The special role of grain in the composition of commercial products of the agro-industrial complex is determined by its strategic importance as a main food product and a very important, and for certain branches of animal husbandry, a crucial component of feed. On the other hand, Kazakhstan has become a major grain producer due to its natural and other features. In the conditions of economic transformation, the preservation of grain production and ensuring the rational use of its development potential is largely determined by the state of market functioning. In the formation and development of the grain market, inter-industry economic relations are of paramount importance. The new situation of Kazakhstan’s participation in the world grain market, which requires scientific generalization, is connected with the formation of sovereign States and the transformation of trade between them from interregional to interstate.
National competitiveness is a multisided concept that includes a system of indexes, indicators, criteria, conditions and factors of development, mechanisms of its improvement. Competitiveness consists of a number of components that supplement each other and ensure steady economic growth, improving the welfare of the population. These are: science and education, innovation and investments, various infrastructure, real economy sector, small business, various services, natural and human resources. The objective of necessity to perform reforms at the regional level and the natural increase of the role of the regions in reforming the economy are predetermined by the fact that the ability of state bodies, ministries and departments to influence the course of reforms is gradually limited, and the new market mechanism is not working enough effectively yet. This shows the necessity of determination of the role and place of the region in the economic space, its potential possibilities and development prospects.