Government Reviews Key Development Milestones of Alatau City: Investments, Legal Status, and Infrastructure

Strategic Status and Legislative Framework

The development of Alatau City is a national strategic priority. A draft Constitutional Law “On the Special Status of Alatau City” is currently under consideration in Parliament. The new legal regime is designed to create unprecedented opportunities for attracting foreign investment while preserving the country’s administrative and territorial integrity.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the project’s significance:

“The Head of State has designated Alatau as a new center of long-term economic development and is personally overseeing the progress of the project. Moreover, the core development principles of the city have been incorporated into the draft of the new Constitution. The introduction of special legal regimes serves Kazakhstan’s long-term economic interests and creates new opportunities for attracting investment. The development of Alatau City is an innovative solution aimed at building a modern digital city of accelerated development with a special status.”

Investment Potential and Flagship Projects 

At present, a strong investment portfolio has been formed comprising 44 projects with a total value of approximately KZT 1.8 trillion. The implementation of these initiatives across industry, logistics, agro-processing and the creative economy is expected to create more than 30,000 jobs.

Priority projects include the construction of the Iconic Complex, which will serve as the city’s architectural and business core, as well as the establishment of the KAIST Kazakhstan technological university, aimed  at training highly qualified professionals.

Development of Engineering and Transport Infrastructure

To ensure the city’s operational readiness and attract business activity, comprehensive modernization of engineering infrastructure is underway.

Projects are being implemented across several key areas:

• Power supply - construction of the Arna 220/10 kV substation and design of six additional substations;

• Water supply and wastewater management - expansion of the Yntymak water intake facility, construction of three additional water intake units, a wastewater treatment plant, and associated collector systems;

• Gas supply - design of a new automated gas distribution station “Gate City-1”, and completion of the Zhetygen AGDS;

• Road infrastructure - development of design documentation for a road and overpass connecting the Growing and Gate Districts, as well as EPC-F contracts предусматривают construction of roads, overpasses, and engineering networks within the Golden District.

Urban Planning and Human Capital Development 

Special attention is being given to the development of conceptual and urban planning frameworks that will define the city’s future appearance. These documents will establish strict standards for residential quality, including landscaping requirements, building parameters, and airflow and ventilation planning.

In human capital development, Alatau City draws on the successful experiences of Singapore and Dubai. The model focuses on managed workforce inflow and creating conditions for Kazakh professionals to occupy leading positions in high-skilled labor markets. 

Strengthening Investment Transparency

Following the meeting, a dedicated Operational Committee was established to coordinate project implementation. All regulatory acts governing the city will be developed with international expert participation to ensure full transparency and predictability for investors.

The Prime Minister emphasized that rapid infrastructure development supporting anchor projects remains a key condition for the city’s long-term investment success.

Source: primeminister.kz