On September 15, in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, the Supply Chain Forum took place, promoted by Maire, Tecnimont Kazakhstan, and Sinopec, with the financial support of Silleno LLP and organized by ACIK.

The initiative brought together institutions, companies, diplomatic representatives, and stakeholders to discuss the prospects of the Kazakh supply chain, with a particular focus on the development of local production and the creation of new industrial partnerships.


Institutional Speeches

The opening remarks were delivered by Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who outlined the government’s vision for strengthening international trade and aligning supply chains with global standards.



This was followed by the Deputy Akim of the Atyrau Region, who reminded the audience that “Atyrau is the engine of Kazakhstan’s economy,” producing up to 60% of the country’s oil. He also stressed the importance of the polyethylene plant construction project, one of the most significant investments ever made in Kazakhstan. According to the Deputy Akim, investing in local production goes hand in hand with this major project, and the forum represents a crucial moment to discuss local value and the enhancement of local content. The Atyrau Region is indeed preparing to launch a significant effort to attract new local manufacturing activities, in synergy with ongoing investments.

Askhat Khassenov, Chairman of the Management Board of JSCNC KazMunayGas, highlighted the need to adequately prepare for the activation of future projects in the area, stressing that such preparation will be fundamental for the development of local production. He praised the contribution of Maire and Tecnimont and urged local companies not to limit themselves to participating in single projects, but to be ready for long-term collaborations, ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and with high quality standards.



The morning continued with remarks from Asilbek Yakiev, Chairman of the Kazakh Oil and Gas Association PetroCouncil, who praised the work of Marco Beretta and ACIK, recognizing the organization as a highly important partner for PetroCouncil as well.


Yakiev emphasized that the strong participation in the forum demonstrated the great interest of Kazakh companies in the topics discussed, highlighting the importance of cooperation between institutions, industrial players, and local stakeholders to foster development and strengthen the national supply chain.


Equally significant were the diplomatic contributions of Yerbolat Sembayev, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Italy, and Antonello De Riu, Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan. The latter, in particular, praised the work of Marco Beretta, president of ACIK, recalling his more than twenty years dedicated to building bridges and relationships between Italy and Kazakhstan.


The ambassador reiterated that development is measured in dignity and people, and that Italy recognizes Maire as a reliable partner, capable of meeting quality standards and ensuring that final results meet expectations. He referred to the Silleno project, the largest manufacturing project in the country under President Tokayev, highlighting its alignment with Kazakhstan’s strategic priorities.


De Riu further emphasized the concept of “in-country value,” praising Maire for its innovative approach: “Maire is transforming local suppliers from passive contractors into qualified competitive partners, capable of meeting international standards.” He pointed out that the launch of the project represents real opportunities for local businesses, not just simple contracts, and reaffirmed the Kazakh government’s willingness to support this path.

He concluded his remarks with a clear and inspirational message: “Together we are building a future rooted in competence, fairness, and trust,” underlining the collaboration between institutions, businesses, and diplomacy to build a solid and sustainable industrial ecosystem.


Signing of a New Agreement and Silleno’s Projects

The forum also marked a moment of concreteness with the Signing Ceremony of a membership agreement between Silleno LLP and IMB Center.



Main Plenary Session: The Contribution of the Promoting Companies

Silleno LLP

The plenary session opened with Mukhtar Avutbayev, General Director of Silleno LLP, who presented in detail the project supported by the company. It is the largest oil and gas chemical project for polyethylene production in western Kazakhstan.

The project falls within the oil, gas and chemical development sphere and involves major investors, including AO NK KazMunayGas, PAO Sibir Holding, and Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Co. The new plant, to be built near Atyrau, will be able to produce 1.25 million tons of polyethylene per year, mainly to meet domestic demand, which, according to Avutbayev, will grow in parallel with the increase in population. Construction is expected to be completed by 2029, the year when active production is scheduled to begin.

From an economic perspective, the project represents a significant investment, expected to contribute about 0.86% of national GDP per year, attracting foreign capital, including $6 billion from the United States. During construction, around 8,000 people will be employed, while approximately 800 workers will be permanently employed once production begins.

Avutbayev emphasized that polyethylene is a widely used everyday material, making the project strategic for the country’s industrial development. He stressed the importance of supporting local companies in equipment supply, construction, and assembly activities, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of collaborating with local suppliers.

He also explained that while Silleno does not make direct purchases, it works closely with major contractors to ensure that local companies are included in supplier lists and can actively participate in the project, thereby contributing to the growth of the supply chain and local value.

Avutbayev concluded by stressing that this initiative represents a unique opportunity to create new industrial partnerships, strengthen local production, and contribute significantly to the sustainable development of Kazakhstan’s economy.


MAIRE

Equally significant was the speech by Nicolò Heilpern, Anatolian Central Asia Vice President of Maire, who outlined the group’s profile and expertise. Maire is an Italian technology and engineering group with over 50 years of global experience, €5.9 billion in revenues, more than 10,000 employees, and main offices in Milan, Rome, Houston, Abu Dhabi, and Mumbai. The group collaborates with over 42,000 suppliers worldwide and aims to expand its activities in Kazakhstan.

The company is organized into two main business units:

  • NextChem, focused on energy transition, offers innovative technological solutions to support clients and countries in their ecological transition. This is where ideas and technologies are generated to best meet clients’ needs.
  • Tecnimont, a leader in Engineering & Construction, manages the full development of projects, from design to engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), ensuring superior execution worldwide.


The two units are connected through Met Development, a company that supports clients and partners in finding investors, financial institutions, and banking solutions to ensure project delivery on a global scale.



In particular, Tecnimont is involved in the Silleno project together with Sinopec and boasts 50 years of experience and over 1,500 completed projects worldwide: 450 in fertilization, 350 in oil & gas, and more than 700 in petrochemicals. Tecnimont is recognized as a contractor of choice in the global market: about 40% of polyolefins projects, 60% of polyethylene projects, and 60% of ethylene projects worldwide have been carried out by the company.

Heilpern emphasized how Maire aims to combine innovation, technical expertise, and financial solutions to create value for clients and the countries where it operates, confirming the group’s commitment to supporting industrial development and local production in Kazakhstan.


The first part of the day concluded with the speech of Lik Yang Gong, Director of the Construction Department at Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Co. (SSEC), who presented the profile and expertise of the company. Sinopec is one of the largest engineering firms in the world, specializing in petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and chemical plant design in China. Founded in 1953 as the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Industry Design Institute (SPIDI), the company was incorporated into SINOPEC in 2000, merged in 2002 with SINOPEC Jinshan Engineering Co. and SINOPEC Gaoqiao Petrochemical Design Institute, and was officially renamed SINOPEC Shanghai Engineering Co., Ltd. (SSEC) in 2003. In 2013 the Chinese name was updated, and in 2014 the company was listed on the Hong Kong market under SEG.



Today, SSEC has about 1,400 employees across various divisions operating in the petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and biochemical sectors, as well as new materials and energies, storage and transportation, environmental protection, and energy saving. Lik Yang Gong highlighted Sinopec’s experience in managing complex projects and its ability to provide integrated solutions, ensuring high quality, efficiency, and sustainability.

He also expressed pride in participating in this project in Kazakhstan, stressing that SSEC intends to support long-term partnerships, contributing to the creation of lasting value for both local and international partners involved in the Silleno project.



The first part of the morning ended with a coffee break, offering participants a moment of informal exchange and networking among institutions, companies, and stakeholders present at the forum. The day will continue with the second part of the program, which will delve into the theme of in-country value; on this topic, a dedicated article will be published later.