Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin visited the front office on its first day and learned about the new business support format.

The unified front office combines the support tools of the Baiterek Group organizations using a one-stop shop principle. Here, entrepreneurs can receive advice, select the appropriate support tool, submit an application, and arrange project support right through to funding approval.

Front offices will operate in all regions of Kazakhstan, based at Damu Fund branches. For entrepreneurs in remote areas and villages, mobile offices—buses carrying specialists—will be provided. This will allow them to receive the necessary advice and support without traveling to the regional center, including in regions where individual development institutions do not have their own representative offices.

Front-office consultants intend to provide information on support instruments for Baiterek Group organizations:

-Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund – concessional lending, interest rate subsidies, guarantees, and non-financial support measures for small and medium-sized businesses;

-Development Bank of Kazakhstan – financing of large investment projects;

-Qazaqstan Investment Corporation – direct investment and venture financing instruments;

-Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan – export credit insurance;

-Industrial Development Fund – concessional and leasing financing for enterprise modernization.

"Today, our specialists not only work with the Fund's instruments but also help select solutions from other Baiterek holding organizations. Essentially, the Damu regional network is becoming a single point of access to a wide range of financial and non-financial instruments – from preferential loans and guarantees to investment financing, export insurance, and leasing," said Farkhat Sarsekeyev, Chairman of the Board of the Damu Fund.

The technical launch of the unified front office took place in February of this year. Since then, consultants have received approximately 30,000 requests from entrepreneurs. The front office has supported and financed 1,250 projects.

Business Support and Assistance Centers are also operating in pilot mode within the unified front office. Their purpose is to assist entrepreneurs in resolving specific issues requiring interaction with government agencies, financial institutions, and other organizations.

The Centers' specialists conduct an initial analysis of the problem and identify possible solutions. If necessary, relevant government agencies, financial institutions, akimats, and Baiterek Group organizations are involved. The pilot project covers Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, the North Kazakhstan Region, and Aktobe Region.

"It's important that this support is available in all regions of the country. We plan to expand the 'Isker Aimaq' program to rural areas, making our approach to supporting entrepreneurs more targeted. This is where Damu's regional branches and mobile front offices play a major role. The consultants' role is to support businesses at all stages of their development. Another important area is Business Support and Assistance Centers. Entrepreneurs often face a specific problem but don't know where to turn or how to solve it. These centers are being created precisely for such situations. They are currently operating in pilot mode in five regions of the country," noted Serik Zhumangarin.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy/press/news/details/1296836?lang=ru