ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reviewed progress on the development of Alatau City on June 2, describing the project as a “city of accelerated development” and outlining a broad agenda aimed at turning it into a major center for investment, innovation and logistics, according to Akorda press service.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reviewed progress on the development of Alatau City on June 2, describing the project as a “city of accelerated development”. Photo credit: Akorda Tokayev was briefed on ongoing construction, investment projects and plans for the city, which covers 88,000 hectares and is divided into four functional districts to be developed in stages through 2050.
Authorities have already identified growth zones and priority development areas, while work is underway to build core infrastructure and implement a new governance model supported by a constitutional law. Officials reported that a pool of 53 investment projects worth more than 2 trillion tenge (US$4 billion) has been formed.
Among them are PepsiCo’s potato processing plant, expected to be the largest in Central Asia; Mars Petcare’s first regional pet food production facility; pharmaceutical and medical equipment projects led by Khan Tengri Biopharma; and logistics initiatives being developed by Istcomtrans and G-Trans.
Speaking at the meeting, Tokayev said the legal framework necessary for Alatau’s growth is already taking shape. “Today, Alatau can be called a city of accelerated development with a unique legal status,” he said, pointing to tax incentives, simplified business regulations and plans to establish a regulatory environment for digital assets.
At the same time, Tokayev stressed that the project’s success will depend on creating a sustainable economic model rather than relying solely on optimistic investment forecasts. Tokayev also stressed that Alatau’s future should be considered within the broader context of the Almaty agglomeration, arguing that stronger connectivity between the two cities could unlock significant economic opportunities.
Photo credit: Akorda “Investments and business development are not guaranteed sources of revenue. They are forecasts and expectations,” the Kazakh President said, warning that development costs could outpace revenues in the early stages if long-term planning is not properly aligned.
He instructed authorities to finalize the city’s long-term development plan, master plan and strategy by the end of 2026, allowing implementation to move into a more active phase beginning next year. Building Kazakhstan’s first fully digital city A central element of President Tokayev’s vision is transforming Alatau into what he described as Kazakhstan’s first fully digital city.