AKIPRESS.COM - The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan hosted the presentation of the Spanish state-owned company "Mercasa", which works under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment and specializes in wholesale and retail trade, the press service of the Chamber reports October 16. 

Meeting of Kazakh specialists with their Spanish colleagues was organized by the Secretariat of the Trade Committee of NCE RK. It was attended by representatives of the secretariats of the Committees of the food industry and agribusiness under NCE RK, the Association of trading companies as well as heads of major trading companies in the country.

Director of Department of International Cooperation of "Mercasa» Andrés de Pando Asensi, provided details on the specialization of the company, shared his experience: "The purpose of the company "Mercasa" - is the construction and equipment of the central wholesale markets, exploitation of built and equipped facilities, as well as improvement of the trade-cycle of food supply. In collaboration with the Regional Municipality, our company is responsible for the development and management of a nationwide network of wholesale distribution systems and provides logistical services throughout Spain. Also, we are actively involved in projects of creation of food centres and logistics networks, agro parks in Eastern Europe, Russia, Latin America and Africa. We look forward to cooperation with Kazakhstan. Now our company is in talks with authorities in Kazakhstan, in particular, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of National Economy and Akimats of Astana and Almaty to implement practices in Kazakhstan".

According to him, «Mercasa» modernized about 200 retail markets, as well as created networks of wholesale food markets that provide guaranteed public access to fresh food products of high quality affordable prices. In Spain there are over 1,300 municipal markets, offering a wide range of trading services, the market share of which is up to 48% of the total consumption of perishable goods. These markets account for about 80 thousand outlets, which provide more than 280 thousand jobs.

Secretary of the Secretariat of the Trade Committee of NCE RK Zhibek Azhibaeva appealed to local entrepreneurs to consider the Spanish experience, noting that the development of trade infrastructure and modernization of existing wholesale and retail markets - is now a pressing issue. Appropriate instructions were given by the Head of State at the enlarged session of the Government on 6 August.

The next meeting is expected to take place during the first half of 2015. Presumably, it will be the interim results of Kazakhstan and Spanish cooperation.