Abstract
Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractExport diversification and the growth of non-resource exports remain key strategic priorities for Kazakhstan, particularly for food manufacturing firms facing organizational and institutional obstacles to participation in international markets. We seek to assess managerial, institutional, organizational, and ownership-related drivers associated with direct and broader export participation, targeting food manufacturing enterprises in Kazakhstan. The empirical analysis uses the food sampling-sector domain of the 2024 World Bank Enterprise Survey for Kazakhstan. The complete national dataset contains 1,013 establishments, and the initial food-domain subsample comprised 128 establishments. After listwise deletion of observations with missing values, the final estimation sample consisted of n = 121 establishments in the direct export model and n = 121 establishments in the any-export model. The statistical analysis applies survey-weighted logistic regression and average marginal effects. The findings suggest that organizational capabilities are important for firms’ export operations. Digital presence (β = 2.030; p = 0.004), process innovation (β = 1.789; p = 0.010), and firm size (β = 1.491; p = 0.001) are positively associated with direct export participation. Broader export involvement is associated with foreign ownership and customs restrictions. Strengthening export competitiveness therefore requires improvements in organizational preparedness, innovation, digital communication, customs procedures, and logistics.AcknowledgmentsThis study is funded by the Science Committee MSHE RK under grant IRN AP23489234 “Research on new instruments for the development of agrotechnological hubs in the regions of Kazakhstan to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the Eurasian region.”