The Government hosted a meeting of the Headquarters for Ensuring Economic Growth, chaired by Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Minister of National Economy. Issues concerning the economic development of the East Kazakhstan and Abai regions, as well as the growth potential of the IT sector, were addressed.

Akim of Abai Region, Berik Uali, provided information on the main indicators of the region's economic growth. Over the first 2 months of this year, growth was recorded in agriculture (102,3%), construction (112,7%), domestic trade (109,5%), transport (107,1%), and communications (108,9%). The volume of attracted investments since the beginning of the year amounted to 31 billion tenge, of which 83,8% were non-budgetary funds.

A pool of 27 investment projects totaling 2,7 trillion tenge, creating 8,4 thousand jobs, has been formed in the region. Eight projects worth 30 billion tenge, creating 747 new jobs, are planned for implementation this year. These include the sunflower oil refining, bottling, and packaging plant of «Qazaq Astyq Group» LLP (7,1 billion tenge), the production expansion of «Semaz» LLP (10 billion tenge), the production of paper and cardboard products by «Kazpoligraph» LLP (6 billion tenge), two irrigation projects involving the installation of 18 sprinkler machines, the construction of a gold recovery plant for the development of the «Rodnikovoye» deposit by Eastern Gold LLP, and others.

At the Headquarters meeting, the Akim of the region highlighted an issue with the project to construct the Eurasia Agro Semey LLP meat processing plant, specifically regarding the financing required to connect high-voltage power lines to the facility. Following the Headquarters meeting, this issue was included in the task list for the implementation of investment projects in other regions with similar requests.

In the East Kazakhstan Region (EKR), where industry accounts for 40% of the gross regional product (GRP), efforts are actively underway to diversify the economy. The most promising areas, ensuring maximum productive employment, population income, and tax revenues from Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), include tourism, processing of industrial and agricultural products, digitalization, and infrastructure. For 2025, the region's Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for investment in fixed assets is set at over 1,65 trillion tenge (2024 – 768,2 billion tenge). Over the first two months, 81,7 billion tenge in investments have already been attracted to the region. The region's investment portfolio consists of 111 projects worth 1,4 trillion tenge, creating over 7 thousand jobs. This year, the completion of 9 projects totaling 101,7 billion tenge (688 jobs) is planned. Among them are the modernization of foundry production at «VOSTOKMASHZAVOD» JSC (33,8 billion tenge), the construction of a gold recovery plant by «Kaskad-N» LLP (9 billion tenge), the second phase of oil production by «AltynShyghys» LLP (8 billion tenge), and others.

The region's Akim, Nurymbet Saktaganov, voiced a number of barriers hindering the development of investment projects in the region. For example, «Bukhtarma Cement Company» LLP saw its cement production decrease by 22,8% over the year due to increased costs for railway tariffs and electricity. The company is requesting a temporary reduction in electricity tariffs and railway transportation charges during the period of equipment modernization. The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Committee for Regulation of Natural Monopolies to explore all possible solutions to the issue.

Also underway in the region is a project for the reconstruction and modernization of a particleboard production plant. The project will create over 500 jobs and contribute to the development of the woodworking industry, as the region's current demand for laminated particleboard is fully met by imports. The enterprise is already facing challenges with raw material supply. The Akim of the region raised the possibility of allocating raw materials directly from the State Forest Fund to the domestic producer. The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources to address this issue promptly.

The Akim also raised several other issues concerning projects in tourism, the construction of a cascade of small hydropower plants (HPPs), and the agro-industrial complex (AIC), which will now be handled by the relevant government departments.

The share of information and communication services in Kazakhstan's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of last year was 2,2%, and the physical volume index of the sector grew by 12,9%. Over the first 2 months of this year, strong growth was observed in the provision of Internet access services – up 13,1% compared to the same period last year. The number of mobile and fixed internet subscribers is growing, and the volume of consumed internet traffic is increasing by an average of 15-20% per year. To achieve the sector's economic growth target of 11% in 2025, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry (MDDIAI) plans to sign several investment agreements this year. Furthermore, a series of projects in the telecommunications sector are envisioned, which will enable the achievement of the planned growth rate for the industry.

As noted by Malik Olzhabekov, Vice-Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry, the country's IT sector is currently developing dynamically. The number of IT companies increased from over 17,9 thousand in 2023 to over 18,6 thousand in 2024. The number of trained IT specialists has exceeded 100 thousand people in recent years. The export of IT services surpassed the half-billion-dollar mark in 2023. According to preliminary data, this figure will reach $700 million in 2024. The volume of IT services provided grew from 946 billion tenge in 2022 to approximately 1,5 trillion tenge in 2024. One of the growth drivers is the international technopark «Astana Hub», where over 1,5 thousand IT companies are registered (425 with foreign participation).

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy/press/news/details/964384?lang=kk