Earlier market entry attempt (2018): Since 2018, the national investment promotion company Kazakh Invest had been negotiating with Valmont Industries regarding a potential investment project in Kazakhstan focused on irrigation technology localization.

Initial project concept: The discussions included plans to build a manufacturing plant for water-saving irrigation systems and to establish demonstration farms to promote modern irrigation technologies.

2019 investment agreement: In 2019, Valmont Industries signed an agreement with the Government of Kazakhstan and Kusto Group (founded by Yerkin Tatishev) to implement the project. The initial project investment was estimated at approximately USD 50 million.Despite these agreements, the project was not implemented at that time.