Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with international experts led by World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Najy Benhassine as part of the implementation of the country’s new investment cycle, QazMonitor reports.
The meeting was attended by National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov, Presidential Adviser and Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms Asset Irgaliyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, and other officials.
The participants discussed strategic issues including the transition to a high-income economy, productivity growth, infrastructure development, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and modern financing instruments. The agenda focused on building a more competitive and technology-driven economic growth model.
Opening the meeting, Bektenov said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev prioritizes economic diversification and improving the investment climate. He noted that Kazakhstan is building a comprehensive system for investor engagement, ranging from attracting foreign capital abroad to strengthening project support and investor protection domestically.
Bektenov also presented measures introduced to attract investment, including the launch of the “Golden Visa” regime for investors and highly qualified specialists, as well as the strengthening of the Coordination Council’s role in promoting joint initiatives.
Benhassine positively assessed Kazakhstan’s efforts to modernize economic processes, noting that the country maintains strong investment attractiveness. At the same time, he said the transition to a high-income economy requires a transformation of the growth model and higher investment efficiency.
World Bank Lead Economist Christos Kostopoulos said Kazakhstan demonstrates stable GDP growth comparable to dynamically developing economies and emphasized the importance of innovation and technology adoption for labor productivity growth.
World Bank Transport Practice Manager for Europe and Central Asia Shomik Raj Mehndiratta highlighted opportunities to increase the investment attractiveness of Kazakhstan’s transport infrastructure, including airports, ports, railways, roads, and urban transport projects.
World Bank Digital Development Practice Manager Isabel Neto pointed to the importance of the “Data Center Valley” project in Pavlodar Region for regional investment attractiveness and referenced international examples from Brazil and Greece in developing digital infrastructure.
The participants also discussed mechanisms for attracting private capital to strategic projects. IFC Regional Manager for Central Asia Michael Opagi said public-private partnership projects must remain economically attractive for businesses in order to unlock the potential of private infrastructure investment.
National Bank Chairman Suleimenov stressed the importance of macroeconomic stability as a key factor in attracting long-term foreign investment. He noted that predictable macroeconomic conditions and lower inflation risks are critical for investors.
Asset Irgaliyev emphasized the importance of proper structuring of public-private partnership projects and the use of international experience, including World Bank practices.
Zhumangarin stated that Kazakhstan is implementing a new proactive investment policy. According to him, the country attracted $20.5 billion in investment in 2025, compared with $17.9 billion a year earlier. Priority sectors include coal chemistry, oil and gas chemistry, metallurgy, agricultural processing, tourism, and pharmaceuticals.
Summing up the meeting, Bektenov instructed government agencies to incorporate the proposals discussed into an action plan for socio-economic reforms.