15.05.2024

Meeting of Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dosayev with General and Honorary Consuls in Kazakhstan

During the meeting of Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dosayev with general and honorary consuls of foreign countries in Kazakhstan, issues of attracting investments into priority business projects were discussed.

The mayor emphasized that Almaty is the cultural, scientific, business, and financial center of Kazakhstan, accounting for one-fifth of the economy (20.6% in 2023) and more than a quarter of the national budget's revenues (26.2% in 2023). He urged the meeting participants to actively cooperate in expanding business partnerships. The city is open to investors interested in implementing large-scale, infrastructure, and environmental projects under the Almaty Development Program until 2025 and medium-term plans until 2030.

Speaking about promising investment directions, Yerbolat Dosayev mentioned plans to create a high-speed public transport system and expand the Almaty Industrial Zone by 40%, where major innovative industries are being developed (currently, the total area of the AIZ is 490 hectares). To ensure sustainable economic growth, the focus will be on creating high-productivity jobs in priority sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing, tourism, IT, and creative industries. Special attention will be given to implementing green projects and initiatives to improve air quality and reduce pollution in the city, digital projects as part of creating a Smart City, and the construction and equipping of modern healthcare and education facilities.

In June this year, a city front office, the Almaty Business Development Center, will open to support investors, providing consulting services based on the One-Stop Shop principle. Additionally, Almaty offers a unique opportunity to issue green bonds to finance infrastructure and environmental projects that meet sustainable development standards.

The meeting featured welcoming speeches by the Acting Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' representative office in Almaty, Islambek Raimov, the Consuls General of China, Iran, Turkey, and France, the Chairman of the Board of the Republican Public Association "Society of Honorary Consuls" Denis Van den Weghe, as well as the Honorary Consuls of the Netherlands, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, and Hungary.

The meeting participants noted the dynamic economic development of Almaty in recent years and the high potential for expanding trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian ties. Following the meeting, the parties expressed their readiness for further cooperation and the development of friendly relations.