The number of SMEs and individual entrepreneurs in the country continues to grow steadily.
More and more people in Kazakhstan are choosing entrepreneurship – some open coffee shops in their neighborhoods, others launch online stores, and some start family businesses. Often, behind that first step toward a dream stands not only an idea but also support. This year alone, the government has allocated over 586 billion tenge for business development – this includes low-interest loans, training programs, subsidies, and infrastructure support. Thanks to these measures, small and medium-sized businesses are growing, creating jobs, and revitalizing the national economy. And more and more Kazakhstani citizens believe: it is possible to build your own path. How exactly that happens is explained in the article by Azattyq Rýhy.
SMEs in Numbers
Entrepreneurial activity in the country continues to grow year by year – and the numbers speak for themselves. Small and medium-sized enterprises are strengthening their position, and the number of Kazakhstani citizens choosing to start their own businesses is steadily increasing.
As of January of this year, approximately 2.3 million SME entities were registered in Kazakhstan – almost 4% more than the previous year. The most noticeable growth was among individual entrepreneurs: their number increased by 5.6%, exceeding 1.5 million. The number of small enterprises rose to 464.8 thousand, while medium-sized businesses showed the highest growth rate – 6.1%, reaching 3.2 thousand companies.
In 2024, SMEs in Kazakhstan produced goods and services worth 81.9 trillion tenge – nearly 20% more than the previous year. The sector employs over 4.4 million people, which accounts for nearly half of the country’s economically active population.
Relying on Our Own: The State and Business Unite for Sustainable Development
These figures confirm that SMEs are not merely operating, but making a significant contribution to the economy and the stability of society. That is why their development remains a key priority for the government. Today, numerous government programs are in place in Kazakhstan to support entrepreneurship – these include preferential loans, interest rate subsidies, and guarantee mechanisms. In addition, entrepreneurs can receive non-financial support such as consultations, training, and a variety of service-based assistance.
According to the Ministry of National Economy, more than 586 billion tenge has been allocated for business development since the beginning of this year. Nearly 5,000 projects across the country have received financial support.
“Government programs truly help: they lower interest rates, share the risks, and provide equipment grants. Thanks to this, new enterprises are launched faster, and existing ones can expand. The increasing number of registered enterprises confirms that people see real prospects for themselves”, emphasized Anuar Dukumbayev, Director of “Ecotec Engineering” LLP
“Ecotec Engineering”, for instance, has experienced the effectiveness of government support measures firsthand. The company implemented the MEMBRANECO project – Kazakhstan’s first production of spiral-wound membranes for reverse osmosis water purification systems. To bring this idea to life, a subsidiary of JSC “SEC Almaty” – “Almaty Finance” LLP allocated 500 million tenge. Of this amount, 290 million tenge was used to purchase equipment, and 210 million tenge was directed toward replenishing working capital.
The launch of the production facility became possible thanks to the regional entrepreneurship development program “Almaty Business-2025”. Under this program, the interest rate is 6% per annum, with financing terms of 5 years for investments and 3 years for working capital.
The launch of local production will supply Kazakhstani industrial enterprises and utility services with high-quality water purification equipment meeting international standards – and, in the long term, open access to the CIS market.
“Low-interest loans with government guarantees allow young companies to launch without putting all their personal assets at risk. For already operating firms, such conditions create opportunities to modernize production or enter export markets”, noted the head of the company.
In addition to concessional loans and financing, the entrepreneur also highlighted other forms of government support. For instance, changes in the business climate – starting a business has become easier: registration is now completed online within a single day, and many permits are issued without the need for in-person visits to government agencies. The reduction of administrative pressure is also a significant factor.
“The number of scheduled inspections has indeed decreased, and the risk-based approach has eliminated unnecessary visits from inspectors. Subsidies and tax incentives are also particularly important, as lower tax burdens and reimbursement of part of the costs help businesses survive fluctuations in demand and prices. For entrepreneurs, it is crucial that the rules of the game do not change every year: long-term predictability enables investment planning. Feedback shows that under stable conditions, the share of companies ready to invest in development grows more rapidly”, Anuar Dukumbayev is convinced.
The development of entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan is not only about the increase in the number of businesses, but also about qualitative shifts in key sectors. Thanks to government support and investments, certain industries are showing significant progress.
“We have many sectors that have become stronger. For example, in automobile assembly, new lines have been introduced, and the share of locally produced components is steadily increasing. In the IT sector, export-oriented teams are working on products for international markets. In agricultural processing, modern plants have been established for the production of oil, flour, and meat products. All three sectors have benefited from concessional loans and support in acquiring equipment”, our interlocutor listed.
To support domestic producers and create a more level playing field in the market, the government has also strengthened measures to protect the internal market from cheap imports. These include procurement preferences and temporary tariffs on goods that displace Kazakhstani products.
“The government has expanded the list of goods for which preference is given primarily to domestic producers during procurement and has introduced temporary anti-dumping duties. This gives local businesses a breather, but the market cannot be closed for long: it is equally important to simultaneously improve the quality and depth of domestic processing so that products can compete without protective barriers”, believes Anuar Dukumbayev.
As a result, import substitution is advancing. The country is launching production facilities that were previously entirely dependent on external supplies, but are now beginning to meet domestic demand.
“The first enterprises have emerged that are satisfying internal demand for products that used to be imported, and the volume of imports has started to decline. The next step is to develop our own technologies and produce components to increase the added value within the country”, the businessman stated confidently.
In conclusion, it is also important to note that the partnership between the state and business in Kazakhstan is reaching a new level – more and more infrastructure and social projects are being implemented through joint efforts. Foreign investors are also increasingly turning their attention to Kazakhstan: many projects are already attracting the interest of international banks.
“Joint projects for the construction of roads and social facilities demonstrate that the model can be successful: for example, the largest ring road around Almaty is already operational. Moreover, social and infrastructure facilities are now attracting international banks, which Indicates the appeal of this format. The most noticeable barrier remains exchange rate fluctuations, which increase the cost of foreign currency loans. The development of instruments for hedging currency risks will make projects more accessible to foreign investors”, concluded Anuar Dukumbayev.
Thus, entrepreneurship development in Kazakhstan today is not just about supporting business initiatives, but a strategic course toward a sustainable economy and a strong society. The growth in the number of SMEs, the expansion of government support tools, the launch of new production facilities, and the creation of jobs – all of this is already delivering tangible results. The key now is to maintain this momentum, focus on quality, innovation, and competitiveness, so that Kazakhstani business becomes not only a pillar of the economy but also a foundation for future generations.
The source: azattyq-ruhy.kz