Inside the Khorgos–Eastern Gate special economic zone, one of the largest Kazakhstan–China industrial plots is being pushed forward. On October 6, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration listed the Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City among priority projects through 2028 on its official memleket.kz platform and put the cost at KZT 330 billion.
According to the same ministry update, the number of projects in the SEZ rose from 14 in 2022 to 69, and attracted investment from KZT 340 billion to KZT 652.8 billion. Forty projects worth KZT 75 billion are under way, creating 864 jobs. In the first half of 2026, nine more participants registered (KZT 9.3 billion, 230 jobs), and output reached KZT 12.7 billion — up 74% year on year. Those zone-wide totals so far come only from the Trade Ministry; they are reported here with that attribution.
More detail on the industrial city itself comes from the Zhetisu regional administration. In August 2026, LS, citing the akimat, said the site sits in Panfilov district inside the SEZ, covers about 1,000 hectares, involves a Chinese partner, and is aimed for launch by the end of 2029. Planned zones include administration, electronics and food processing, trade, a production-equipment park, an oil-and-gas industrial park and non-ferrous metals pads. Investment is put at KZT 330 billion. In November 2024 the akimat also told LS that grading was under way on 200 hectares. A separate jobs figure — “more than 2,000” — appeared in Kazakhstanskaya Pravda in April 2025, citing the regional industry department; that is a different cut of data from the October ministry scorecard.
On logistics already in place, the ministry cites a dry port rated at 540,000 containers a year and a 25,000-square-metre Class A warehouse, with two further large logistics projects still in design. The same list includes an international passenger-and-cargo airport valued at KZT 250 billion; schedule and operator were not disclosed in the October note.
Rules related to this news
For Chinese manufacturers and logistics operators, the practical read is this: Khorgos Eastern Gate is still adding residents and output, the industrial city remains the largest Kazakhstan–China industrial line item in the official roster, but the launch date to use is the akimat’s “by end-2029,” and a named tenant list or Chinese equity breakdown has not been published.
Sources:
Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan (memleket.kz), https://memleket.kz/ru/news/115520-transgranicnye-xaby-kazaxstana-prevrashhaiutsia-v-novye-centry-torgovli-i-logistiki
LS / lsm.kz (Zhetisu akimat), https://lsm.kz/v-oblasti-zhetysu-zapustyat-novye-proekty
Kazakhstanskaya Pravda (regional industry department), https://kazpravda.kz/n/kazahstansko-kitayskiy-mezhdunarodnyy-promyshlennyy-gorod-stroyat-v-oblasti-zhetysu/
Baq.kz (same ministry figures), https://rus.baq.kz/sez-horgos-za-polgoda-proizvela-produktsii-na-127-mlrd-tenge-320047915/
(Cover is an AI-generated schematic vector illustration, not a documentary photo and not a depiction of the specific site.)
Key facts
- The Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan states that the number of projects in the Khorgos–East Gate Special Economic Zone has increased from 14 in 2022 to 69.
- Investment attracted by the Khorgos–East Gate Special Economic Zone has increased from KZT 340 billion to KZT 652.8 billion, with 40 projects under construction or being advanced.
- The Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City represents an investment of KZT 330 billion and has been included on the list of key projects planned for implementation before 2028.
- The Jetisu regional government says the Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City covers approximately 1,000 hectares and is planned to commence operations by the end of 2029.
- The Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City is intended to include administrative services, electronics and food industries, trade, production equipment, oil and gas, and nonferrous metals.
- The Khorgos dry port has an annual handling capacity of 540,000 TEUs, and a 25,000-square-metre Class A warehouse has been put into operation.
FAQ
How large is the investment in the Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City?
The Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan states that the investment in the Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City amounts to KZT 330 billion.
When is the Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City expected to be completed and commence operations?
The Ministry included the project on the list of key projects planned for implementation before 2028, while the Jetisu regional government says the park is planned to commence operations by the end of 2029.
Where is the Kazakhstan–China International Industrial City located, and how large is its site?
The Jetisu regional government says the park is located within the Khorgos–East Gate Special Economic Zone in Panfilov District, covers approximately 1,000 hectares, and has Chinese participation.
How have the number of projects and the investment volume in the special economic zone changed?
According to the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the number of projects in the special economic zone has increased from 14 in 2022 to 69, while attracted investment has risen from KZT 340 billion to KZT 652.8 billion.
What should Chinese manufacturing and warehousing companies monitor?
Publicly available materials have not yet disclosed the park’s tenant recruitment list, specific Chinese shareholders, or contracted subprojects on an individual basis. Chinese companies may wish to monitor subsequent agreements on entering the zone and infrastructure milestones.