The Andorran company Pas Grau Internacional (PGI) Management, which will help build a ski resort at Kok-Zhailau, has registered a subsidiary with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The move was first reported by Arman Batayev, owner of the Finmentor Telegram channel.
PGI is a global leader in ski resort development, with more than 120 projects completed worldwide. Its portfolio includes renowned destinations such as Davos and St. Moritz in Switzerland, Courchevel in France, Ischgl and the Tyrol region in Austria, Vail and Aspen in the U.S., Whistler Blackcomb in Canada and several resorts in Andorra. In 2024, Andorra’s ski resorts attracted 9.6 million visitors, an impressive number given the country’s population of just 80,000.
In May 2025, PGI CEO Joan Viladomat unveiled plans for Almaty Superski, a large-scale resort spanning Kumbel Peak and the Kok-Zhailau gorge, featuring over 65 kilometers of ski slopes. The project is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs.
In late July, Kazakhstan’s Channel 31 reported that the Kok-Zhailau resort would feature 65 kilometers of slopes, 16 lifts, hotels, pharmacies, rental shops, retail stores and a ski school. Notably, land within Ili-Alatau National Park — which includes Kumbel and Kok-Zhailau — will remain classified as specially protected natural territory.
In April 2025, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Viladomat to discuss the Almaty Mountain Cluster project, which aims to expand the cluster’s daily capacity from 6,000 to 10,000 visitors. By 2029, the government projects the area could welcome up to 7.5 million tourists annually.
Enric Martinez-Sala has been appointed head of PGI Kazakhstan. The company’s sole shareholder is Neugest 1957 SL of Barcelona, affiliated with PGI Management. The Kazakhstan branch will also provide consulting services for ski resort construction in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.
PGI’s connection to Kok-Zhailau dates back a decade. In 2015, Serzhan Zhumashov’s Capital Partners — the owner and operator of Shymbulak, Almaty’s most popular ski resort — sought to develop Kok-Zhailau into a year-round destination. PGI Management was among the firms invited to draft the initial concept.
