Messages on Kazakhstan in UNCTAD’s 2026 EAEU Report
Published on 25 October 2026 and presented at the World Investment Forum in Doha, UNCTAD’s Eurasian Economic Union Investment Report 2026 identifies Kazakhstan as the EAEU’s leading destination by the value of announced greenfield projects. The findings highlight the scale of plans for new industrial facilities and opportunities to expand production, develop infrastructure and strengthen international business partnerships.
01 • Kazakhstan’s leadership in regional investment
CORE MESSAGE Kazakhstan leads the EAEU in the value of announced greenfield investment projects, reinforcing its position as a major destination for new industrial development in Eurasia.
- According to UNCTAD, the value of greenfield projects announced in Kazakhstan reached approximately US$24 billion in 2025, up 34% from the previous year. These are plans to establish new facilities or operations, providing an indication of the scale of future productive activity under consideration.
- Kazakhstan accounted for approximately 93% of the EAEU’s US$25.9 billion in announced greenfield project value in 2025. The regional total grew by 12% year on year, placing Kazakhstan at the centre of the region’s expanding new-project investment pipeline.
- The scale of Kazakhstan’s announced projects gives the country a prominent place in the regional investment outlook. New factories and operations can create demand for construction, engineering, logistics and business services, opening opportunities for international investors and Kazakhstan-based suppliers alike.
02 • Investment momentum and global opportunities
CORE MESSAGE Kazakhstan’s investment momentum places the country in a strong position to engage with growing international interest in major industrial, technological and infrastructure projects.
- UNCTAD reports that global foreign direct investment rose by 6% to US$1.6 trillion in 2025. International capital continues to seek opportunities in energy, technology, digital infrastructure and strategically important supply chains, sectors that offer meaningful scope for industrial investment in Kazakhstan.
- Across the EAEU, the value of announced greenfield investment increased by 12% in 2025. Kazakhstan’s 34% annual growth in announced project value demonstrates the particular momentum of its project pipeline within this wider regional expansion.
- UNCTAD identifies China as the EAEU’s largest source of announced greenfield project value in 2025, at approximately US$16 billion across the region. The prominence of Asian capital highlights the importance of cross-border industrial partnerships and the potential for Kazakhstan to serve international production networks.
03 • Industrial development and higher-value production
CORE MESSAGE The investment opportunities highlighted by UNCTAD can support Kazakhstan’s ambition to expand processing, manufacturing and higher-value exports, building on the country’s resource base and industrial capabilities.
- Metals represented an important area of new investment interest across the EAEU. UNCTAD records approximately US$12.5 billion in announced projects in the sector in 2025, compared with US$2.3 billion in 2024, illustrating growing demand for substantial industrial investment in the region.
- Kazakhstan’s mineral resources create opportunities to develop more stages of production domestically, from initial processing to finished materials and manufactured products. Investment in these activities can increase the value generated within the country and strengthen connections with international supply chains.
- Large industrial projects can stimulate a wider ecosystem of local suppliers, engineering companies and service providers. New production facilities also create opportunities for technology transfer, specialised training and skilled employment, multiplying the economic benefits of investment across related industries.
- Growing international interest in critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and energy-related technology creates further opportunities for Kazakhstan to build competitive downstream industries. These sectors can help expand the range of products available for export and foster longer-term partnerships with overseas companies.
04 • Investment facilitation and Eurasian connectivity
CORE MESSAGE Kazakhstan’s investment facilitation measures and improving regional connections strengthen its ability to attract industrial projects and link businesses to wider Eurasian and international markets.
- UNCTAD finds that 69% of the investment policy measures recorded collectively in Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan during 2016–2025 were favourable to investors. The finding places Kazakhstan within a group of EAEU economies where investor-oriented measures have been prominent.
- The report highlights Kazakhstan’s one-stop-shop arrangements and national digital investment platform as examples of investment facilitation. These tools can make information more accessible, simplify administrative procedures and improve coordination between investors and public institutions.
- Transport infrastructure is a valuable part of Kazakhstan’s investment proposition. At the report’s presentation, UNCTAD highlighted the importance of rail connections, dry ports and efficient border crossings in linking new industrial facilities to customers and suppliers across different markets.
- Combining investor services with dependable logistics helps businesses plan production, source inputs and reach overseas customers. Kazakhstan’s position along Eurasian transport routes provides a foundation for projects designed to serve both regional markets and wider international trade networks.
05 • From investment plans to economic growth
CORE MESSAGE Kazakhstan’s announced investment pipeline offers a platform for new productive capacity, stronger domestic supply chains, skilled employment and sustained growth in higher-value exports.
- Announced greenfield projects represent a pipeline of proposed new operations and facilities. As projects advance through financing, construction and commissioning, they can contribute to industrial output, infrastructure development and demand for local goods and professional services.
- International project financing across the EAEU increased by 81% to US$8.6 billion in 2025, through 11 deals, according to UNCTAD. This region-wide increase points to additional financing activity for sizeable investment and infrastructure initiatives.
- Industrial links within the EAEU provide a growing platform for new producers. Deliveries under industrial cooperation among member states more than doubled from US$13.7 billion in 2016 to US$31.1 billion in 2023, while manufacturing output across the bloc rose by 35.6% over the same period, according to data cited by UNCTAD.
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