Kazakhstan is expanding investment cooperation with the world’s leading economies and major international corporations. Particular attention is being paid to attracting investment in manufacturing and non-resource sectors. At the same time, the country is strengthening its foreign trade ties. In the first nine months of this year, foreign trade reached $103 billion, up nearly 13%. Ahead of Republic Day, experts at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan (KazISS) are summing up the results.
«In fact, this is a major achievement for us. This year, the manufacturing sector accounted for 14% of GDP, compared with 12% for the extractive sector. This represents a psychological shift towards higher-value-added products. The scale of foreign investment in Kazakhstan becomes particularly evident when viewed over a longer period. Since 2019, Kazakhstan has attracted more than $156 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI),» said Nurdaulet Narimanov, a senior expert in the Department of Global Economy and Sustainable Development at the Economic Research Center of KazISS.
Kazakhstan accounts for more than 70% of foreign direct investment attracted to Central Asia. The updated constitutional provisions provide the highest level of protection for investors’ rights. The Foreign Investors’ Council under the President and the Government’s Investment Headquarters also help attract capital and strengthen cooperation with foreign businesses. The country also has an Investment Ombudsman and the Astana International Financial Centre, which has its own independent court based on the principles of English law. However, experts emphasise that the country’s investment attractiveness depends not only on the effectiveness of these institutions but also on the quality of its human capital. Together, these factors provide a solid foundation for Kazakhstan to maintain its position as the region’s leader in attracting investment.
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