Source:  О некоторых вопросах развития города Алатау — Официальный сайт Президента Республики Казахстан

President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree granting the city of Alatau the special status of a city of advanced development, aimed at stimulating innovation‑driven economic growth, attracting high‑tech investment, and forming a major international center of business and technological activity based on the potential of the Almaty agglomeration.

Under the decree, the Council for the Development of the City of Alatau is established, with its composition defined in the annex to the document. The Council is empowered to approve and coordinate documents related to investment attraction, business activity, and innovation, as well as other matters tied to the city’s special status. Its decisions are binding for central and local government bodies. The Council may also address additional issues arising from the decree and national legislation.

The Government of Kazakhstan is instructed, by 1 November 2025, to approve the Council’s regulations and to establish a new state fund, the Alatau City Authority (ACA). The ACA will operate under the Council as its highest governing body. Its mandate will include ensuring the functioning of Alatau within its special status through budgetary and private funding, introducing international best practices in city, industrial, and SEZ management, engaging top global experts, promoting Alatau to investors, and coordinating implementation of all Council decisions.

By 31 December 2025, the Government must submit a draft Constitutional Law defining the legal foundations of Alatau’s special status, including the regulatory framework for smart‑city technologies, digital assets, robotics, urban planning and construction, international standards, labor and migration, public procurement, tokenization, DeFi, AI, biotech, UAVs and aerial mobility, environmental management, SEZ operations, taxation, investment guarantees, and the coordinated development of Alatau within the broader Almaty region.

Further measures include attracting investment from private and sovereign funds, preparing priority infrastructure projects, aligning SEZ activities with ACA oversight, and ensuring the direct application of modern international building standards. The General Prosecutor’s Office will supervise legal compliance with the decree.

Composition of the Council for the Development of the City of Alatau

Chair:
• Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Deputy Chairs:
• Deputy Prime Minister responsible for regional policy
• Wong Heang Fine (by agreement)

Secretary:
• Vice Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Members:
• Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Chairman of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Akim of Almaty City
• Akim of Almaty Region
• CEO of the Astana International Financial Centre
• Kim Vyacheslav Konstantinovich (by agreement)
• Tskhay Yuriy Andreevich (by agreement)
• Zhamishev Bolat Bidakhmetovich  (by agreement)
• Harry William Dobbs (by agreement)