Almaty Region has recorded sustained economic gains over the past four years, nearly doubling tax receipts and sharply reducing the number of people requiring targeted social assistance, regional authorities report. Officials say the gains reflect higher employment, rising incomes and a wave of new investment that is reshaping the local economy.
Almaty Region economic growth
Tax and mandatory payments to the regional budget rose from 317.3 billion tenge in 2021 to 520.5 billion tenge in 2024, with forecasts for 2025 exceeding 630 billion tenge. At the same time the number of recipients of targeted social assistance declined from about 57,400 to roughly 19,000, a move local officials link to expanded job opportunities and higher household incomes.
The akimat says growth is systematic and driven by investment and the commissioning of new production facilities. Marat Sultangaziev, the regional governor, pointed to projects involving multinational and national companies across industry, processing, logistics and tourism that are creating stable jobs and a durable tax base.
Since the region’s administrative reorganisation, the internal economic structure has changed. The number of donor territories within Almaty Region grew from two to five. In 2025 budget extractions from these donor territories amounted to 297.8 billion tenge, while the oblast budget allocated only 9.6 billion tenge to support five districts. Authorities expect additional territories to attain donor status next year.
Key districts are becoming specialised centres. Karasai District is developing a major industrial and logistics belt and expanding creative industries, including a branch of the New York Film Academy. Ili District is strengthening processing and warehousing capacity. Talgar District is advancing logistics, tourism and sports, including a football academy affiliated with Atlético de Madrid Kazakhstan. Enbekshikazakh District focuses on agro-processing and co-operation.
Uygur District has emerged as a leading fruit-growing area, hosting about 60 per cent of the country’s apricot orchards on roughly 2,200 hectares. Around 4,000 tonnes of apricots were exported in 2025 to Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, highlighting the region’s role in agricultural exports.
Investment figures underline the momentum. In 2025 the region implemented 19 investment projects worth 228.6 billion tenge and created about 7,000 jobs. Since 2022 more than 240,000 jobs have been created in the region, of which over 191,000 are permanent positions.
Major private investors are active. Solico Group plans a dairy plant with an annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes and an investment of 33.1 billion tenge. Konaev city has launched agro-processing with investments exceeding 30 billion tenge and is advancing a project valued at up to 100 billion tenge.
The new city of Alatau has also moved to financial self-sufficiency in 2025. It opened the largest open-air ice rink in Central Asia at 22,000 square metres and has launched four logistics and industrial projects within its special economic zone with combined investments of more than 125 billion tenge and over 1,000 jobs.
Public services are expanding alongside economic growth. In the past year the region opened 36 medical facilities, 17 schools and approximately 1,700 residential units, improving access to basic services for about 875,000 residents, mainly in rural and suburban areas.
Regional officials say that if current growth rates continue and planned investments proceed, Almaty Region could transition from being a net recipient to a net donor of budgetary funds by 2029, reinforcing its contribution to Kazakhstan’s broader economic stability.
Key Takeaways:
- Tax revenues almost doubled from 317.3 billion tenge in 2021 to 520.5 billion tenge in 2024, with a 2025 forecast above 630 billion tenge.
- Recipients of targeted social assistance fell from about 57,400 to roughly 19,000, signalling stronger employment and incomes.
- Almaty Region economic growth is fuelled by investment: 19 projects in 2025 worth 228.6 billion tenge and major private commitments such as Solico Group.
- Administrative changes raised the number of donor territories from two to five; the region may reach net-donor status by 2029.
