The sovereignty of Kazakhstan more than 10 years ago carried with it the problem of drawing up of plans for foreign economic relations, including the foreign trade and specifically exports to external markets. For this purpose, a special state body on the realization of foreign trade was created.

In 1988, the Foreign Trade Association-KazakhImport was formed, and after several transformations, in 1994 it received the name 'Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan'. One of the major purposes of this organization is to attract foreign investments to Kazakhstan. Currently Kazakhstan's exports maily consist of raw materials such as petroleum, natural gas, copper ore, iron ore, and chrome ore. 

Hydrocarbons and metals are hence the basic export of the country, composing about 60% of exports. There is also a large agrarian sector in the republic. Kazakhstan is an exporter of grain, which is of world-class quality. The annual manufacture is of 10-15 millions tons, meaning export opportunities of 7-10 millions tons). In southern Kazakhstan, moreover, 150-200 thousand tons of cotton are produced. 

A major import to Kazakhstan is consumer goods, and about 70 % of the consumed goods are imported, despite the presence of huge raw material resources in the agrarian sector, which creates the possibility  of domestic production. Moreover, there is a material base for processing these raw materials and actually manufacturing consumer goods inside the country. There are three large textile combines, for example, functioning at a low level of production; there are also many shoe, sewing and knitting factories. In these spheres of activity, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is trying to attract foreign investments. For these purposes, the program provides certain privileges for foreign investors.

The necessary atmosphere and legal base are also being created for the functioning of foreign businessmen. In the last 5 years, laws for the realization of market reforms have been passed in accordance with the advice given by independent experts. Kazakhstan's reforms have been considered the most progressive among the countries of the CIS. Among such basic laws, the Civil Code, laws regulating the creation of a competitive environment, basic legislative principles regarding land ownership etc. have been passed, specifically in the legal  documents called "Law on foreign investments" and "Law on state support to direct Investment".

The Government of Kazakhstan and its agencies offer a number of tax incentives to investors. These are designed to encourage investment in priority sections of the economy - as set out in law. The Agency of the Republic Kazakhstan for Investments is entitled to grant some or all of the following:

- State natural grants - Exemption from payment of land and property taxes for up to 5 years from the moment the contract is concluded - Exemption from payment of income taxes for a period of up to 5 years from the moment of receipt of the taxable income but not for more than 8 years from the time of conclusion of the contract. - Full or partial exemption from customs duties for the import of equipment, raw materials and materials necessary for the realization of the investment project.

All these measures are undertaken for a revival of the above branches, as the export potential of the republic is not realized on beneficial terms due to the presence of a number of  reasons, among which the most important are: the increasing competitiveness of imported goods, the lower quality of private production, and a decreasing population.