Kazakhstan weighs land sales to foreign investors in Alatau
Kazakhstan is considering allowing foreigners to purchase certain types of land in the city of Alatau, according to Vice Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov.
The government confirmed the possibility that foreigners and stateless persons may be able to acquire land plots in Alatau for the construction of industrial facilities, casinos and other commercial projects.
«We know that there were such cases, when foreigners were offered to buy land around Alatau and Konayev. However, the law prohibits foreigners and stateless persons from owning, acquiring or operating agricultural land. In this case, we are talking about non-agricultural land, so there is no violation of the law,» Sultanov said while commenting on social media reports about land being offered to foreigners in Kazakhstan.
He also emphasized that all land in the city must be used for its intended purpose, and this rule applies to everyone, including foreign investors. However, all projects must align with the city’s development strategy and general plan. Landowners may therefore need to cooperate with domestic or foreign investors to ensure projects meet these requirements.
«They have to implement investment projects needed by the city,» the vice minister said. He also noted that the government may compensate current landowners if plots are seized for state needs.
Sultanov further explained that when land is acquired for public purposes, the government can later return it to market circulation under a different legal classification. Once agricultural land is transferred for state needs, its designated purpose changes and it may then be used for non-agricultural projects.
«When land is seized for state needs, it automatically becomes part of the land fund of the city of Alatau. Its category changes. Since the boundaries of Alatau have already been established, the intended use of this land automatically changes to that of populated areas and other land categories. In other words, these plots are no longer considered agricultural land. Therefore, if agricultural land is confiscated, transferred to the special land fund of the city of Alatau and later issued to a foreign citizen, it is no longer classified as agricultural land,» Sultanov said.
Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev added that all land-related projects and agreements with investors will be strictly regulated.
«If an investor wants to build a five-star hotel, we will set requirements regarding deadlines, investment volume, workforce and quality standards. The investor will be obligated to complete the project. Otherwise, the land may be reclaimed, the business license revoked or suspended and fines imposed,» he said.
Bozumbayev also stressed that allocating land to either domestic or foreign investors for speculative purposes would not be allowed.
