One of the world’s leading companies in the ski industry, Pas Grau International Management from Andorra, is coming to Kazakhstan. The company has registered a subsidiary in the Astana International Financial Centre as part of a large project to build a resort in the Kok Zhailau area.
In May 2025, PGI Management’s CEO Joan Viladomat presented the concept of the future ski resort called Almaty Superski, which will include Mount Kumbel and the Kok Zhailau gorge. According to the plan, the total length of ski slopes will be more than 65 kilometres. The project includes the installation of 16 modern ski lifts and the development of infrastructure such as hotels, rental shops, stores, a pharmacy, and ski schools for both children and adults. The developers emphasise that commercial infrastructure will take up no more than 2-3% of the total area. The project is expected to create over five thousand new jobs.
The resort will be part of a large state programme to expand the Almaty mountain cluster. In April 2025, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Joan Viladomat to discuss the prospects for developing mountain tourism in the region. The government plans to increase the cluster’s capacity from six to ten thousand people per day, which will allow it to receive up to seven and a half million tourists annually by 2029.
The project has caused much debate because of concerns about environmental impact and the need to preserve the unique nature of the area. Nevertheless, it has received support at the highest level. At a press conference on 15 July, 2025, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov confirmed that infrastructure development in Kok Zhailau will move forward. He stressed the importance of using the potential of the Almaty mountains.
“There are very few places in the world with such beautiful mountains and such good snow for skiing. Yes, we will develop Kok Zhailau,” Bektenov said.
The prime minister also said that the mountain cluster expansion programme will include areas near Talgar, the Oi Qaragai resort, Butakovka, Pioneer Gorge, Kimasar, Shymbulak, and parts near Kaskelen.
The idea to build a ski resort at Kok Zhailau appeared back in the 2000s, with active planning for ski slopes, hotels, and lifts starting in the 2010s. However, in 2018 and 2019, the project faced strong public opposition because of environmental concerns and possible harm to biodiversity and water resources. Following protests and intervention by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in October 2019, the work was paused.
Now, with the involvement of PGI - a global leader in ski resort construction with more than 120 projects worldwide - the project is gaining new momentum. Authorities and investors assure that the development will balance economic benefits with environmental considerations to ensure sustainable and responsible use of one of Kazakhstan’s most valuable natural areas.
The U.S. has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to the Gulf, protecting key energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar as Washingto...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan held talks in Tehran on Monday on bilateral ties and efforts t...
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it has conveyed its initial position to the United States through Qatar over Washington’s response to Tehr...
Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned, with Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), appointed as acting oil minister, according to Iranian state media.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
Uzbekistan’s grape exports have grown rapidly. In January-August 2025, the country exported 86,200 tonnes of fresh grapes worth $78.3 million to 19 countries but can it turn these crops into a recognisable international product?
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets seven conditions agreed under a June memorandum, as President Donald Trump signals he may soon decide whether to resume military operations against Tehran.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 5 October 2026. These are the top five elections making headlines around the world.
The United States has withdrawn all 12 of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain, just a week after several people were arrested over an alleged plot targeting the air base.
Australian counterterrorism authorities are examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a flydubai flight bound for Israel. Authorities in New Zealand have also said they are investigating reports the suspect had spent time in that country.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called a snap election for 29 November in a bid to strengthen his mandate after a fragmented parliament rejected the government's key housing decrees last week amid widespread protests.
King Charles’ younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has launched legal action against Thames Valley Police over his arrest in connection with an investigation into documents allegedly passed to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Telegraph reported on Sunday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment