Kazakhstan Launches Availability Payment to Boost Industry

Kazakhstan has rolled out a new investment attraction mechanism known as Availability Payment, designed to speed up the development of industrial zones and create stable conditions for the long-term presence of investors.

The mechanism is being tested through a pilot project in the West Kazakhstan region at the Eurasia Cross-Border Trade Center industrial zone, where 17 investment projects involving foreign partners are set to be launched, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Under the new model, engineering infrastructure is initially built at the investor’s expense, with costs later reimbursed in stages by industrial zone participants and the state once facilities are commissioned. This approach is expected to shorten production launch timelines, ease pressure on public finances, and ensure infrastructure that meets international standards.

To formalize cooperation, a memorandum was signed between the administration of the West Kazakhstan region, represented by Governor Nariman Turegaliev, and Kazakh Invest, represented by Chairman of the Management Board Sultangali Kinzhakulov. Kazakh Invest will serve as the industrial zone operator, providing comprehensive investor support, applying best international management practices, and coordinating project implementation.

As part of the initiative, 17 projects worth around $370 million have been included in an approved roadmap, with plans to create more than 1,500 jobs. The projects span construction materials, metal structures, chemical and light industries, industrial infrastructure and energy, as well as industrial and logistics services.

The West Kazakhstan region was chosen for the pilot due to its developed gas and transport infrastructure, strategic location, and strong transit potential. Following the pilot’s results, authorities plan to expand the Availability Payment mechanism to other regions across the country.

“The launch of this mechanism creates a new investment model - fast, transparent, and results-oriented. Investors are coming not to a greenfield site, but to a fully prepared industrial platform,” Kinzhakulov said.

The initiative is expected to boost regional investment inflows, create jobs, expand the tax base, and support the development of modern industrial infrastructure.