10 April 2026, 20:30
As part of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions on the socio-economic development of regions, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is carrying out systematic work in Abay Region aimed at strengthening economic potential, modernizing engineering infrastructure, developing the agro-industrial complex, tourism, and the social environment.
The region, which has a favorable transit location, is consistently increasing investment activity, expanding the processing sector, and forming new points of economic growth.
Agro-Industrial Complex: Exports Reach $31.3 Million Since the Beginning of the Year
The agro-industrial complex remains one of the key drivers of the region’s economy. Since the beginning of the year, the sector has shown positive dynamics — the gross output of agricultural products amounted to 28.2 billion tenge, with a physical volume index of 104.7%.
Particularly notable growth is observed in processing. Food production reached 30.7 billion tenge, an increase of 129.5% compared to the same period last year.
A key trend is the export of processed agricultural products. In January 2026 alone, this figure reached $31.3 million. At the same time, the share of processing in the total export of the agro-industrial complex reached 81.2%.
This dynamic is driven both by the modernization of existing enterprises and the launch of new capacities. The region hosts dozens of processing facilities, ranging from oil and fat and flour milling to meat and dairy processing.
According to official data, food products worth 137.5 billion tenge were produced last year. The region operates 3 meat processing enterprises with a total capacity of 2,100 tons, including 4,762 tons of poultry, 1,939 tons of sausage products, and 2,962 tons of chicken.
There are also 5 milk processing enterprises with a total annual capacity of 17,100 tons: 322 tons of cottage cheese, 5,700 tons of processed milk, 254 tons of butter, and 181 tons of ice cream.
Eight enterprises process oilseeds with a total annual capacity of 137,600 tons. Seven enterprises process wheat with a total annual capacity of 324,000 tons. In 2025, 10,700 tons of bakery products, 436 tons of long-shelf-life confectionery, 65,000 tons of flour, and 2,159 tons of pasta were produced.
Overall, 11 investment projects worth 16.3 billion tenge were implemented in Abay Region last year. Over the past three years, 20 projects worth 21 billion tenge have been financed under agricultural lending programs, including the development of dairy farms, feedlots, irrigation systems, and processing facilities.
In 2025, 15.1 billion tenge was allocated for subsidies under 8 agricultural support programs. The Ministry of Agriculture has approved general transfers, and 21.8 billion tenge is planned for 2026.
In 2026, under the 2024–2028 Roadmap, 19 projects worth 112.5 billion tenge are planned for implementation, creating approximately 849 jobs, with 6 projects to be launched this year.
For example, the “Agrolider KAZ” LLP plant for processing legumes and oilseeds with a capacity of 72,000 tons of raw materials per year has been opened in the region. The project cost is 4.1 billion tenge and 50 jobs have been created.
Manufacturing Industry: 9 Projects Planned for Commissioning
The manufacturing industry shows steady growth. Last year, production volume in this sector reached 697.2 billion tenge. In 2026, the positive trend continues — in the first months, the figure amounted to 110.2 billion tenge, a 4.6% increase compared to last year. The target is to reach 801.8 billion tenge (105% growth).
Growth in manufacturing will be supported by bringing projects commissioned in 2025 to full capacity. These projects, worth 9.8 billion tenge, created 138 jobs, including:
Additionally, 9 projects worth 86.2 billion tenge are planned for implementation this year, creating 1,937 jobs. These include the construction of a meat processing complex, a sunflower oil refining and packaging workshop, as well as plants for optoelectronic devices, copper ore processing, a woodworking plant, an OSB board factory, and a special protective footwear production complex.
Investments: 616.2 Billion Tenge Attracted
High investment activity remains one of the key factors in the region’s development. Last year, investments in fixed capital amounted to 616.2 billion tenge. Fifteen investment projects worth 24.1 billion tenge were commissioned, creating 391 jobs.
For the current year, an investment pool of 36 projects worth 103.1 billion tenge has been formed, which will create 2,503 jobs.
Priority projects include the construction of an optoelectronic devices plant with investments of 28 billion tenge and the creation of 500 jobs, as well as the modernization and expansion of production facilities worth 16 billion tenge, which will create an additional 200 jobs.
Investor support work is carried out on a continuous basis, which helps accelerate project launches and reduce administrative barriers.
Tourism Potential: Year-Round Sanatorium to Appear on the Shore of Lake Alakol
Special attention is being paid to the development of the region’s tourism potential. By 2029, 49 projects worth 90.4 billion tenge are planned for implementation.
One of the major projects is the construction of the “Alakol” medical and health complex with investor participation. Site approval work is currently underway.
In addition, a mud therapy sanatorium is planned on Lake Shipaly. A draft design has been developed, and construction is scheduled to begin in April.
In Semey, the “Semey Mall” cultural and entertainment shopping center is under construction. Plans also include an ethno-complex, a visitor center, and the “Tary” café in the Zhidebay area.
One of the region’s most popular tourist destinations is the shore of Lake Alakol. A Roadmap for tourism development on the Alakol coast in Abay Region for 2026–2028 has been approved. To strengthen tourism efforts, the communal state institution “Visit Abai” Tourist Information Center has been established. In 2026, 10 billion tenge has been allocated for the development of its infrastructure. Works on landscaping the coastline and repairing streets are planned.
137 modern AI-enabled video surveillance systems, 6 antenna-mast devices, and full mobile internet coverage will be installed in recreation areas.
Work has begun on amending the General Plan, which will be completed in September. As a result, the tourist zone area will increase from 300 hectares to 3,000 hectares. The daily tourist flow is expected to grow more than threefold — from 20,000 to 75,000 people.
To improve transport accessibility to Lake Alakol, project design documentation has been developed for the reconstruction of the terminal at Urjar village airport. The project cost is 6.9 billion tenge.
In Makanchi district, systematic modernization and major repairs of medical infrastructure are underway for both residents and tourists.
Engineering Infrastructure: Modernization of Water Supply, Heat Supply and Power Grid
The modernization of engineering infrastructure remains a key condition for sustainable growth. To provide the population with high-quality drinking water, 32 projects worth 24.9 billion tenge have been implemented. The current wear rate of water supply networks in the region is 42%, and 64.5% in Semey. To solve this problem, 34 projects worth 33.3 billion tenge are planned, which will improve water supply conditions for 10,000 people.
The reconstruction of sewage treatment facilities built 50 years ago is planned. The current wear rate of sewage networks is 71% in the region and 73% in Semey. Project design documentation for the reconstruction of these facilities is being developed. A new sewage treatment plant will also be built in Ayagoz at a cost of 5 billion tenge.
In heat supply, sources and networks have been modernized, which has reduced the wear rate. On the instruction of the Head of State, 12.6 billion tenge was allocated from the Government reserve and the budget, allowing the repair of 23 heat supply sources and the replacement of 22 km of networks. This reduced the wear rate from 59.3% to 55.6%, including in Semey — from 61.5% to 58.2%.
The heat supply problem in Ayagoz has been fully resolved — three 10 Gcal/hour boilers were installed at the “Ortalyk” boiler house, and 5.2 km of networks were replaced.
This year, 4.1 billion tenge from the republican budget has been allocated for 11 projects to reconstruct heat networks in Semey (2.5 billion tenge for completing 6 ongoing projects and 1.6 billion tenge for launching 5 new ones, against a total need of 4.6 billion tenge).
From the local budget, 2.5 billion tenge is allocated for the repair of heat supply facilities, and another 2.5 billion tenge has been approved from the Government reserve. This will reduce the wear rate in Semey from 58.2% to 53.3%. In March this year, with Government support, 15.8 billion tenge was allocated through the issuance of government securities for 5 projects to address the heat deficit.
In the power sector, systematic work is underway under the Head of State’s program “Tariff in Exchange for Investments.” Last year, 78.6 km of networks and 36 substations were modernized for 5.7 billion tenge, reducing the wear rate from 84.4% to 83.74%. This year, the modernization of 217.2 km of power networks is planned at a cost of 9.9 billion tenge.
Transport and Logistics: Road Upgrades, Railway Station Renovations and New Transit Opportunities
In 2025, two major highways totaling 584 km were reconstructed, and 629 km of roads were repaired. This year, 593 km of road surface will be restored, including 288 km of republican roads and 305 km of local roads. On the instruction of the Head of State, construction of a new four-lane bridge in Semey is underway.
On the initiative of the Ministry of Transport and NC “Kazakhstan Temir Zholy”, reconstruction of 10 railway stations in Semey and the settlements of Ayagoz, Shar, Aktogay, Zhalanaszkol, Degelen, Ushbiik, Zharma, Belagash, and Aul is being carried out at a cost of 11.8 billion tenge. Temporary service points for passengers have been organized during the renovation period.
Social Sphere: Housing, Education and Healthcare as Priority Areas
Along with economic development, large-scale social projects are being implemented in the region, including housing construction. Currently, 31,900 people are on the housing waiting list, including 3,500 large families. To address the housing issue in Semey, 13 commercial houses with a total area of 73,100 m² have been commissioned. In addition, 13 apartment buildings with a total area of 51,600 m² are under construction in the Karagaily district, and 29 more multi-apartment buildings are planned. With the support of the Head of State, amendments will be made to the General Plan and project design documentation for the city’s engineering infrastructure.
In education, work continues on school renovation in line with the President’s instructions. Last year, major repairs were carried out in 12 schools for 2.8 billion tenge, and current repairs were completed in 199 schools for 3.4 billion tenge. Under the national project “Schools of the Future”, 5 schools with 3,000 places have been built. This year, construction of a 300-place school in the Shygys settlement of Semey was completed.
Plans include the construction of the “Bilim-Innovation” boarding lyceum for 400 places and the “Binom School” for 1,400 places.
In healthcare, under the national project “Modernization of Rural Healthcare”, 65 primary healthcare facilities have been built, and major repairs were carried out in 17 medical facilities for 3 billion tenge, reducing the wear rate of medical organizations from 67.05% to 61.72%. In addition, under the “Aul — El Besigi” project, a medical outpatient clinic with a women’s consultation, clinical diagnostic laboratory, and day hospital was commissioned at the Makanchi District Hospital.
With private investment, a new dialysis center “BB Nura” worth 1.5 billion tenge has been opened in Semey, creating 43 new jobs. In accordance with the Head of State’s instructions, project design documentation is being developed in Semey for the construction of a regional multidisciplinary clinical hospital with 300 beds, a regional children’s hospital with 200 beds, and a blood center. Project design documentation is also being prepared for the construction of a surgical building for the Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center.
The comprehensive implementation of the Head of State’s instructions ensures sustainable socio-economic development of Abay Region, improves the quality of life of the population, and strengthens the region’s role as one of the key industrial, logistics, and tourism centers of the country.
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