The Association of Kazakhstan Machinery Industry held its 49th online meeting with regional representatives and industry partners. During the meeting, the Association’s activities for 2025 were reviewed, and key priorities for the upcoming period were identified.

Talgat Bazarbekov, Director of the Association’s Executive Directorate, briefly summarized the results of the past year. The Association’s work plan for 2025 included 22 initiatives. By the end of the year, 18 activities had been fully completed, while 4 are ongoing and continue to be implemented.

Special attention during the meeting was given to the implementation of the Comprehensive Development Plan for the Machine-Building Industry for 2024–2028, developed at the instruction of the Head of State and approved by the Government in November 2023. The plan calls for a 4.5-fold increase in production volumes, a 3-fold increase in exports, a 2-fold increase in labor productivity, and a 1.5-fold increase in investments. Of the 79 measures across seven key areas, work has begun on 71 items, 21 of which have already been completed.

Notable results include changes to procurement rules for subsoil users, mandating a minimum 30% advance payment when concluding contracts with Kazakhstani manufacturers, as well as the expansion of state incentives for industry, including reimbursement of costs for rail transportation and international certification.

A separate section is devoted to the implementation of the recommendations of the 12th Forum of Kazakhstan Machinery Manufactures. Of the 10 measures, 6 have been implemented, and 3 are currently underway and aimed at expanding financial support instruments and developing preferential measures for domestic manufacturers.

Thanks to joint efforts with the Government and Parliament, key legislative changes for the development of the manufacturing industry have been drafted and adopted:

• As of July 1 of this year, amendments came into force prohibiting the procurement of non-standardized goods through exchanges;

• mechanisms for approving domestic value development programs and for major customers to enter into off-take contracts have been established by law;

• the Senate is considering a provision to establish a minimum domestic value share in procured goods;

• The new Tax Code includes provisions for paying VAT through a credit mechanism on imported equipment for the construction of new facilities and the modernization of existing ones, as well as a deferral of VAT payment for up to one year on imports of materials and components not produced domestically that are used in the manufacture of final products;

• 300% tax deductions are provided for enterprises for R&D.

The Association also continued its systematic efforts to promote import substitution and conclude off-take contracts, collaborating with the ERG Group and national member companies of the Association, including Kazatomprom, Kazakhtelecom, and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy. Representatives of Kazatomprom’s subsidiaries visited enterprises to familiarize themselves with their production activities.

As part of its legislative work, the Association participated in drafting amendments aimed at developing the manufacturing industry, including provisions on off-take contracts, domestic value, tax incentives, and support for R&D. Concurrently, work is underway to introduce industrial robotization — a separate National Project is being prepared under this initiative.

The key event of the year was the 12th Forum of Kazakhstan Machinery Manufactures and the Kazakhstan Machinery Fair, following which recommendations were submitted to the Government and are currently being implemented.

In the area of international cooperation, the Association signed memorandums with relevant organizations from China, Brazil, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland, and also organized the participation of Kazakhstani enterprises in international forums and business missions.

In summarizing the meeting, participants noted that the Association’s activities in 2025 were comprehensive and practice-oriented. Among the priority tasks for the coming year are the continued implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, the promotion of a draft law developed by a Senate-sponsored working group, the hosting of the 13th Forum of Kazakhstan Machinery Manufactures, and further work on import substitution.