Kazakhstan to Improve Investor Protections and Accelerate Digital Reforms

Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has instructed government agencies to accelerate the removal of administrative barriers for investors and expand the digitalization of investment procedures amid intensifying global competition for capital. Speaking at a meeting on investor rights protection attended by government officials, prosecutors, business representatives, and the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Bektenov said improving the investment climate remains a government priority. “Just last week, a presidential decree was signed on improving migration policy, aimed at creating a better environment for attracting investors, entrepreneurs, and highly qualified specialists,” Bektenov said. According to the government, Kazakhstan’s Investment Headquarters reviewed 44 projects worth approximately $25.5 billion during the first quarter of 2026. Prosecutor General Berik Asylov said the number of criminal cases against businesses has fallen fourfold over the past three years. “We are overseeing more than 3,000 investment projects. We maintain direct communication and continuous monitoring with investors and the business community,” he said. According to the Foreign Ministry, investors submitted 273 appeals during the first quarter of the year, with around half resolved positively. The main concerns related to tax administration, customs procedures, and land issues. Baurzhan Yeraly, chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Investors’ Rights under the General Prosecutor’s Office, said the rights of around 600 investors had already been protected this year, with complaints handled directly rather than transferred between agencies. Officials cited several successful cases, including the connection of a major energy project in the Atyrau region to engineering infrastructure and the inclusion of a paper products manufacturer in the national registry of domestic producers. Bektenov criticized what he described as a formalistic approach by some state bodies in dealing with businesses. “Every request from an investor is a signal behind which stand decisions on capital allocation, the launch of new production facilities, and the creation of jobs,” he said. The prime minister warned that officials and managers in the quasi-state sector responsible for bureaucratic delays would face “the strictest measures.” He also pointed to systemic problems, including weak coordination between agencies, delays in public service delivery, and insufficient oversight at the regional level. Particular attention was given to the role of local administrations, which were instructed to supervise key investment projects directly and accelerate the allocation of land, infrastructure, and permits. The government also plans to speed up development of the National Digital Investment Platform. More than 3,000 projects worth around $200 billion have already been integrated into the system, though more than 400 projects have yet to be uploaded. “In the context of global competition for investment, we must ensure a stable and favorable investment climate,” Bektenov said. Asset Irgaliyev, chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms, said the agency is developing a “regulatory intelligence” platform using artificial intelligence to identify excessive requirements and administrative barriers. Authorities also plan to expand the overseas network of Kazakh Invest. According to company head Sultangali Kinzhakulov, representative offices in the United States, Germany, China, Russia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Qatar will operate as “one-stop...

Kazakh Chamber of Entrepreneurs Encourages Businesses to Launch Production Facilities in Prisons

Kazakhstan’s National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken" and the Committee of the Penal System (CES) under the Ministry of Internal Affairs have discussed the potential for establishing private production facilities inside the country’s correctional institutions. The initiative was presented during a meeting organized by Atameken, Kazakhstan’s largest business association, representing 1.4 million members across 203 industry associations. The discussion focused on practical mechanisms for facilitating business engagement with correctional institutions. “It is important for businesses to understand the real opportunities and economic benefits of working with correctional facilities. The Chamber is prepared to support projects at every stage, offering both advisory and organizational assistance,” said Almat Askar, Managing Director of the Manufacturing Industry Department at Atameken. According to Askar, Atameken is working with government agencies to develop mechanisms that encourage businesses to create jobs for inmates and set up production facilities within the industrial zones of correctional facilities. Guldana Sharipova, Head of the Convict Labor Organization Department at the CES, noted that legislative amendments offering incentives for businesses are already in progress. “We are interested in companies not only launching operations within correctional facilities but also in hiring convicts to work outside the colonies,” she said. According to the World Prison Population List, Kazakhstan ranked 89th out of 222 countries in 2024 in terms of the number of prisoners per 100,000 population. Approximately 35,000 individuals are held in 78 correctional institutions nationwide. Of these, about 23,000 are eligible to work, yet only slightly more than 12,000 are officially employed. Currently, 280 private enterprises operate within the industrial zones of correctional institutions, employing 5,000 inmates. These facilities manufacture products ranging from workwear and building materials to furniture, souvenirs, and consumer goods. This initiative comes alongside broader efforts by the Kazakh government to improve the business climate, including a recent reduction in inspections of private enterprises.