To date, 67,949 small and medium–sized businesses operate in the region, employing 164.3 thousand employees, which is 3.2% more than last year (April 1, 2024 - 159.2 thousand people).

The output of SMEs in the 1st quarter of this year also increased by 15.5% and amounted to 515.9 billion tenge (April 1, 2024 – 446.7 billion tenge).

In general, more than 30% of the region's economy is provided by small and medium–sized businesses (the share of SMEs in the gross regional product is 30.2%).

The positive dynamics of these indicators is greatly facilitated by the implementation of state support measures. Thus, within the framework of the Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Development Program for the 1st half of this year, 135 business projects for a total amount of loans of 15.9 billion tenge were provided with preferential lending conditions due to government subsidization of part of the interest rate and the provision of guarantees by Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund JSC and a special Guarantee fund to cover the shortage of collateral. Projects implemented in rural areas account for 26%.

In addition, work is underway to provide enterprises, including those located in the Industrial Zone in Kostanay, with the missing engineering and communication infrastructure. To date, 7 such projects are being implemented with a total cost of 486.3 million tenge, including in the Dzhangelda, Kostanay and Mendykara districts.

In order to develop entrepreneurial potential in regions remote from the regional center, the Business-Komek Regional Lending Program was launched in 2023 at 1% per annum, which has no analogues among all government support tools. To date, the total amount of financing has been fully utilized: 37 loans totaling 1.5 billion tenge have been approved. Most of the loans are aimed at the development of animal husbandry.              

In addition, financial institutions also implement their own business support programs. For example, for entrepreneurs of the single-industry towns of Lisakovsk, Zhitikara and Rudny, Halyk Bank launched a program of preferential loans in the amount of up to 50 million tenge at 10% per annum for investments and working capital for up to 5 years in the manufacturing industry (excluding production of tobacco products).

In turn, the Damu Foundation has launched the implementation of the Orleu program, which provides loans to entrepreneurs in priority sectors of the economy in the amount of up to 7 billion tenge for up to 10 years with a remuneration rate of 12.6% per annum. Applications are accepted by Bank CenterCredit JSC, Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan JSC, Freedom bank JSC, ForteBank JSC and Nurbank JSC.

In addition, work is underway in the region to create small industrial zones. Two projects are being implemented – the construction of a Localization center for the production of automotive components (on the territory of the Industrial Zone in Kostanay) and the reconstruction of the sewing workshops of the Bolshevichka factory. These projects involve the placement of small businesses on prepared and equipped with the necessary communications facilities on preferential rental terms.

Much attention is paid to the development of social entrepreneurship. Currently, 66 representatives from our region are on the Register of Social Entrepreneurs. This category of entrepreneurs is given the opportunity to participate in the competition for grants up to 5 million tenge, subject to the social orientation of the business. The competition is scheduled for September of this year.

At the same time, various non-financial support measures implemented by the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kostanay region covered about 1,500 business entities and individuals with entrepreneurial initiatives in the first half of this year.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1040858?lang=kk