Astana, August 28, 2025 – The Europe Today: Kazakhstan has developed a comprehensive concept for regional development until 2030, following a directive from the Head of State to ensure sustainable and balanced growth across the country’s regions, the Government announced.
Deputy National Economy Minister Baurzhan Omarbekov said the document is designed to raise living standards and unlock regional economic potential through macro-regional development and growth points, including agglomerations, single-industry towns, support villages, and the new city of Alatau.
“A key focus is placed on bridging gaps in access to social, engineering, and transport facilities,” Omarbekov noted. Currently, settlement sufficiency within the system of regional standards stands at 64%, a figure expected to rise to 70% by 2028. He added that by 2030, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are projected to contribute 40% to the country’s GDP.
The government has also outlined measures to support single-industry towns, including the creation of industrial zones, development of SMEs, implementation of domestic content programs, and long-term agreements and offtake contracts between major enterprises and local producers.
Omarbekov highlighted ongoing efforts to form the city of Alatau, where the main layout has been approved and a special economic zone established, with work underway on design documentation.
He stressed the importance of rural development, noting that under the “Auyl – Yel besigi” project, 701 billion tenge was allocated between 2019 and 2024, enabling up to 6,000 projects aimed at improving social and engineering infrastructure. This year, around 1,000 projects are planned across 500 villages. Additionally, 50 billion tenge has been earmarked for the “Ayul Amanaty” project, with nearly 450 billion tenge to be allocated over the next three years to support 25,000 rural entrepreneurship initiatives.
The Deputy Minister also underscored the role of the “With a Diploma – to the Village!” program, which seeks to boost human capital in rural areas. Since its launch in 2009, more than 114,000 specialists have received lump-sum relocation allowances, while around 52,000 have benefited from preferential housing loans, with young professionals comprising the majority of participants.
Omarbekov further emphasized the strengthening of local governance. He said that rural districts’ revenues have increased 3.5 times in recent years and will be further enhanced by the transfer of additional taxes and payments.
He recalled that in 2023, Kazakhstan introduced direct elections for akims (heads) of districts and mayors of cities of regional significance. Elections were held for the heads of 46 districts and mayors of three such cities on a pilot basis.
According to Omarbekov, the synchronous implementation of these state measures will enable balanced national development, ensuring opportunities and improved living standards across all regions of Kazakhstan.
