Kazajistán está intensificando el apoyo a las pequeñas y medianas empresas. Con más financiación, reformas e incentivos comerciales, el objetivo es hacer crecer su base de pymes y atraer más inversión europea.
00:36We're highlighting business and economic developments in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asia region, connecting with Europe and beyond.
00:43This year alone, at least 30,000 SMEs are expected to receive almost 3 billion euros in support.
00:49According to the new plan, loans will be available to 50,000 projects annually.
00:54Almost 11,000 joint ventures unite foreign and local partners, all with access to bank loans, state-backed guarantees, and international investment vehicles.
01:03The OECD's 2023 progress report notes that more work remains, including consistent implementation of the new Entrepreneur's Code, better access to trade data, and stronger dispute resolution mechanisms.
01:17Joining us to discuss these dynamics is Nurlan Kulbatyrov, first deputy CEO of CastTrade, the Center for Trade Policy Development.
01:24Mr. Kulbatyrov, great to have you with us.
01:27Здравствуйте, спасибо за приглашение.
01:29Which incentives have proven most effective in attracting foreign entrepreneurs to Kazakhstan?
01:33So, how would you assess foreign-led SMEs' ability to navigate Kazakhstan's legal framework?
02:00So, what now? Is the government planning to introduce any reforms to drive the growth of SMEs?
02:28This is one of the last reforms that we have planned.
02:32It's not on the number of companies, but on the quality.
02:35We want it to be not only over a million individual foreign entrepreneurs,
02:40but just the average entrepreneurs, those who pay taxes, create jobs.
02:44For such competitive companies, companies will have more support.
02:48Thank you so much for being with us.
02:50Thank you so much.
02:51And now, four new commercial opportunities that could attract European and other foreign investors to Kazakhstan.
03:01Top two areas ripe for entry are processing of agricultural products and food production,
03:06franchising, logistics and business support services, and IT services.
03:10Today, foreign-owned joint SMEs in Kazakhstan are predominantly active in wholesale and retail trade,
03:17motor vehicle and motorcycle repair, other services, and construction.
03:21Here's where foreign SMEs come from.
03:24Regional neighbors lead the way with Russia, Uzbekistan, and China,
03:27closely followed by Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, reflecting strong cultural and economic ties.
03:34Ukraine and Belarus also make the list, whilst Germany and South Korea round out the top 10,
03:39underscoring Kazakhstan's appeal to globally competitive, innovation-driven economies.
03:44Here's an inspiring success story.
03:49Askar started out with just eight employees in a 400-square-meter space,
03:53making compact transformer substations.
03:55As demand grew, so did the need for space.
03:57He bought a warehouse with support from the Damu State Entrepreneurship Fund,
04:00which subsidized over half the interest on his loan.
04:03That support helped his business grow seven-fold,
04:05now producing almost 14 million euros worth of products and services each year.
04:10For entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, there are all technical opportunities.
04:16There are land, there are electricity, there are heat, there are energy, there are heat,
04:20to build factories and to launch new products.
04:24And plus, the support of the state is very good.
04:27Interest rate subsidies are in high demand among foreign entrepreneurs looking to start small and medium businesses in Kazakhstan.
04:34So far, the Damu Fund has helped finance more than 1,600 internationally-owned projects,
04:40covering over 1 billion euros in loans.
04:43The fund also offers other tools, including low-interest loans and partial guarantees.
04:48Foreign investment for Kazakhstan is a key priority in terms of attracting foreign capital,
04:54transferring technology and educating our employment.
05:00So for European investors, it's also one of the good strategies in order to enhance their business.
05:08SME support systems like the Damu Fund help create an environment
05:11where businesses can grow sustainably and scale their operations.
05:14Just like in Askar's case, his compact transformer substation business made full use of the fund's support
05:21and is now planning to expand five-fold,
05:23aiming to produce over 70 million euros worth of electrical engineering products and services.
05:31To bolster EU businesses on the ground in Kazakhstan,
05:35European countries have established local trade offices,
05:39like the Italian Kazakh Trade Association,
05:41which helps firms deepen their local partnerships.
05:44Let's bring in its president, Marco Beretta, who's joining us down the line.
05:48Mr. Beretta, good to have you with us.
05:50Thank you very much. I'm very happy to be here today.
05:53How easy is it for European SMEs to set up operations in Kazakhstan?
05:57Are there any challenges or opportunities in this regard?
06:00Obviously, for European small-medium enterprise,
06:04opening and running business in Kazakhstan,
06:07see some challenges like the legislation difference between Europe and Kazakhstan,
06:12the cultural difference,
06:14and the fact that the small and medium enterprise in the country
06:17has much more added value than 4-in-1 in terms of economics.
06:22But Kazakhstan, in order to be attractive for small-medium enterprise in Europe,
06:27put in place a lot of leverages,
06:29like a special economic zone where taxation is easier
06:34and sometimes even zero for some years.
06:38The IFC for the international law
06:42that allowed small-medium enterprise to feel more comfortable in case of problem.
06:48Interesting. How do you see Kazakhstan evolve as a business hub
06:51for European companies in the next decade?
06:54Kazakhstan is changing its DNA into the industrialization
06:59and transformation of these natural resources
07:01into added value of finer products.
07:04This is for sure a booster for small-medium enterprise
07:08to come in the country and to work on this DNA change.
07:12Our association and other associations together with the government of Kazakhstan
07:16organizing a supply chain forum.
07:20And this is one of the examples
07:21of how Kazakhstan can become a hub for the international SME.
07:27They need some support.
07:28They need to be driven into the process.
07:31They need to understand the ground where they want to make business.
07:35Mr. Beretta, thank you so much for joining us.
07:38Thank you very much.
07:38With a strategic position along the Europe-China middle corridor,
07:45a steady push for pro-business reforms and targeted incentives,
07:48Kazakhstan hopes to generate a new wave of SME success stories.
07:52Bye for now and join us in the next episode of East-West Connect.
