At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, comprehensive measures to support private entrepreneurship were reviewed. Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin reported on the new architecture of financial assistance for businesses and the implementation of the instructions of the Head of State.

New fiscal policy and Presidential instructions
As the Deputy Prime Minister noted, 2025 was marked by the adoption of a new tax and budget policy. From 2026, it is planned to increase the revenue side of the budget by 4 trillion tenge, which will be directed to supporting Kazakhstani businesses.

Special attention was given to the implementation of the instruction of the Head of State, issued on December 5 at the Altyn Sapa ceremony, on the need to find a balance between the interests of the budget and business when introducing the new Tax Code. The response to this challenge was the development of the Unified Small Business Support Program “Isker aimaq”.

“Isker aimaq” program: focus on rural areas and small towns
The program was developed jointly with the Amanat party and the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. It is aimed at developing technologically simple projects in rural areas: mini-bakeries, meat, milk and hide processing workshops, furniture production, and the manufacture of construction materials.

Key parameters of the program:

• Total lending volume: about 400 billion tenge annually.
• Financing terms: maximum loan amount up to 200 million tenge, subsidization of 40% of the nominal interest rate (the final rate for business is 8.8%).
• Term: up to 3 years without prolongation.
• Regional limits: a two-tier system has been introduced. Thirty percent of the subsidy budget is allocated to Abai, Ulytau, Zhetysu, North Kazakhstan and Kyzylorda regions. The remaining 70% is distributed among other regions.
• Accessibility: the Damu Fund provides guarantees of up to 85% of the loan amount.

For residents of remote areas where there is no internet access, mobile offices based on special buses will be launched to accept applications on site.

Multiplier effect and modernization
According to calculations of the Ministry of National Economy, over the period 2026–2028 the program will make it possible to:

• support about 23 thousand projects;
• ensure output of products worth 1.4 trillion tenge;
• create 7 thousand new jobs and preserve 136 thousand existing jobs;
• generate 157 billion tenge in tax revenues for the budget.

In parallel, a leasing program is being launched to modernize enterprises in the manufacturing industry. With a limit of up to 300 million tenge per entrepreneur and a term of up to 5 years, businesses will be able to upgrade equipment without providing additional collateral.

Development of medium-sized businesses and guarantee instruments
Serik Zhumangarin also reported on the results of the Orleu concessional financing program aimed at medium-sized businesses. The loan amount under this program reaches up to 7 billion tenge, and the interest rate does not exceed 12.6%. To date, more than 1,800 projects totaling 505 billion tenge have already been supported.

To stimulate bank lending, two guarantee funds have been fully launched on the basis of the Damu Fund:

1. For SMEs: covers projects of up to 7 billion tenge. More than 2,400 projects totaling 424 billion tenge have already been supported. The guarantee covers up to 85% of the loan.
2. For large investment projects: works with amounts starting from 7 billion tenge. As examples, the construction of a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Almaty Region and a ceramics plant in Karaganda Region were cited.

In conclusion, it was noted that a Unified Front Office for consulting entrepreneurs on a “one-stop shop” principle has been created on the basis of the Baiterek holding.

#Economy #Finance #Government session #President's instruction #SME

• 
• 
• 
•