On 27 March, Kazakhstan\u2019s Parliament adopted a law establishing a special legal regime for the city of Alatau, located a few dozen kilometres from Almaty<\/a>. This status as a \u201cterritory of accelerated development\u201d, with specific economic, administrative and legal rules, is intended to attract investment and foster innovation. The decision marks an important step in the evolution of a project that has been presented for several years as a future technological showcase for the country.<\/p>\n\n\n
Faites un don \u00e0 Novastan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Until recently, however, Alatau remained largely associated with political announcements and ambitious projections, without any real implementation on the ground. The adoption of this special status therefore reflects the Kazakhstani authorities\u2019 desire to structure the project and give it an operational dimension. It remains to be seen whether this institutional advance will make it possible to turn a futuristic vision into a tangible reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the municipality<\/a>, the city will now benefit from a distinct governance system, with an organisation designed to speed up decision-making and facilitate the establishment of economic actors. The project notably provides for the creation of a strategic authority, the Alatau City Authority, responsible for defining development priorities, as well as an operational body dedicated to the day-to-day management of the project. Novastan est le seul m\u00e9dia en fran\u00e7ais et en allemand sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9 sur l'Asie centrale. Enti\u00e8rement associatif, il fonctionne gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 votre participation. Nous sommes ind\u00e9pendants et pour le rester, nous avons besoin de vous !\u00a0Vous pouvez nous soutenir \u00e0 partir de 2 euros par mois<\/a><\/strong> (d\u00e9fiscalis\u00e9 \u00e0 66 %), ou en\u00a0devenant membre actif par ici<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The city will therefore be placed under the supervision of a council chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov<\/a>, in order to ensure direct coordination at the highest level of the state. At the same time, traditional local institutions, such as akimats<\/a> and maslikhats<\/a>, will retain their powers in urban management and public social services. Also read on Novastan : Almaty, une ville en qu\u00eate de cyclabilit\u00e9<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond governance, this status comes with a specific regulatory framework, including tax incentives, simplified administrative procedures and rules adapted to innovative sectors. This development allows the project to move beyond the announcement stage and enter a concrete institutional framework, marking a new phase in its development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Launched in the early years of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev\u2019s mandate in the 2020s, Alatau is intended to become a hub capable of attracting international investment and supporting the country\u2019s economic diversification, notably through its integration into a special economic zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The city, which has more than 50,000 inhabitants, is also intended to become a hub for digital technologies, digital assets and innovative financial services. In May 2025, President Tokayev announced<\/a> the creation of a pilot zone called \u201cCryptoCity\u201d in Alatau, where cryptocurrencies could be legally used to pay for goods and services. This direction is part of a broader strategy aimed at positioning Kazakhstan as an emerging player in high value-added sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also read on Novastan : <\/strong>Le Kazakhstan envisage l\u2019utilisation de cartes de paiement cryptographiques<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Several concrete initiatives illustrate this ambition. As reported by Alatau<\/a> City, discussions have been held with South Korea under the Economic Innovation Partnership Program, or EIPP, for the development of the city\u2019s infrastructure. In addition, a branch of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, or KAIST<\/a>, one of South Korea\u2019s leading technological universities, is set to be established in Alatau, strengthening its academic and scientific positioning. Financial ambitions are also significant. According to the Kazakh authorities, planned investment in the project could reach 10.4 trillion tenge, or around \u20ac20 billion. At the same time, the municipality has announced<\/a> the upcoming start of construction on a landmark architectural complex called \u201cIconic Towers\u201d. Work is due to begin in May 2026, with completion expected by 2029, at an estimated cost of $800 million, or around \u20ac680 million. These elements reflect a desire to give Alatau an economic, technological and symbolic dimension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these advances, several factors call for caution regarding the project\u2019s immediate impact. In particular, a lack of clarity remains around the tax and legal rules applicable to Alatau, raising questions about the coherence and effective implementation of the system. These uncertainties reflect the difficulties inherent in creating an entirely new regulatory framework.<\/p>\n\n\n Want more Central Asia in your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter here.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Above all, the situation on the ground remains limited at this stage. In March 2026, Kazakh influencer Alimbek Ulan visited<\/a> the Alatau site and observed the start of excavation work on the outskirts of the area concerned. However, no major structural progress was visible, confirming that the project remains largely in a preparatory phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA project revived by the adoption of a special legal regime<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nAn economic and regulatory framework designed to attract investment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Between stated ambitions and persistent uncertainties<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n