Company registration in Alatau

In this article we will look at the process of registering a company in the Alatau FEZ, highlighting the key aspects and steps that potential investors and entrepreneurs need to consider. We will explore the specifics of the FEZ's legal status, tax and customs incentives, and the steps to register a business.

General information about FEZ "Alatau"

The G4 City Special Economic Zone, now known as Alatau, is a significant project directed at stimulating economic growth and attracting investment to the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. The project was conceived as an innovative platform for the development of high-tech industries, industry, tourism and education, as well as the creation of local and global companies in the Alatau special zone.

The Alatau Special Economic Zone is located in the Almaty region north of Almaty, stretching along the A3 motorway (Almaty - Konaev) for 80 km. This location provides easy access to key transport routes and logistics centres in the region.

History of creation and development of FEZ "G4 City"

The history of the emergence and development of FEZ "G4 City" stands behind the initiative of the Kazakh government, undertaken in March 2023. The aim was to create a complex city that would become a new economic and cultural hub for the region. On a land plot of 30,000 hectares it was planned to launch projects directed at the development of such industries as mechanical engineering, metallurgy, construction and food processing. "G4 City offered favourable conditions for entrepreneurs, including tax benefits, customs preferences and simplified business process.

Plans for the formation of the Alatau FEZ run until 2048, demonstrating a long-term perspective and optimism about its future success.

Reasons and purposes for renaming to "Alatau" and expanding the area

Changing the name of the FEZ from "G4 City" to "Alatau" and increasing its area from 30,000 hectares to 96.56,000 hectares demonstrates Kazakhstan's desire to intensify the development of the Almaty region and attract foreign capital investment. These steps are being taken to improve investment attractiveness and create conditions for large-scale projects in various sectors of economic activity.

The expansion of the special zone territory envisages not only an increase in the area for industrial and innovative companies in "Alatau", but also the creation of a comprehensive infrastructure, including business, educational, medical and tourist zones. This will make it possible to implement more ambitious projects, including the creation of new production facilities, infrastructure development and the attraction of large domestic and foreign investors. In addition, it will be an incentive for the development of entrepreneurship in the "Alatau" zone and the creation of new jobs, which, in turn, will improve the living standards of the region's population.

The renaming to "Alatau" not only reflects the geographical belonging to one of the most picturesque areas of Kazakhstan, but also symbolises a new era in the development of the region, focused on innovation, technology and sustainable development.

The specialised economic zone will be located in the village of Zarechny and will include the Arna industrial zone with a total area of 1,300 hectares. It is planned to implement projects using advanced technologies in mechanical engineering, metalworking, construction and food processing, emphasising the focus on innovative development and technological progress.

Special attention is paid to innovative projects and developments, which helps to attract both domestic and foreign investment in knowledge-intensive sectors of the economy. Key areas of development include creating conditions for the development of the IT sector, support for startups and innovative companies, and the development of tourism and medical infrastructure.

Benefits of being an Alatau member

Registration of a company in the Alatau Special Economic Zone (SEZ) provides businessmen and investors with many benefits due to special conditions for investment, tax and customs privileges, as well as an easier entry procedure for foreign experts.

Unique conditions and support for businesses

Creation of FEZ "Alatau" is directed at intensifying economic growth and attracting capital investment to the Almaty region. To achieve these goals, enterprises registered in the zone are provided with unique conditions:

• Provision of land plots for the construction of production, logistics and research facilities on favourable terms.
• Investment grants to cover part of the costs of construction of buildings and purchase of equipment.
• Assistance in securing financing, including guarantees and assistance in obtaining loans on favourable terms through public and private financial institutions.

Customs and tax benefits

To stimulate economic activity and increase the competitiveness of companies in the Alatau FEZ, a number of tax and customs preferences are provided:

• Exemption from customs duties and taxes on imports of equipment, raw materials and supplies required for production.
• Reduced tax rates on profits, allowing companies to utilise the savings for further development.
• No VAT on imported goods, reducing initial investments for start-up and expansion of production.

Simplified procedure for entry and stay of foreign specialists

In order to provide enterprises with qualified personnel, the Alatau Freezone provides for a simplified procedure for the entry and stay of foreign specialists:

• Simplified visas for foreign investors, professionals and their family members, facilitating the mobilisation of international experience and expertise.
• Work permits are issued on simplified terms, without the need to confirm the absence of Kazakh candidates for the proposed position.
• The possibility of obtaining permanent resident status for foreign investors when certain conditions are met, which favours the long-term attraction of foreign capital and expertise.

In general, these privileges form a favourable climate for the initiation and expansion of entrepreneurial activity within FEZ "Alatau", making it attractive to investors from both Kazakhstan and abroad who wish to strengthen their presence in the Central Asian market.

Company formation procedure at Alatau

Establishing a company in the Alatau Special Zone requires several steps, including preparation and submission of the required documents, compliance with certain criteria and coordination with the relevant authorities. The following is an overview of the registration procedure.

Necessary documents and requirements for registration with Alatau

To start the process of business registration in FEZ "Alatau" you will need to prepare a set of the following documents:

• Completed application for registration according to the official sample.
• Business plan of the enterprise with indication of planned investment volumes, project objectives, expected results and terms of implementation.
• Basic documents of the enterprise (charter, legal documents, certificate of registration with state authorities).
• Confirmation of financial stability and availability of investment resources.

Also, to be registered, a firm must meet a number of specific criteria, including:

• Planning of activities in one of the industries prioritised by FEZ "Alatau".
• Commitment to make investments in the established amount within a certain period.
• Compliance with environmental and other regulations in force within the FEZ.

Stages of company registration in FEZ "Alatau"

The procedure of business registration in "Alatau" includes the following steps:

1. Submission of the application and the required package of documents to the BMS management company or the relevant state authority.
2. Preliminary assessment of the application and documents for compliance with the established requirements.
3. Expertise of the business plan with assessment of its economic efficiency and compliance with the objectives of the freezone.
4. Decision on registration of the company in the Alatau Special Zone and issuance of the relevant certificate.
5. Conclusion of an agreement with the FEZ management company on the provision of a land plot and other conditions of activity in the zone.

Authorised bodies and their role in the process

The main authorised bodies involved in the process of incorporating a company in the Alatau Freezone are:

• Managing company of FEZ "Alatau" - directly manages the zone, carries out initial assessment and preparation of documentation, provides support in the registration procedure.
• Ministry of Investment and Development - makes the final decision on the establishment of the enterprise within the FEZ, monitors compliance with the terms of the agreement and grants fiscal and customs incentives.
• Customs and tax authorities - ensure that the envisaged incentives are applied in accordance with legal regulations.

Establishing a company in the Alatau FEZ requires careful preparation and attention to detail at every stage of the process. Interaction with authorised bodies and strict compliance with all requirements and conditions are key factors for successful registration and subsequent operation of a business in the FEZ.

YB CASE specialises in providing highly qualified support and advisory services for company registration in the Alatau Special Economic Zone. Experienced experts have significant experience in corporate law, strategic tax planning and project management, which allows us to effectively solve problems of any complexity related to conducting business activities in the freezones of Kazakhstan.

The services provided include a full range of support at all stages of company registration, from preparation of the required set of documentation and development of a business plan, to representation of the client's interests in the authorised bodies and registration of the required licensing permits.