ASTANA – Kazakhstan is preparing for a nationwide construction drive that will direct nearly 6.5 trillion tenge (US$14.3 billion) toward infrastructure development through 2029, as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev calls for a new phase of economic modernization built around tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Photo credit: Akorda
The initiative, known as Khalyktyq Qurylys, or the People’s Construction program, will cover roads, airports, railway stations, power plants, hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, sports facilities and other public infrastructure across the country. Tokayev has designated 2027 as the Year of Nationwide Large-Scale Construction.
First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlan Nalybayev announced the funding plans at a Nov. 4 government press conference on the development of Kazakhstan’s real economy. He said the National Fund would provide resources for social, transport and engineering infrastructure projects across all regions by the end of 2029.
The initiative is already moving forward. According to Nalybayev, 262 projects worth a combined 1.5 trillion tenge (US$3.3 billion) have been approved through the Infrastructure Development Fund. A significant share of the funding is earmarked for social infrastructure.
Hospitals, schools and public facilities
The approved project pipeline covers several sectors, with healthcare, education, culture, sports and utilities among the priorities.
Healthcare projects account for 344 billion tenge (US$758 million) and include the construction of hospitals, outpatient clinics, perinatal centers and maternity hospitals. Another 266 billion tenge (US$586 million) is allocated to culture, tourism and sports, with 23 facilities planned, including sports complexes, cultural centers and theaters.
Education projects will receive 101 billion tenge (US$223 million) for the construction of 28 facilities, including schools and multifunctional complexes.
Transport infrastructure accounts for 369 billion tenge (US$813 million) across 48 projects, including road reconstruction and the construction of new roads and bridges. A further 284 billion tenge (US$626 million) is earmarked for 55 water supply and wastewater facilities, including main pipelines, treatment plants, protective dams and reservoirs. Another 136 billion tenge (US$300 million) will support 67 projects to develop heating and gas supply systems.
“This is not just plans on paper. A total of 497 billion tenge (US$1.1 billion) has already been allocated for the implementation of these 122 projects. I would particularly like to emphasize that all 6.5 trillion tenge (US$14.3 billion) allocated for infrastructure modernization will be under strict government oversight,” he said.
The government also plans to establish a state commission to oversee the People’s Construction program and ensure public monitoring of how the funds are spent. It will include representatives of government agencies, members of the Kurultai and the People’s Council, public figures, activists, volunteers and journalists.
Nalybayev also said the construction program would rely on domestic building materials and production capacity.
Investment and domestic industry
The infrastructure drive is also expected to create opportunities for Kazakh businesses and manufacturers.
At a separate meeting of the Board of Directors of Samruk Kazyna, chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on Nov. 4, the fund reviewed progress on 69 major investment projects with a combined value of 43.8 trillion tenge (US$96.5 billion). The largest share of investment is directed toward the oil and gas industry, petrochemicals and conventional power generation, alongside gas transportation, energy infrastructure, transport and communications.
Construction and installation work is underway on 44 projects, while the remaining initiatives are at different stages of implementation.
The fund reported that purchases from Kazakh companies reached approximately 1.4 trillion tenge (US$3.1 billion) in the first nine months of the year, a 45% increase compared with the same period last year. Offtake contracts with domestic producers amounted to 73 billion tenge (US$161 million).
Among the projects launched in October was a 380-kilometer fiber-optic communication line connecting Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. The link is expected to expand international data exchange and strengthen digital connectivity between the two countries.
Samruk Kazyna is also continuing construction of social facilities. Several major healthcare projects in Astana, Turkistan and Petropavlovsk are scheduled for completion in 2027 and 2028. Other initiatives cover inclusive sports, rehabilitation, education and culture.
Transport corridors and road modernization
Transport remains another major focus of the government’s infrastructure plans, as Kazakhstan seeks to strengthen its position as a transit and logistics hub in Eurasia.
Rail freight transit through Kazakhstan increased by 15% to 33.8 million tons, Nalybayev said. The government is also modernizing 37 automobile border crossing points, with completion scheduled by the end of 2027.
The Aral-Caspian highway, construction of which officially began in August 2026, is expected to reduce cargo delivery times to three days. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. Preparations are also underway to expand the Kokshetau-Petropavlovsk highway, with construction expected to begin in the first half of 2027.
The government is placing particular emphasis on road quality and accountability in the construction sector. A working group led by Nalybayev has been established to review international practices and develop proposals to improve road construction standards and strengthen the responsibility of all parties involved.
Along international road corridors, Kazakhstan currently has 1,465 roadside service facilities. A total of 221 facilities have been built over the past three years, including service complexes with fuel stations, hotels, shops and vehicle maintenance services.
Construction sector growth
The new program comes as Kazakhstan’s construction industry continues to expand. Construction work reached 7.8 trillion tenge (US$17.2 billion) in the first nine months of 2026, up 11.5% compared with the same period last year. More than 20 million square meters of housing are expected to be commissioned nationwide by the end of the year.
The broader economy has also recorded growth in infrastructure-related sectors. Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product grew by 6.5% in 2025, with construction expanding by 17.5% and transport and warehousing by 19.4%, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.
The government says the People’s Construction program is intended to turn this momentum into visible changes across the country. Over the next few years, the results will be measured not only by investment figures and completed projects, but also by the roads people travel, the schools and hospitals they use, and the utilities that serve their communities.
