According to Kazakh economist Ruslan Sultanov, the structure of foreign investment in Kazakhstan has shifted. By the end of 2025, the manufacturing sector attracted more investment than mining for the first time. Gross foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows reached $20.4 billion, up 14.4% from $17.9 billion in 2024. The growth…
On April 17, Freedom Holding Corp. announced the acquisition of ChessBase, one of the world’s oldest and largest providers of chess software, analytics and data. The company aims to strengthen its market position by expanding AI use and integrating the platform into its digital ecosystem, with planned investments of around…
Tiryaki Agro Holding, one of the largest agro-holdings in Turkey, intends to build a vegetable oil processing plant in the North Kazakhstan region, the regional administration announced. The plant will be located in the Qyzyljar Special Economic Zone in Petropavlovsk. With a capacity of up to 1,500 tons of product…
Kyrgyzstan has openly expressed frustration that, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, European countries sharply increased investment in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan while largely overlooking Kyrgyzstan, Tazabek reported. Investment concentrated in two countries Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador to Germany, Omurbek Tekebayev, told a parliamentary committee meeting on April 7, 2026, that…
Kazakhstan has delivered its first batch of halal-certified products to Saudi Arabia after receiving official accreditation, becoming the first country in Central Asia to obtain such certification from the kingdom. Access to a demanding market Saudi Arabia is one of the most stringent markets for halal products, according to KazStandard.…
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade, Chinese company Fujian Hengwang Investment plans to build a large steel plant in the country. The announcement followed a visit to China by Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev. The company is ready to invest about $1.2 billion in the project, with a…
Four-legged robots, often called quadrupeds, are gaining traction among AI companies. These robotic «dogs» are now being deployed to guard and patrol sprawling data centers across the U.S., according to a Fortune report. Growing demand for robotic security Tech firms are investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure, with spending approaching…
Kazakhstan emerged as one of the largest buyers of Russian-made potato chips in January 2026, importing more than $7 million worth of products from its neighbor. At the same time, construction of a major potato chip plant backed by PepsiCo is nearing completion in Alatau, a flagship new city development…
The long-promised wave of AI-driven filmmaking — cheaper and faster than productions involving human crews — has yet to materialize. Expectations surrounding tools like Sora have not translated into a meaningful shift in how movies are made or consumed, according to 404 Media. Disney’s ambitious plan unravels Just a few…
The government of Kazakhstan has approved a 7.5 trillion tenge (about $16 billion) national program to develop coal-fired power generation, including incentives such as preferential mortgages for plant employees, the cabinet said. Plan aims to expand capacity and meet demand Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed the program, which runs through…
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov held talks with U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright at the CERAWeek international conference in Houston. The two sides discussed global energy security, the development of alternative export routes and the expansion of investment cooperation. The officials emphasized the strategic nature of their more…
International ride-hailing service inDrive acquired Pakistani quick-commerce startup Krave Mart in an all-stock deal, TechCrunch reported. TechCrunch said the deal was agreed to in 2025 and approved by Pakistan’s Competition Commission. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition supports inDrive’s strategy to become a SuperApp as it expands beyond ride-hailing…
Kazakhstan is experiencing a dynamic surge in food and beverage production. Government forecasts anticipate food production volume to hit a remarkable 4.7 trillion tenge (approx. $9.7 billion) by the end of 2026. Beverage sector expansion Coca-Cola Almaty Bottlers is poised to drive growth in the beverage sector. The company plans…
InDrive CEO Arsen Tomsky said the company’s revenue grew by 31% last year compared with 2024, reaching $601.6 million. In an interview with Reuters, Tomsky said profitability per ride has improved after several years of rapid expansion. The privately held U.S.-based company is now seeking to expand its business in…
U.S.-based Cove Capital and Kazakhstan’s Tau-Ken Samruk are set to develop tungsten deposits in Kazakhstan. Investors from the U.S. plan to establish two processing plants and a metallurgical plant worth $1.1 billion. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayin Nagaspayev held talks with Cove Kaz Capital Group LLC CEO Dominic…
Organizers of a financial pyramid scheme allegedly posed as representatives of a company called Sirius Energy, which they claimed was involved in solar power generation projects in Chile. The suspects persuaded residents of Kazakhstan to invest in what they described as high-return renewable energy ventures. Read also: How Kazakhstanis lost…
Air taxis from Alatau — Kazakhstan’s flagship future city — are expected to fly to Almaty and other cities in the Almaty region. Aircraft testing is expected to begin this year, according to the Almaty region akimat, the local executive authority. Read also: Kazakhstan to launch the region’s first dedicated…
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of the Republic of Kazakhstan (ARDFM) is preparing to simplify investor access to initial public offerings (IPOs). As part of its 2026 supervisory agenda, the regulator announced plans to eliminate the requirement to pre-fund IPO applications. According to a policy…
The United Kingdom has expanded its anti-Russian sanctions list, adding 240 companies, seven individuals and 50 ships, including three entities linked to Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom and two employees of its subsidiaries. Read also: Why Russia’s Rosatom is the undisputed pick for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear plant. The updated sanctions…
Kazakhstan is awaiting an official position from participants in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI) regarding its potential involvement in the project, the country’s Ministry of Energy told Interfax-Kazakhstan. «As part of a preliminary exchange of views, an official letter expressing interest in exploring possible forms of Kazakhstan’s participation in the…
A new phase of the major pharmaceutical project Polpharma Santo, owned by Polish billionaire Jerzy Starak, is being launched in Shymkent. Phase one of the new facility is expected by the end of 2029, creating 300 jobs and totaling $79.5 million in investment. The government of Kazakhstan has already approved…
A controversy involving the fast-food chain Burger King in Kazakhstan has drawn widespread attention on social media, where users have posted criticism and negative reviews. What began as a private labor dispute has expanded into a broader discussion about inclusion, corporate culture and employee treatment. Social media post triggers public…
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev criticized government agencies for irrational spending on digitalization during an expanded government meeting Feb. 10. The head of state called for the creation of a unified digital platform without requesting «huge sums of money» from the state budget. According to Tokayev, the lack of unified oversight…
Air Astana shareholders have approved a deal with Airbus to purchase 25 aircraft. Renewing its fleet will cost the airline at least 550 billion tenge ($1 billion). The decision, made at a special shareholders meeting, was announced on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange. Air Astana is expected to place a firm…
