City Investments
Alatau – a territory of exceptional opportunities for investment and business growth, driven by its strategic location and special economic regime.
The city is situated along the Almaty – Konayev highway at the intersection of key international transport corridors, including the "New Silk Road" initiative, which ensures optimal logistics and direct access to global markets.
This young city has the potential to become a new economic hub for the region, already possessing all the necessary conditions for the successful development of any business sector.
The Alatau Development Master Plan up to 2050 envisions the creation of a multifaceted urban environment with a focus on key economic sectors: international finance and business, science and education, industry and logistics, as well as tourism.
The first key facilities will be commissioned by 2030, laying a solid foundation for further economic growth and enhancing the city's investment potential.
Alatau attracts investors not only with its strategic location and well-thought-out planning but also with the presence of the extensive "Alatau" Special Economic Zone. The SEZ status provides a range of significant advantages, making the city even more attractive for capital investment.
The "Alatau" Special Economic Zone acts as a catalyst for the development of high-tech industries and stimulates entrepreneurial activity in the city by offering:
- Preferential taxation for participants.
- Preferences in customs regulation.
- Simplified administrative procedures.
- Opportunities for the implementation of large-scale investment projects.
GATE DISTRICT
Prospects for the development of the financial sector and international-level business services.
GOLDEN DISTRICT
Opportunities for investment in science, education, and advanced medicine.
GROWING DISTRICT
Potential for the creation of export-oriented manufacturing and logistics centers.
GREEN DISTRICT
Attractiveness for the development of the tourism industry and entertainment sector.
Why is Kazakhstan an attractive destination for investment?
The Government of Kazakhstan offers investors various preferences within 14 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 37 Industrial Zones (IZs), including:
- 0% corporate income tax, land tax, property tax, customs duties, and VAT on imported goods within SEZs.
- Availability of ready-made infrastructure, long-term lease agreements with repayment schedules, and no sectoral restrictions in industrial zones.
- Investment contracts granting the right to state in-kind grants (land plots, buildings, equipment, etc.), exemption from customs duties and VAT on imports, tax exemptions, and investment subsidies.
The Astana International Financial Centre is widely recognized as a financial institution and hub in the Central Asia and Eastern Europe region. It actively develops capital markets, asset and wealth management, Islamic finance, fintech, and green finance. AIFC Advantages:
- Special tax, migration, and labor regimes.
- English is the official language within the AIFC.
- The AIFC Court and the International Arbitration Centre – a separate and independent judicial system based on the norms of English Сommon Law.
Kazakhstan's strategic location at the crossroads of major markets in Central Asia, the Caspian region, and Western China (with a total volume of over 500 million consumers) makes the country an attractive hub for business. Membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) ensures duty-free trade and the free movement of resources in a market with more than 180 million people, opening up broad export opportunities.
Thanks to a well-developed transport network, including the transcontinental "Western Europe – Western China" highway, Kazakhstan provides 70% of land transit between China and Europe, reducing delivery times to just 10 days. Kazakhstan boasts a modern transport network comprising 24 airports with 72 air corridors. The country's capital, Astana, offers an extensive network of international and domestic flights, connecting the country with key global centers. Almaty International Airport also provides connections to over 55 cities worldwide. The seaports of Aktau and Kuryk on the Caspian Sea are developing, with a combined port capacity exceeding 27 million tons. Seaport infrastructure in other countries includes Batumi (Georgia) and a logistics terminal in the Pacific port of Lianyungang (China).
Kazakhstan possesses the best telecommunications infrastructure in Central Asia, with high internet penetration (77%) and an extensive 4G network.
Kazakhstan's population is approximately 20 million people, with a significant portion (around 40%) under the age of 25. The literacy rate reaches 100%.
The country has a skilled workforce with a competitive average monthly salary in the region. To attract foreign specialists, a visa-free regime is in place for citizens of 79 countries, including all OECD countries.
Kazakhstan's higher education system includes over 120 universities. Branches of prestigious foreign universities are opening, and dual degree programs are being implemented, expanding opportunities for Kazakh citizens to receive quality international-level education. More than 10,000 people have received education at the world's best universities through the "Bolashak" program.
Kazakhstan possesses significant reserves of minerals, holding leading global positions in the extraction and reserves of several strategically important resources, including:
- The world's largest producer of uranium.
- 2nd place globally in chromium, lead, and zinc reserves.
- 3rd place globally in manganese reserves.
- 5th place globally in copper reserves.
- Top 10 globally in coal, iron, and gold reserves.
Kazakhstan actively attracts investment in key industries with high growth potential: mechanical engineering, energy, transport and logistics, mining and metallurgy, food industry and agribusiness, tourism, chemical and petrochemical industries.
Continuous work is underway to improve investment legislation and develop the institutional environment. An Investment Headquarters under the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan operates to promptly address investors' issues.
Legal Regime of Alatau
Customs Regime
Within the territory of the "Alatau" Special Economic Zone, the customs procedure of a free customs zone is in effect. This is a special regime applied to goods imported into the SEZ territory.
The boundaries of the zone where this procedure applies are defined in accordance with the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The legal regulation is based on the customs legislation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
It should be noted that the entire territory of the SEZ is part of the customs territory of the EAEU; however, the free customs zone procedure area is a zone of customs control where customs authorities carry out their activities.
When goods are placed under this procedure, they are considered to be outside the customs territory of the EAEU solely for the purposes of applying customs duties, taxes, and non-tariff regulation measures (Articles 52, 53 of the Law "On Special Economic and Industrial Zones").
Incentives and Preferences
Within the territory of the "Alatau" Special Economic Zone, a special legal regime is in effect, which includes specific conditions for doing business.
Customs Advantages
- Possibility of using the free customs zone procedure.
- Simplified conditions for the import and export of goods without the payment of customs duties.
Regulated by the Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission "On Certain Issues of Applying the Customs Procedure of the Free Customs Zone".
Tax Incentives
- Reduced or exempt tax burden for participants.
- Incentives on corporate income tax, land tax, property tax, and other taxes depending on the type of SEZ.
The tax burden is determined by the Law "On Taxes and Other Mandatory Payments to the Budget (Tax Code)" (Articles 151-2 – 151-10).
Administrative Simplifications
- Reduction of bureaucratic barriers for business registration and obtaining permits.
- Simplified procedures for the entry, exit, and transit of foreign citizens participating in SEZ projects.
Regulated by the Government Decree "On the Creation of the 'Alatau' Special Economic Zone".
State Support
- Guarantees for the protection of the interests of investors and SEZ participants.
- Measures to stimulate industrial and economic development.
Investment Opportunities
- Conditions for attracting foreign investment.
- Access to simplified administrative procedures and specialized infrastructure.
Project Categories for Determining Tax Preferences:
The amount of tax benefits for participants of the "Alatau" SEZ depends on the cost of the investment project and is divided into the following categories:
- Category A. Projects with a value of up to 3,000,000 times the monthly calculation index (MCI) established by the law on the national budget as of January 1 of the corresponding financial year.
- Category B. Projects with a value ranging from 3,000,000 to 14,500,000 times the MCI established by the law on the national budget as of January 1 of the corresponding financial year.
- Category C. Projects with a value exceeding 14,500,000 times the MCI established by the law on the national budget as of January 1 of the corresponding year.
Special Conditions for Specific Industries:
For participants of the "Alatau" SEZ, engaged in the following industries, Category B is provided for projects with a value ranging from 1,000,000 to 14,500,000 times the MCI:
- Manufacture of food products;
- Manufacture of textiles;
- Manufacture of wearing apparel;
- Manufacture of leather and related products;
- Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products;
- Manufacture of electrical equipment.
Tax preferences are applied by participants and management companies of the SEZ in accordance with the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Taxes and Other Mandatory Payments to the Budget" (Tax Code).
For more detailed information on specific tax incentives and the conditions for their application, we recommend referring to the relevant articles of the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan or contacting the Management Company of the "Alatau" SEZ.
What documents are required?
The applicant submits an application to the management company with the following documents attached:
- Applicant's questionnaire (Form UO);
- Copy of the legal entity's charter;
- Copy of the decision of the legal entity's supreme body to conduct activities in the territory of the special economic zone;
- Certificate of state registration (re-registration) of the legal entity;
- Copy of the identity document of the applicant's first head;
- Copy of financial statements for the last financial year;
- Feasibility study of the project (in accordance with the requirements of the Management Company);
- Bank statement of cash flow and credit report from a credit bureau;
- Certificate from the state revenue authorities on the presence/absence of debt;
- Confirmation of financial security for the project: in cash; by bank guarantee; by surety; by pledge of property; by insurance contract (for 2 years or, if the project cost exceeds 15 million times the MCI, for 3 years);
- Preliminary design of the territory (if the project is related to construction);
- Copy of the certificate of absence of state registration as a taxpayer with the state revenue authorities (if the applicant is a non-resident of the Republic of Kazakhstan).
Foreign legal entities shall submit legalized documents specified in subparagraphs 2, 4, and 5 of the first part of this clause, a legalized excerpt from the commercial register or another legalized document certifying that the foreign legal entity is a legal entity under the laws of a foreign state, with a notarized translation 1 into Kazakh and Russian.
At the time of submitting an application to carry out activities as an SEZ Participant or a person carrying out non-core activities, applicants must confirm the availability of financial security in the amount of at least 10% of the project cost in one of the following ways:
- In cash;
- By bank guarantee;
- By surety with the attachment of confirmation of the surety's financial resources in the ways provided for the applicant in this clause;
- By pledge of property;
- By insurance contract.
The applicant has the right to choose any of the methods of financial security, including by combining several methods.
Registration Timelines
Taking into account all requirements, the management company of the special economic zone will sign an agreement on carrying out activities or an agreement on carrying out non-core activities within 10 working days from the date of application submission.
Upon receipt of the corresponding copy of the agreement, the Unified Coordination Center will enter information about the applicant into the Unified Register of Special Economic Zone Participants within five working days. Depending on the type of activity, the applicant will be issued a certificate of SEZ participant or the information will be entered into the register of persons carrying out non-core activities without issuing a certificate.
Online registration
You can submit an application for registration as a participant of the "Alatau" Special Economic Zone on the "Alatau" SEZ website.
Register a Legal Entity in Alatau
To register as a legal entity in the city of Alatau, an investor needs to become a participant of the "Alatau" Special Economic Zone. To do this, they should contact the Management Company of the SEZ.
The company provides consultation and support throughout the registration process, which significantly facilitates the entry of investors into the ranks of "Alatau" SEZ residents.