Kazakhstan's government met on October 13 to review socio-economic results and budget execution for the first nine months of 2026, and Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov set tasks in eight areas. For foreign investors and logistics companies, the sixth (investment) and third (transit) matter most.
On investment, the government wants a full launch of a new investment cycle, with the emphasis on long-term and high-tech capital, manufacturing and deep processing. Priority should go to breakthrough projects that multiply gross value added, the prime minister said. Under the government's investment policy concept, fixed capital investment is to triple in five years, from 23.5 trillion tenge in 2025 to 67.8 trillion tenge by 2030. The meeting called for refining the 'investment order' mechanism so that it drives new-generation, technology-intensive industries. Two instructions followed: the foreign and national economy ministries are to prepare, within ten days, an action plan for a fundamental overhaul of the mechanism, and the national economy ministry has two weeks to work out additional incentives for high value-added projects. The second instruction appears only in the government release; BAQ.KZ did not mention it.
On transit, the transport and finance ministries, together with other agencies, are to complete infrastructure projects on time, raise freight and transit volumes, shorten the time cargo takes to cross the state border, remove administrative barriers and introduce unified digital accompanying documents. The release also calls for attracting additional cargo flows, developing logistics centres and making fuller use of existing corridors. Separately, the transport ministry and national railway KTZ are to keep containers and wagons carrying raw materials and components moving without interruption.
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What these are, and are not: instructions issued at a government meeting, not a law, resolution or ministerial order, and no regulatory text exists yet. Ten days and two weeks are deadlines for preparing documents; the plan and the incentives have not been published. No separate deadline was set for the transit tasks, and the form of the unified digital documents, for example whether they relate to e-CMR, has not been specified. Coordination rests with Deputy Prime Minister and National Economy Minister Serik Zhumangarin.
Editor's view: if the investment order is overhauled along the lines described, manufacturing and technology projects are likely to get more attention from officials, while trading and simple assembly projects may not gain priority. Logistics companies may want to check how far their shipping paperwork is already digital and wait for concrete decisions from the transport and finance ministries. We will follow up once the plan and measures are published.
Sources:
Government of Kazakhstan (English), https://primeminister.kz/en/news/economic-growth-reached-42-in-the-first-9-months-of-this-year-government-reviewed-results-of-socio-economic-development-and-national-budget-execution-31988
Government of Kazakhstan (Russian), https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/rost-ekonomiki-za-9-mesyacev-tg-sostavil-42-v-pravitelstve-rassmotreli-itogi-socialno-ekonomicheskogo-razvitiya-i-ispolneniya-respublikanskogo-byudzheta-31988
BAQ.KZ (Russian), https://rus.baq.kz/bektenov-oboznachil-zadachi-dlya-rosta-ekonomiki-do-kontsa-goda-320049133/
Key facts
- The Government of Kazakhstan has proposed launching a new investment cycle, with a focus on attracting long-term, technology-driven investment.
- The Government of Kazakhstan’s investment policy concept envisages that fixed asset investment will increase from 23.5 trillion tenge in 2025 to 67.8 trillion tenge in 2030.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan must submit an action plan for updating the “Investment Order” mechanism within ten days.
- The Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan must study additional incentives for high-value-added projects within two weeks.
- The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan are responsible for reducing transit times, eliminating administrative barriers, and introducing a unified digital accompanying document.
- The investment and transit matters listed at the meeting of the Government of Kazakhstan are meeting directives, not regulations.
FAQ
Who is responsible for updating the “Investment Order” mechanism?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan must prepare an action plan to update the mechanism within ten days.
What additional incentives will high-value-added projects receive?
The specific incentives have not yet been announced. The Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan has been instructed to study relevant additional incentives within two weeks.
How will the government address goods transit times and administrative barriers?
The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan, together with the relevant agencies, are responsible for shortening the time required for goods to cross the border and eliminating administrative barriers.
Has the specific form of the unified digital accompanying document been determined?
This has not yet been determined. The authorities have not specified the form the document will take, including whether it will apply to the electronic consignment note e-CMR.
Do these two tasks constitute regulations?
No. Both are directives issued at a meeting of the Government of Kazakhstan, not laws, government resolutions, or departmental regulations. No corresponding regulatory text currently exists.