BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 9. The construction
sector in Kazakhstan is undergoing perhaps the most significant
transformations in recent decades. One of the key initiatives in
this area is the Alatau city project, which is planned to be built
on the site of the former village of Zhetygen in the Ile district
of the Almaty region. In 2024, the village received city status.
Officials state that Alatau is set to become a new economic hub for
the region, as well as an international center for Central Asia
with a special economic status.
The main construction of Alatau city is expected to be completed
by 2030, with full project completion slated for 2050. A special
economic zone covering an area of 97,900 hectares will house the
city.
Alatau’s geographical location at the crossroads of the New Silk
Road, connecting Europe and China, enhances the project’s
attractiveness. This is a strategically important factor:
integrating the city into international logistics chains could
stimulate regional economic growth and improve its position in
global trade. This location also creates opportunities for
attracting investments and increases the interest of foreign
partners in developing the city’s logistics and industrial
infrastructure.
To realize such an ambitious project, Kazakhstan requires
significant investments. On September 26, 2025, President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree granting Alatau city special
status, which is intended to create favorable conditions for the
protection of private investments and attract capital for long-term
projects. Currently, the Kazakh Parliament is reviewing the draft
of a constitutional law on the “Special Status of Alatau City,”
which will be an important step toward providing institutional
support for the project, as recently reported by Deputy Prime
Minister Qanat Bozumbaev at a meeting of the city development
council.
Work is already underway on launching new projects aimed at
enhancing the city’s attractiveness to investors. Among the
priority projects are the Iconic Complex, a multifunctional complex
that will serve as the architectural and business center of the
city, and the KAIST Kazakhstan technological university, which will
focus on training highly qualified specialists and implementing
advanced technologies.
The Government of Kazakhstan has reported that the city’s
investment portfolio includes 44 projects totaling around 1.8
trillion tenge (more than 3.6 billion US dollars) in various
sectors: industry, logistics, agro-processing, and the creative
industry. The implementation of these projects is expected to
create more than 30,000 jobs and provide a stable economic
environment for the city. Alisher Adykadyrov, the Chief Executive
Officer of the Alatau city Authority, noted that key documents are
currently being developed, including the conceptual and urban
planning documents, as well as the city’s development strategy.
Alongside the implementation of the project, Kazakhstan is
updating the regulatory framework of the construction industry. In
2026, the new Construction Code will come into effect, introducing
mandatory oversight through a unified information system. The
implementation of digital identifiers for objects and the use of
BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology, which allows the
creation of accurate 3D building models, will reduce the risks of
unjustified cost increases and eliminate “gray areas” in the
market. These initiatives will create favorable conditions for
attracting large investors and increase trust in construction
projects.
Overall, Kazakhstan is demonstrating a comprehensive approach to
transforming the construction sector and urban infrastructure.
However, the success of the Alatau city project largely depends on
the quality of institutional support, the volume of investments,
and adherence to construction deadlines. Realizing such a
large-scale project will require careful planning, adequate
financial investment, and strict control over project timelines.
For successful implementation of such initiatives, legal
transparency and the confidence of foreign partners in the safety
of investments are critically important. If these conditions are
satisfied, Alatau city could emerge as a model of distinctive urban
development in Central Asia.
