The number of foreign-owned companies operating in Kazakhstan increased in 2025, reflecting a shift in the country’s external economic ties. Growth was driven primarily by Chinese businesses, whose expanding presence is reshaping the structure of foreign investment.
Official statistics underline the scale of the change. In 2025, the number of registered legal entities and branches with foreign ownership in Kazakhstan rose by 8 per cent to 64,000, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.
The number of actively operating foreign companies also increased, reaching 48,000. This suggests the trend extends beyond formal registrations and points to a tangible expansion in business activity.
However, behind the headline growth, the dynamics vary sharply by country. Companies linked to China recorded the fastest expansion, with their number rising by more than half over the year to around 8,400. Businesses associated with Uzbekistan also showed strong momentum, approaching a similar scale.
By contrast, the number of companies connected to Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye declined, signalling a gradual rebalancing of Kazakhstan’s foreign business landscape away from some long-established partners.
Chinese firms stand out not only for the pace of their expansion but also for its sectoral breadth. Growth has been concentrated in trade and services, while manufacturing and construction have also attracted a steady inflow of Chinese-linked companies.
This diversified footprint suggests a move towards deeper integration into domestic value chains, rather than a narrow focus on individual sectors or short-term projects.
The trend is consistent with longer-term investment patterns. According to Madiyar Sultanbek, Deputy Chairman of Kazakh Invest, China is already among Kazakhstan’s four largest investment partners, with more than $30 billion in cumulative investment attracted since 2005.
If current dynamics persist, he argues, China could move into first place by volume of foreign direct investment within the next five to six years, or potentially even sooner.
Analysts note that these investment flows are gradually shifting away from a primary focus on raw materials towards manufacturing and energy.
This evolution points to a qualitative change in China’s regional engagement, from predominantly resource-based activity to a more structured and long-term economic presence - a transformation that is increasingly shaping Kazakhstan’s foreign business environment.
An investigation into August Hanning, the former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), has no connection to Azerbaijan,...
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance has said Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction to its nuclear enrichment capacity if the seven-month war...
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Minist...
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday, 5 October, Baku's Foreign Ministry has said.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
The German-Azerbaijani Connectivity Conference 2026 commenced on 6 October in Baku under the title “Mobilising Finance for Infrastructure, Transport, Logistics, Green Energy, and Digitalisation along the Middle Corridor.”
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance has said Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction to its nuclear enrichment capacity if the seven-month war between the two countries is to end.
The preliminary results of an investigation into Kazakhstan's armed forces have emerged. The probe was ordered by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev following the deaths of 14 servicemen during military exercises in the Caspian Sea, which resulted in the arrest of the former naval chief.
Georgia will save millions each year by importing electricity directly from Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said, as he announced that intermediary companies will no longer be used.
The Houthis attacked Aden International Airport with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones early Wednesday, Yemen’s Transport Ministry said. The attack came as fighting intensified between the Iran-aligned group and Saudi-backed government forces.
Israelis mark three years since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering a military assault that destroyed much of Gaza, where conditions remain dire despite a year-old ceasefire that is meant to halt the war for good.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment