Kazakhstan will launch 40 new investment projects this year. They will include production of aluminum alloys, power cable alloys and pharmaceuticals. This was announced by the Minister of Investments and Development of Kazakhstan. Last year, 130 projects were launched as part of the Industrialization Map. As Minister Zhenis Kassymbek noted, there is an increase in exports of electrical engineering, building materials, rubber, metal and plastic products.

ZHENIS KASSYMBEK, KAZAKH MINISTER ON INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT:

Direct investments grew by 4.5 times up to U.S. $12.3 billion during the first 9 months of 2016. We started rebooting the investment attraction system.

The Minister said that 2017 is proclaimed the year of the processed products export. At present, over 360 types of goods made in Kazakhstan are represented in 116 foreign markets. Transport and logistics issues are being resolved now to increase the exports volume. Thus, all the restrictions on visiting the EU countries were removed for Kazakh companies. In addition, 4,000 kilometers of highways will be further reconstructed and repaired. In 2017, the Kazakh Ministry of Investments and Development will elaborate and approve the Investment strategy jointly with the World Bank.