US to Pay Over $25 Million for Lease of Land for Embassy in Almaty

Kazakhstan’s parliament has ratified an agreement to lease a land plot to the United States for the construction of its embassy in Almaty.

The agreement was submitted for consideration to the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.

First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin explained that the agreement was signed between Kazakhstan and the United States on September 27, 2024, in New York. The agreement grants the US government a 70,593-square-meter land plot in Almaty for the construction and operation of a consular office, with the lease set for 49 years.

The total rent for the land plot over the lease period, including any extensions, amounts to $25,301,016, which will be paid in a single payment within 30 days of the agreement’s entry into force.

Additionally, the US government will be exempt from paying taxes or other fees related to the land and consulate building, except for the rent. The agreement also ensures that any materials, supplies, and goods imported by the US for the consulate’s construction are exempt from customs duties, import taxes, and permit requirements.