Shin-Line Group and AJISEN RAMEN to Open Up to 50 Restaurants Across Kazakhstan and Eurasia

Tokyo, September 8, 2026 — Kazakhstan’s Shin-Line Group and Shigemitsu Industry Co., Ltd., the Japanese owner of the international restaurant chain AJISEN RAMEN, have announced a strategic partnership. The parties signed an official Master Franchise Agreement and established a joint venture, Ajisen Ramen Central Asia.

The signing ceremony took place at the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Japan, attended by Andrey Shin, President of Shin-Line Group, and Katsuaki Shigemitsu, President of Shigemitsu Industry.

The joint venture, Ajisen Ramen Central Asia, will handle regional management, franchising, production, and product adaptation. The primary expansion phase is planned for 2027–2031, during which the partners intend to open up to 50 locations.

Kazakhstan will serve as the project’s key operational, logistical, and production hub. From here, the international brand will systematically expand into Central Asia, the EAEU, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. The first step will be the opening of a flagship AJISEN RAMEN restaurant in Almaty.

A central commissary kitchen will be established at Shin-Line’s production facility in Baiserke, Almaty Region. It will maintain Japanese quality standards, streamline logistics, and handle raw material localization in strict compliance with Halal standards.

"Opening a single restaurant is just the beginning. Our goal is to build a robust system that can be efficiently scaled across other countries. We have a trusted Japanese partner, our own manufacturing infrastructure, and a deep understanding of regional markets," noted Andrey Shin, President of Shin-Line Group.

The collaboration centers on transferring advanced Japanese technologies, manufacturing standards, and authentic recipes, adapted to suit local taste preferences.

For Shin-Line Group, entering the restaurant sector marks a new strategic milestone. It allows the company to leverage its extensive FMCG expertise, food processing capabilities, and distribution network. This initiative will establish a new hub for Japanese culinary culture in the region, attract foreign investment, create jobs, and introduce innovative management standards to Kazakhstan's food industry.