In the first 11 months of 2024, the volume of industrial production in the Kostanay region reached 2.5 trillion tenge, with the processing industry accounting for over 72%. This year, six industrial projects worth 124.7 billion tenge have been implemented in the region, creating 1,301 jobs. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektanov familiarized himself with the industrial potential of the region, as reported by primeminister.kz.
At the Caspian Steel QZ small-section rolling mill, Olzhas Bektanov learned about the technological process and the company's plans to build a new plant aimed at producing steel billets. The capacity of the existing facility is 450,000 tons per year. Over the past 10 months, 311.4 thousand tons of steel products and 10.9 thousand tons of scrap metal have been produced. The plant's output meets domestic needs and is sold in foreign markets. Since the beginning of the year, 112.6 thousand tons of small-section rolled products worth over 32 billion tenge have been exported.
The projected capacity of the new steel billet production plant is 1 million tons per year. Caspian Group Director Alexander Kim stated that the project is expected to attract an investment of 650 million dollars. During its operation, the plant will provide jobs for 600 people, with an additional 400 positions to be created in contracting organizations. The facility plans to utilize the latest generation electric arc furnaces, which minimize environmental impact as part of the global transition to a "green" economy. It was noted that the project's implementation will localize the production of rebar, increasing the domestic content in the final product to 99%. Additionally, the share of the processing industry in the region is expected to rise by 12.3%.
Olzhas Bektanov emphasized the significance of the investment project and highlighted the need to establish a belt of small and medium-sized businesses around large industrial enterprises.
“The President has clearly tasked the government with finding new sources of economic growth. Each region has its strengths, and we strive to maximize the potential where we can achieve a tangible boost to the region's economy, the country, and overall efforts to enhance the welfare of the people. Our chosen path of economic patriotism yields results in the form of new domestic factories and productions that, in turn, foster further development of small and medium-sized businesses. All this allows us to increase the self-sufficiency of the domestic economy and create productive jobs,” – noted the head of the government.
Olzhas Bektanov was briefed on the development of ferrous metallurgy at the KamLitKZ plant – a key producer of cast iron parts for commercial vehicles with a capacity of 45,000 tons of casting per year. The Prime Minister was informed that the core technological process covers the complete cycle of automotive component production and ensures compliance with international quality standards. The launch of a second plant with a capacity of up to 75,000 products per year is planned for 2025, which will employ advanced precision stamping technologies.
Currently, Kostanay region is a leader in the country’s machine engineering sector. The Prime Minister was updated on the development pace of the automotive industry in the region within the industrial zone, where a Kia automobile manufacturing plant is being built. The total project cost is estimated at 200 million dollars, of which about 80% is direct foreign investment. The launch of the enterprise is slated for 2025; as of now, the construction of the main production building, foundation work, and metal structure installation have been completed. The government leader was informed about plans to establish a paint shop, including all types of polymer coatings, which will ensure a higher level of localization. The plant's full project capacity is up to 70,000 vehicles per year. The products will be assembled using a small-unit assembly method, equipped with 68 robots. The launch of the plant will create 1,500 new high-paying jobs.
At one of Kazakhstan's leading automobile manufacturing enterprises, “SaryarkaAvtoProm,” the Prime Minister inspected the production facilities and learned about the features of the complete cycle vehicle assembly processes. The plant's General Director, Syrym Semeybaev, reported that the production volume is planned to reach 90,000 vehicles in 2024. The production lineup includes brands such as JAC, Kia, Chevrolet, Jetour, Hongqi, and Skoda.
The plant features a unique “Operational Response Center,” which is an innovative platform that integrates physical and digital security. One of the center's key advantages is the use of trainable artificial intelligence, allowing the system to adapt to changes and implement new analytical approaches. This is the first project of its kind in Kazakhstan aimed at enhancing labor productivity and creating comfortable working conditions for employees. Furthermore, it was noted that efforts are underway at the automobile plant to deepen localization. In the industrial zone, the construction of a Localization Center spanning 30,000 square meters is underway.
Special attention is given to the development of technical personnel at the enterprise. Specialized production training sections have been organized in all workshops: over 1,200 specialists have undergone training in the past 11 months.
The head of the government emphasized that the expansion of production must be accompanied by parallel efforts to prepare qualified personnel and engage youth in the implementation of industrial projects. A viable mechanism includes vocational and technical education, as well as the WorldSkills Kazakhstan skills championship platform. Olzhas Bektanov also highlighted the importance of integrating digital solutions into production processes aimed at increasing the efficiency of enterprises and the volume of output.