President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Pays a Working Visit to Alatau City

Spatial Development Strategy and Economic Potential of Alatau City

Alatau City currently covers an area of 88,000 hectares. Under the approved development concept, the territory is divided into four functional zones, with phased development planned through 2050. Key growth centers and priority development areas have already been identified, while a dedicated roadmap is being implemented to accelerate the construction of core infrastructure.

The city’s economic and social foundations are already delivering tangible results. Five major anchor enterprises are successfully operating in Alatau City: Mareven Food, Knauf, Fruit Art, Dolce Pharm, and the Almaty Fan Plant. At the same time, the Gate City residential district continues to develop, where one school has already been completed under Kazakhstan’s “Comfort School” program.

In parallel, a large-scale investment portfolio comprising 53 projects with a total value exceeding KZT 2 trillion has been established. PepsiCo is currently constructing Central Asia’s largest potato processing plant, while Mars Petcare is developing the region’s first state-of-the-art pet food manufacturing facility.

In addition, KHAN TENGRI BIOPHARMA is engaged in the high-tech production of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, while Eastcomtrans and G-Trans are jointly developing a major logistics cluster.

The Head of State was also presented with the Iconic Complex project – a flagship mixed-use development that is set to become one of Alatau City’s future landmark developments and will be located within the Gate District.

Energy Innovation and the Alatau Smart City Concept

The Head of State placed particular emphasis on ensuring that Alatau City becomes a national benchmark for resource-efficient and sustainable urban development. To address energy challenges and improve overall sector efficiency, the President instructed stakeholders to prioritize the adoption of the International Energy Agency’s “First Fuel” concept. This approach promotes the widespread implementation of energy-efficiency measures, based on the principle that the cost of saving energy is two to three times lower than the cost of generating new energy capacity.

Development of Social, Educational, and Tourism Infrastructure

According to the Master Plan, Alatau City’s population is projected to reach approximately 2 million residents by 2050, requiring significant investment in social infrastructure and public services.

Given the strong interest of private investors in infrastructure development, the President instructed the Alatau City Development Council and the City Administration to establish clear investment return mechanisms, supported by transparent regulations and a fair allocation of risks among stakeholders.

Ensuring a sustainable pipeline of highly qualified talent was identified as one of the city’s key long-term priorities. Under the Master Plan, the Golden District is envisioned as a future international hub for education and science, designed to foster an advanced academic and innovation ecosystem.

At the same time, large-scale development of a tourism cluster will begin in the Green District, with the capacity to attract millions of visitors. A central role in this vision is assigned to the Kapshagay Lake recreational area. The President instructed authorities to create conditions for year-round tourism, including winter recreation, ice skating, and fishing.

Development along the reservoir’s shoreline will be carried out in a coordinated and consistent manner under a unified architectural vision – from hotels and entertainment facilities to public spaces and recreational infrastructure. This approach is expected to strengthen the region’s tourism appeal and contribute to its long-term economic prosperity.

Special Legal Status and Regulatory Framework

Speaking at the meeting, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that the decision to establish a new city of this scale was made during a challenging period for the national economy. However, he stressed that the initiative had been carefully considered and strategically planned. According to the President, the experience of globally recognized future-oriented cities such as Dubai, Shenzhen, and Incheon clearly demonstrates their ability to drive transformational growth and elevate the development trajectory of entire nations.

To achieve these objectives, Kazakhstan has adopted the Constitutional Law “On the Special Legal Regime of Alatau City,” which establishes a fundamentally new governance model. The core principles that will guide the development of Alatau City are enshrined in this legislation.

According to the President, a strong legal foundation has already been established to support sustainable growth, including tax incentives and simplified conditions for business activity. The city will provide comprehensive protection for local businesses while also creating a regulatory environment conducive to the development of digital assets.

Ultimately, this framework is designed to ensure legal stability, protection against unpredictable regulatory changes, and a high degree of flexibility and efficiency in decision-making. These characteristics position Alatau City as a city designed for accelerated development with a unique legal status.

The City Administration plans to adopt all key implementing regulations governing Alatau City within the next 12 months. The President instructed the Alatau City Development Council to accelerate this process by engaging leading international experts with proven experience in building successful legal and regulatory systems.

The timely resolution of legal, land-use, and infrastructure-related issues will enable Alatau City to rapidly evolve into a major center for business activity and innovation.

Source: Aqorda