How to Invest in Kazakhstan: Asia’s Overlooked Powerhouse

Last updated May 5th, 2025.

Why would anyone ever want to invest in Kazakhstan’s real estate or stock market?

That’s a legitimate question anyone could have when they hear the name of the country.

But if you take a good look at the world’s map, you’ll find the answer: right in the middle of high-growth Central Asia, that’s where Kazakhstan is.

With such a strategic location, it’s a gem waiting to be discovered.

This decade, global investors will look at Asian markets more than ever. It’s no secret that the Asia-Pacific region is growing faster than just about anywhere else on the planet.

Most people consider investing in the usual targets first. China, Japan, India and the rest of Asia’s large economies are naturally the kind of places that foreign investors choose first.

Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with these countries. Yet their property and stock markets are now flooded with foreign capital and aren’t exactly unknown.

Many of the “no-brainer” investment opportunities that once existed in such places have come and gone. Let’s face it: you’re not truly exploring new investment frontiers if Goldman Sachs and Citibank already have branches there.

You may see higher appreciation and yields through buying real estate in Kazakhstan and other places where everyone else isn’t already going.

Here’s why you might want to invest in Kazakhstan, specifically either its largest city of Almaty or capital of Astana, instead of the typical destinations.

Why Should You Invest in Kazakhstan?

A nation of 18 million people, and the world’s ninth largest in terms of land area, Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s most powerful economy by far.

Kazakhstan was previously was a member state of the USSR, and they’ve arguably become the region’s biggest success story since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.

In fact, Kazakhstan boasts a GDP per capita which is almost on par with Russia’s. But they aren’t exactly a bastion of liberty. President Nazarbayev has ruled over Kazakhstan’s one-party political system for more than three decades.

Places like Singapore (and indeed Kazakhstan) are proof that lack of personal freedom doesn’t necessarily make somewhere bad to invest though.

If you look closely at the Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom Index, you’ll find barely any relation between democracies and free economies.

Vast oil reserves, pro-investment policies, and a strategic position on the map should lead to a bright future. Regardless, we think Kazakhstan’s location is their greatest asset.

That’s because Chinese-backed businesses alongside Kazakhstan’s government are financing billions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure and real estate in nearby countries. New railways, ports, roads, and other projects are popping up all over Asia.

Many of these projects are created through China’s New Silk Road, also known as the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative.

Beijing’s goal is creating a modern version of its historic Silk Road from centuries past. They’re creating better methods of moving materials, labor, and products across Eurasia. The OBOR initiative will eventually stretch all the way from Mongolia to France.

The New Silk Road will provide to Kazakhstan and other nearby countries in Central Asia like Azerbaijan. Yet even moreso, China’s soft power will rise since they’ll operate crucial infrastructure around the world.

After all, you’re more likely to ally with the people who own your railways and roads in the event of an armed conflict.

Simply looking at Kazakhstan’s position on a map makes its geographic importance clear. It has a few powerful neighbors, plentiful oil reserves, and is a gateway to the Caspian Sea.

How does this relate to investing in Kazakhstan? Well, you’ll notice that moving between China and Europe is difficult without traveling through the country.

Any land routes that don’t involve Kazakhstan mean one of two things: either traveling through volatile parts of the Middle East or taking a long detour across much of Siberia.

Either way, China’s New Silk Road is impractical without Kazakhstan. This should equal lots of investment, new infrastructure, and favorable terms for Kazakhstan which should propel the nation’s economy.

Buying Real Estate and Stocks in Kazakhstan

You have several options for investing in Kazakhstan property and stocks. However, every single one of them requires a personal visit to the country first. Doing business remotely is difficult here.

Plus, foreign individuasl can only legally buy Kazakhstan real estate if they’re a permanent resident, which is a difficult status to obtain.

Yet in contrast, foreign companies can directly own property in Kazakhstan with less hassle. It’s usually easier to form a company and purchase real estate through its name instead of applying for residency.

Buying property in Kazakhstan is fairly valued once you jump through the hurdles. Looking at the price of houses for sale in Kazakhstan, you can own real estate in the nation’s largest city of Almaty for under $1,500 per sqm in a central location.

That’s an extremely low price for real estate considering that Kazakhstan is an upper-middle income economy.

Kazakhstan’s stock exchange is sizable compared to the rest of Central Asia with over 130 listed firms and a total market capitalization of US$42 billion. With that said, you’ll need to hop on a plane to open a brokerage account as a foreigner.

As of yet, there aren’t any reasonable ways to open a brokerage account or trade stocks in Kazakhstan without making a trip here.

You can buy a house in Almaty for only about $1,000 per square meter… if you meet the foreign purchasing criteria by either becoming a permanent resident or incorporating a business in Kazakhstan.

How To Start a Company in Kazakhstan

It’s possible to start company in Kazakhstan as a foreigner. Perhaps even more notable is that you can own freehold property through a locally-incorporated business, even if you aren’t a permanent resident.

You must have a legitimate, fully functioning business if you’re using it to buy property in Kazakhstan though. Forming a holding company with a sole purpose of owning local real estate won’t work.

Foreigners can own 100% of a Kazakhstan LLC (Limited Liability Corporation). Most global firms do business in the oil & gas, manufacturing, tourism, and tech industries.

Companies investing in any “strategic sectors”, of which all those industries mentioned above are part of, receive generous tax incentives too. It’s fair to say that most foreign companies doing business in Kazakhstan is getting tax incentives of some sort.

In summary, investing in Kazakhstan is rather difficult. But barriers to entry are a positive thing if you can break through them.

Kazakhstan’s real estate and stock markets enjoy clear potential and isn’t flooded with foreign money yet.

Because of that, We think now is a great time to start investing in Kazakhstan if you have the risk appetite and drive to do so.

First movers gain the most. When it comes to investing in Kazakhstan and other relatively obscure countries, early is usually better than late.

FAQs: Investing in Kazakhstan