Russian e-commerce giant Ozon is embarking on a new chapter in Kazakhstan, investing approximately 15 billion Kazakh tenge (equivalent to 33.7 million U.S. dollars) in the construction of a logistics complex.
The ambitious project, which will be completed in 12 months and covers an area of 42,000 square meters, is expected to create approximately 2,000 local jobs, according to Ozon. As Ozon’s business in Kazakhstan continues to grow, the construction of the logistics complex will provide strong support to meet the growing demand for platform services from sellers and buyers. The new facility will serve as a fulfillment center located in Almaty, near the Chinese border, providing a full range of services for local sellers’ online orders, from storage to packaging and shipping packages to customers, the center will efficiently meet the needs of Kazakhstan’s booming e-commerce.
This strategic move is aimed at responding to the growing demand for services in the Kazakh market. By setting up a dedicated fulfillment center, Ozon aims to improve operational efficiency and meet the growing needs of sellers and buyers.
To ensure the success of the project, Ozon has partnered with Focus Logistics, a subsidiary of the well-known Kazakh construction group Bazis.
Since entering the Kazakhstan market in 2021, Ozon has been continuously expanding its logistics infrastructure in the region. Currently, the company operates two operation centers and more than 100 pickup and return points in Kazakhstan. With ambitious plans, Ozon plans to increase the number of pickup and return points to 1,000 by the end of 2023.
As members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) free trade area, bilateral trade relations between Russia and Kazakhstan continue to strengthen. In 2022, bilateral trade between the two countries increased by $2 billion to $26 billion, and the growth rate has remained above 10% and shows signs of continuing to rise. Ozon’s active layout in Kazakhstan will undoubtedly further promote this booming economic cooperation.