Kazakhstan Set to Open Central Asia’s Largest Industrial Hub

Kazakhstan is gearing up to launch Central Asia’s largest industrial hub - a landmark project designed to boost regional manufacturing, strengthen economic ties with Uzbekistan, and position the country as a major driver of cross-border trade and investment.

Construction of the International Industrial Cooperation Center “Central Asia” is entering its final stage near the Atameken and Gulistan border checkpoints, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The new hub, designated as a subzone of the Turan special economic zone, is set to become a key platform for joint production and expanded trade with Uzbekistan.

Speaking at a Government meeting, Trade and Integration Minister Arman Shakkaliyev said the project is being built in two phases. The first stage - covering a 100-hectare area with eight production facilities, engineering networks, and access roads - will be fully completed by the end of this year.

Seven investment projects have already been identified for the second stage, including the production of PVC goods, drip irrigation systems, and the processing of cotton, rice, grains, and oilseeds. An industrial park will also be developed on the site.

In total, 185.1 billion tenge ($355.410 million) will be invested, creating 1,150 new jobs. Shakkaliyev said that the center is expected to significantly boost Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan economic ties and help raise bilateral trade to $10 billion within the next five years.

The project aligns with broader regional efforts, as Central Asian states and Azerbaijan recently agreed to deepen industrial and investment cooperation - signaling a new era of interconnected growth in the region.