An agreement to establish Kazakhstan’s first international outlet center has been signed at the Astana International Forum.
According to the Ministry of Trade and Integration, the large-scale project will be located in the Almaty region and developed by QSM Group in partnership with Austria’s Ekazent Management GmbH, a leading player in the European commercial real estate market.
Ekazent will oversee the entire planning and operational framework for the outlet center. This includes conducting a marketing study to determine the optimal location, defining the architectural and functional concept, developing a long-term management strategy, and managing day-to-day operations after the center opens. The Austrian firm will also be responsible for attracting international brands and tenants to the retail spaces.
The future outlet center will span between 80,000 and 120,000 square meters and will include shopping galleries, hotels, restaurants, playgrounds, and other leisure facilities.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, hailed the project as a milestone for the country’s retail sector. “Today, there are no Western-style outlet centers in Central Asia, which creates a unique competitive advantage. Kazakhstani consumers show consistent interest in branded goods and lifestyle-oriented shopping,” Shakkaliyev said. He also emphasized the strategic value of the Almaty region’s location, noting its proximity to the capitals of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and well-established transport corridors from China, Turkey, the UAE, and Russia.
The outlet is expected to become a major attraction for both residents and international visitors.
Globally, the outlet retail market exceeds $100 billion and continues to grow at an annual rate of 5-7%, with the fastest expansion occurring in Asia.
The announcement coincided with the broader discussions at the Astana International Forum, which brought together leaders from several countries to address key global issues such as energy security, geopolitical cooperation, trade, and sustainable development.
