, how to stay on the shelf, and grow to a regional or international level. The format of “retail partnership of the future” will also be discussed.

The focus of the session “Infrastructure Ahead: Logistics and Fulfillment in the Era of Instant Decisions” will be on the digitalization of logistics and fulfillment. Participants will examine how logistics chains are transforming in the era of “delivery within an hour,” how companies can prepare for increased demand in advance, and why logistics is becoming a strategic growth driver.

The Astana International Trade Forum will become a space for practical experience sharing, business meetings, and strategic dialogue between business and government. Forum organizers emphasize that the event aims not only to identify challenges but also to offer concrete solutions that can already be applied in practice today.

The forum is organized by the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan and JSC “Mayer Expo Asia.”

Additional information is available here.