Astana, November 7. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed a decree creating the Semey special economic zone (SEZ) in Abai Region: 600 hectares in the Zhanasemey district, with a forecast 1.4 trillion tenge in investment and 14,000 permanent jobs, the government press service reported.
The plan is to build a modern industrial production complex in the zone with high-tech enterprises, including export-oriented ones. Particular attention goes to conditions for investors, links between enterprises and logistics. The project is being carried out on the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to improve the investment climate, develop manufacturing and form growth points. The expected effect for the region is described in the release as development of related industries, higher demand for the goods and services of local business, and new jobs.
With the opening of Semey, Kazakhstan will have 19 SEZs in 15 regions. The Ministry of Industry and Construction reported on October 9 that 18 zones operate, four of them created in 2025–2026. They have attracted 11.5 trillion tenge in investment, created more than 38,000 jobs and produced goods worth 15.9 trillion tenge, of which 1.1 trillion was exported, the ministry’s release notes.
The idea of a zone in Abai Region is not new. On May 22 the government backed it at a meeting. At the time, according to the regional administration, Kapital.kz reported, the plan was 600 hectares in the first stage, with expansion to 1,000 hectares. The priorities named were agro-industry, logistics, transport-hub services and manufacturing. The regional governor reported to the President on a zone in the regional centre: projects worth 400 billion tenge and 2,500 new jobs, the Akorda reported. The area stayed the same, 600 hectares, while the forecasts for investment and jobs grew; the government release does not mention expansion to 1,000 hectares.
Something is already being built where the future zone will be: in the Zhanasemey district, construction of a brick plant worth 1.5 billion tenge began in August, Kursiv writes. The title of the decree and the date it takes effect are not given in the government release.
What it means: Abai Region gets its 19th SEZ: a territory where a special regime applies to investors and the state prepares the infrastructure. The investment forecast (1.4 trillion tenge) is three and a half times the 400 billion tenge named earlier in the report to the President, and the number of jobs has risen from 2,500 to 14,000; the government has not explained what accounts for the difference.
Who benefits: Investors, who get a ready site and incentives. Residents of Abai Region, for whom the zone promises jobs: the authorities name 14,000 permanent positions. Local business: according to the government, demand for its goods and services will grow.
Background: A special economic zone is part of a territory with a special legal regime: investors get tax and customs preferences, while the state prepares the infrastructure. Abai Region was separated from East Kazakhstan Region in 2022, and its centre is Semey.
