Kazakhstan's camel milk powder hits Chinese market despite COVID-19

Online systems help massive cross-border operation to fulfill mainland orders

It's the most enchanting season on Kazakhstan's steppes where flocks of cattle, sheep, horses as well as shepherds on horseback wander under the clear blue sky.

Seven kilometers away from the village of Zhansary in central Kazakhstan's Karaganda region, a dairy factory which produces camel and mare milk powder is in full swing of production.

"Recently our camel milk powder has successfully entered the Chinese market despite the pandemic, and horse milk powder is also expected to follow suit. Everyone in the factory gets motivated," said factory manager Bayan Elshin.

Every morning, Elshin, in his dark green jacket and riding boots, inspects the camel and horse sheds, checks the equipment imported from Germany and instructs workers on safety rules. Sometimes he drives to the nearby hills, watching over 2,000 horses in a pasture.

"Our factory is situated in an uninhabited area where more than 200 camels and 2,500 horses graze on the grassland of 35,000 hectares nearby. Camel milk and mare milk are treasures of the Kazakh people, and we are glad that our products get recognition on the Chinese market," said Elshin.

The dairy factory was established by Kazakhstan's Eurasia Investment, and was put into production in 2014, with an annual output of 60 tons of camel milk powder and 60 tons of mare milk powder.

Kairzhan Meirambekov, deputy general manager of Eurasia Investment, told Xinhua that last year the company opened a camel milk powder store at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, with annual sales at 600 million tenge ($1.5 million).