New Rules for Small Business Support in Kazakhstan - FCHAIN

New Rules for Small Business Support in Kazakhstan

Starting from August 31, 2026, amendments to the Unified Small Business Support Program “Isker Aimak” will come into effect in Kazakhstan. The amendments were introduced by Resolution No. 729 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated August 18, 2026, and cover the subsidization of interest rates, non-financial measures, and infrastructure support. The program provides preferential financing to micro and small businesses through loans and leasing with partial interest rate subsidies. The updated rules establish new requirements for leasing companies, revise the procedures for granting subsidies and monitoring government support, and introduce mobile front offices for entrepreneurs.

 

Requirements for Leasing Companies

Minimum requirements have been established for leasing companies participating in the “Isker Aimak” program. A leasing company must have equity of at least KZT 1 billion according to its financial statements as of the latest reporting date. In addition, the company must have been conducting its core business activities for at least one year before submitting an application. These requirements form part of the updated rules governing the participation of leasing companies in the program. Accordingly, when leasing financing is provided under “Isker Aimak,” the leasing company must meet both the established equity requirement and the minimum period of business activity. The amendments therefore introduce specific financial and operational criteria that leasing companies must satisfy in order to participate in the program.

 

Mobile Front Offices for Entrepreneurs

One of the new measures introduced as part of non-financial support is the establishment of mobile front offices. These are specially equipped buses operated by the financial agency that will travel to small towns, single-industry towns, district centers, and villages. At the mobile front offices, individuals will be able to receive free information on available government support instruments, consultations on starting a business, and explanations of the terms for working with banks and leasing companies. This format extends the provision of non-financial support beyond permanent service locations by bringing consultations directly to these communities. The mobile front offices are therefore intended to provide information and practical guidance on business support instruments and interaction with financial institutions. The financial agency will cover the costs of purchasing and maintaining the vehicles from its own funds.

 

Interest Rate Subsidy Terms

Subsidies are available for new financial instruments intended for investment and working capital financing. The interest rate must not exceed the base rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan plus 4 percentage points. The financial agency subsidizes 40% of the nominal interest rate, while the entrepreneur pays the remaining portion, with the entrepreneur’s rate being no less than 12.6%. If the National Bank’s base rate falls below 17%, the entrepreneur’s rate is fixed at 12.6%, and the financial agency covers the difference. For projects included in the register of social entrepreneurship entities, half of the nominal interest rate is subsidized. When implementing an investment project, fixed assets, equipment, machinery, vehicles, and construction materials must be purchased from Kazakhstan manufacturers included in the relevant register. If the required item is not available in the register, purchases from other manufacturers are permitted.

 

Implementation Period for Investment Projects

A project receiving subsidies must be implemented within 18 months from the date the subsidy begins. This period may be extended for an additional six months in the event of force majeure, significant legislative changes, or unforeseen technical, economic, or production-related difficulties. Investment projects are also subject to job creation requirements. The entrepreneur must create one job for every KZT 100 million of financing received, but in any case at least one job per project. This requirement must be fulfilled within two financial years following the year in which the support was received. Until the end of the subsidy period, the entrepreneur’s income must increase annually by no less than the accumulated inflation rate. For projects aimed at financing working capital, this requirement applies to both income and the payroll fund. A downward deviation from the inflation rate of no more than one percentage point per reporting period is permitted.

 

Changes to the Subsidy Application Procedure

The stage involving the establishment of a limit for a particular bank or leasing company has been removed from the program. Entrepreneurs can now apply directly to a financial institution for the required financial instrument. The financial institution evaluates the project and, following a positive decision, forwards the documents to the financial agency. The financial agency has five business days to review the project. The key document for receiving support is the subsidy agreement. It is concluded between the entrepreneur, the financial institution, and the financial agency and provides for partial subsidization of the interest rate by the agency. The agreement may be executed electronically using a digital signature or in paper form. A positive decision issued by the financial agency remains valid for six months.

 

Two-Level Monitoring of Government Support

Separate amendments concern the monitoring of government support measures and their recipients. Monitoring is carried out by the central authorized body responsible for budget execution through a two-level digital system. At the first level, a registration system containing a reference register of applications is used to verify compliance with the established basic requirements. The second level consists of sector-specific digital systems designed to receive and process applications. Entrepreneurs submit their applications electronically through the second-level system, while the first-level system is responsible for verifying whether applicants meet the basic eligibility requirements. If non-compliance with these requirements is identified at the first level, government support will be denied. The two levels therefore perform different functions within the overall process: sector-specific systems handle the submission and processing of applications, while the registration system provides a separate compliance check against the established requirements. As a result, verification of eligibility becomes an integral part of the digital monitoring framework for government support and applies to both support measures and their recipients.

 

What the Changes Mean for Small Businesses

The updated program affects not only the procedure for obtaining financing but also the entrepreneur’s subsequent compliance with the conditions of government support. Investment projects are subject to specific implementation deadlines, job creation requirements, and income growth targets. For working capital financing, changes in the payroll fund are also taken into account. Entrepreneurs must also consider the requirements governing the purchase of fixed assets, equipment, machinery, vehicles, and construction materials within investment projects. At the same time, the procedure for interacting with financial institutions has changed: an applicant first approaches a bank or leasing company for financing, and following a positive decision, the documents are forwarded to the financial agency. Therefore, when considering participation in the “Isker Aimak” program, businesses should take into account not only the financing terms and the subsidized interest rate but also the requirements that must be met throughout the project implementation period.

 

FChain Services for Efficient Business Operations

Receiving government support may involve changes in a company’s operations, including the implementation of an investment project, the creation of new jobs, growth of the payroll fund, and the need to monitor financial indicators. In such circumstances, accurate accounting data, payroll calculations, and properly maintained legal documentation are particularly important.

• Accounting Recovery — restoration of accounting records and documentation where a company’s accounting contains gaps, errors, or irregularities.
• Payroll Services — calculation of salaries, taxes, and mandatory payments, as well as preparation of the related reporting.
• Legal Support for Business — legal advice and ongoing support for the company’s business activities in accordance with the requirements of Kazakhstan legislation.
• Legal Audit — review of company documents and legal aspects of its operations to identify potential inconsistencies and legal risks.
• Registration of companies — support with establishing a legal entity and completing the necessary registration procedures in Kazakhstan.

The conditions of the “Isker Aimak” program link government support to specific performance indicators and obligations that entrepreneurs must meet during project implementation. FChain can handle individual accounting, payroll, and legal processes, helping companies organize their internal records and documentation consistently and in line with the nature of their business activities.

 

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Prepared by: Anel Kosmaganbetova

Assistant to the Director

FChain Kazakhstan

 📩almaty@f-chain.com
WhatsApp: +7 771 214 1820