German investors finance construction of modern airport in the Zhetysu region of Kazakhstan

A group of foreign investors will build an international cargo-passenger airport at the territory of the Khorgos – Eastern Gate special economic zone in the Zhetysu region of Kazakhstan, according to the press service of the regional administration. The project is expected to be implemented by SKYMAX TECHNOLOGIES and The Hansa Consortium, a German company that will invest $557 million in this project.

The new airport will have a capacity of 500 passengers per hour and 50,000 tons of cargo. The project is expected to be implemented in three stages and create 700 new jobs.

The special economic zone includes a dry port and logistical and industrial zones with floor space of about 5,000 hectares. According to Beibit Isabayev, the governor of the region, there are 56 registered participants in the zone with a variety of projects worth $1.7 billion.

«The KTZE-Khorgos Gateway dry port is one of the key elements of the special economic zone. This is the largest dry port in Central Asia, spanning 103 hectares. It is sort of an alternative to maritime logistical hubs and the sole such terminal in Kazakhstan with its own railroad infrastructure,» the official said.

He also highlighted that the Khorgos – Eastern Gate special economic zone offers domestic and foreign investors a variety of tariffs, benefits and preferences such as zero corporate income tax, zero land tax, and zero VAT tax for those selling their products for manufacturing within the special zone. Local authorities believe that once the airport is opened, it will have a positive impact on the development of the transit potential of the region.

The airport is expected to start its operation in 2027, while nearby hotels and a shopping mall will be built by 2032.

«During the first stage of the project, we are going to build the key infrastructure of the airport, whereas stages #2 and #3 will be focused on the construction of additional infrastructure, expansion of a passenger terminal’s capacity along with the capacity of cargo and fuel warehouses. The investors are also going to focus on trading, tourism, hospitality and food services. By the way, we are going to use Jet A-1 fuel for aircraft here,» said Eric Shortanbayev, head of SKYMAX TECHNOLOGIES.

The authorities of the region and the investors have signed a memorandum on cooperation. Previously, similar agreements were signed between the local Department of Entrepreneurship and Industrial and Innovative Development, the Khorgos – Eastern Gate special economic zone and SKYHANSA, an investing company. The investors are also thinking about developing small aviation in the region and are already negotiating with the administration of the town of Taldykorgan