Nine agreements could bring $1.3 billion to Alatau City. International partners signed deals in London covering infrastructure, education, healthcare and the development of Kazakhstan’s ambitious new urban project, DKNews.kz reports.
The agreements were signed during the Alatau City Investment Roundtable, which launched a European investment roadshow. Kazakhstan’s delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev.
The biggest question now is how much of that $1.3 billion in investment potential will translate into actual funding and completed projects.
Nine agreements worth $1.3 billion: where will the money go?
The London roundtable brought together representatives from more than 70 companies, investment funds, banks and expert organizations.
Among the participants were global names such as JPMorgan Chase, AstraZeneca, BP and Brookfield Asset Management.
Discussions focused on financing urban infrastructure, attracting international capital and creating opportunities for foreign investors to participate in Alatau City's development.
The event concluded with nine agreements carrying a combined investment potential of $1.3 billion.
There is, however, an important distinction.
The announced figure represents the potential value of the agreements, rather than $1.3 billion in funds already transferred or committed for immediate disbursement.
The available information does not specify how much financing has been secured, when the funds will be released or how they will be allocated among individual projects.
For a city that still requires major investment in roads, utilities and public facilities, the difference between signed agreements and actual capital deployment matters.
British educational institutions and AstraZeneca could join Alatau City
Some of the agreements focus on facilities that could eventually serve the city's future residents.
In education, plans are being explored to establish institutions involving the University of Exeter, Brighton College and Repton Group.
Details about opening dates, project costs and tuition fees have not yet been disclosed.
Healthcare is another area attracting international attention.
Cooperation with AstraZeneca and Crescent Meditours covers healthcare infrastructure development, investment attraction and scientific exchange.
These partnerships could help bring international expertise and investment into Kazakhstan's healthcare and education sectors.
However, the agreements do not necessarily mean that construction has begun or that the proposed institutions have received final approval.
Why Kazakhstan chose London to launch its investment roadshow
Kazakhstan presented Alatau City in one of the world's leading international financial centers.
The objective was to attract institutional investors and financial partners capable of supporting long-term infrastructure projects.
Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev explained the decision to begin the roadshow in London by emphasizing the United Kingdom's role as a financial and legal hub, as well as its strategic partnership with Kazakhstan.
“It is no coincidence that we are launching our roadshow in London, one of the world's leading financial and legal centers. The United Kingdom is our strategic partner. Alatau City is a national project being implemented at the initiative of the Head of State. We are creating a new center for business, finance, technology and logistics that should become an important link in economic cooperation between Europe and Asia,” Bozumbayev said.
During the business program, Kazakhstan's delegation held talks with representatives of the London Stock Exchange, Brookfield Asset Management, Société Générale, J.P. Morgan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The discussions covered project financing, institutional investment and potential participation by international financial organizations in energy, transport and engineering infrastructure.
Participation in these meetings does not automatically translate into financial commitments.
Specific investment obligations resulting from each negotiation have not been disclosed.
English legal principles could shape Alatau City's investment environment
Infrastructure was only part of the agenda in London.
Kazakhstan also presented the special legal framework being developed for Alatau City, which is intended to provide international investors with a more predictable business environment.
A constitutional law dated May 8, 2026, established a special legal regime for the city.
One of its key features is the application of principles derived from the laws of England and Wales.
For international investors, legal predictability can be as important as financial incentives.
Large infrastructure agreements require clear rules governing contract enforcement, investment protection and commercial dispute resolution.
These issues were discussed during an expert session involving international law firms Norton Rose Fulbright, Reed Smith and Boies Schiller Flexner.
The agenda included public-private partnerships, international arbitration, digital asset regulation and mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes.
Participants also explored the possibility of establishing a specialized investment court in Alatau City based on English legal principles.
Such a court could provide a dedicated mechanism for handling investment-related disputes. Its practical effectiveness, however, would depend on the final legal framework and how the institution operates.
Alatau City has a $6.9 billion project pipeline and plans for 55,000 jobs
The London agreements form part of a much larger investment program.
- $6.9bn - Total investment project portfolio
- 67 - Investment projects in the pipeline
- 55,000 - Jobs expected to be created
- KZT 35.3bn - Engineering and transport infrastructure projects
Alatau City's current investment portfolio includes 67 projects with a combined estimated value of approximately $6.9 billion.
Their implementation is expected to create around 55,000 jobs.
Separately, 28 engineering and transport infrastructure projects worth KZT 35.3 billion are being implemented.
These projects cover electricity, water and gas supplies, sewerage networks and road construction.
Such infrastructure is essential for future industrial facilities, logistics hubs, business districts and public services.
At the London roundtable, international engineering consultancy Arup presented its approach to urban spatial planning and infrastructure development.
Kazakhstan's Baiterek holding company outlined financing instruments available for investment projects.
Alisher Abdykadyrov, chief executive officer of the special management organization Alatau City Authority, introduced the city's main development priorities, including industrial, business and logistics zones.
Germany is next as Kazakhstan seeks more international investors
The London investment roundtable marked the beginning rather than the end of Alatau City's European roadshow.
Further negotiations are planned with UK government institutions, financial organizations and strategic partners.
The next stage will involve investment meetings in Germany.
The London event demonstrated the project's ability to attract international business attention: more than 70 organizations participated, and nine agreements with a combined potential value of $1.3 billion were signed.
The next test will be converting those agreements into financing decisions, construction contracts and operational facilities.
For Kazakhstan, the stakes extend beyond a single urban development project.
Alatau City's planned $6.9 billion investment portfolio is tied to the creation of approximately 55,000 jobs, along with new transport, energy, education and healthcare infrastructure.
Whether those targets are achieved will depend on how quickly investment commitments turn into projects on the ground.
