Kazakhstan is taking another step toward reshaping how industrial investments are launched. A new mechanism called the Availability Payment has been introduced to speed up the development of industrial zones and create predictable, long-term conditions for investors. The first pilot is already underway in the West Kazakhstan Region, at the Eurasia Cross-Border Trade Center industrial zone, DKNews.kz reports.
The site is expected to host 17 investment projects involving foreign investors, signaling a shift from lengthy preparatory stages to faster, execution-focused industrial development.
How the Availability Payment works
At the core of the new mechanism is a different approach to infrastructure financing. Instead of waiting for the state to build engineering networks in advance, the investor constructs the necessary infrastructure at their own expense. Once the facilities are commissioned, these costs are reimbursed gradually by the state and other industrial zone participants.
This model delivers several tangible benefits at once:
- production launch timelines are significantly reduced;
- the upfront burden on the state budget is eased;
- infrastructure is built to international standards from the outset;
- investors operate within a clear, predictable financial framework.
In practical terms, investors are no longer entering uncertainty. They are stepping into an industrial ecosystem where timelines, costs, and responsibilities are defined in advance.
A pilot backed by regional and national institutions
The launch of the pilot project was formalized through a Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation signed between the Akimat of West Kazakhstan Region, represented by Akim Nariman Turegaliev, and KAZAKH INVEST National Company JSC, represented by Chairman of the Management Board Sultangali Kinzhakulov.
The document outlines joint efforts to attract investors and implement projects within the industrial zone. Under the agreement, KAZAKH INVEST acts as the operator of the industrial zone, providing investor support, coordinating projects, and introducing best international practices in industrial management.
USD 370 million and over 1,500 new jobs
As a result of KAZAKH INVEST’s work, 17 projects with a total value of around USD 370 million have been included in the approved Roadmap. Their implementation is expected to create more than 1,500 new jobs.
Planned production covers a broad range of sectors:
- construction materials;
- metal structures;
- chemical and light industry;
- industrial infrastructure and energy;
- industrial and logistics services.
Such diversification reduces sectoral risks and helps form a more resilient regional industrial base.
Why West Kazakhstan
The choice of West Kazakhstan Region for the pilot was strategic. The region already has developed gas and transport infrastructure, a favorable geographical position, and high transit potential. These factors make it suitable not only for domestic-oriented production, but also for export-focused industrial projects.
A new investment philosophy
According to KAZAKH INVEST Chairman Sultangali Kinzhakulov, the Availability Payment mechanism represents a fundamental shift in how Kazakhstan approaches industrial investment.
“This mechanism forms a new investment model — fast, transparent, and results-oriented. We are creating conditions where an investor comes not to a greenfield site, but to a prepared industrial platform.”
If the pilot proves successful, the mechanism is expected to be scaled to other regions of Kazakhstan.
What it means for the economy
For West Kazakhstan Region, the project means a direct inflow of investment, new jobs, an expanded tax base, and the development of modern industrial infrastructure. For Kazakhstan as a whole, it marks a move toward a more agile and investor-friendly model - one focused less on declarations and more on execution.
The Availability Payment is not about plans on paper. It is about factories, infrastructure, and real economic output. If scaled nationwide, it could become one of the key tools driving Kazakhstan’s next phase of industrial growth.
