Business growth assistance and funds for small-to-medium enterprises in Almaty: exploring the ways SMEs receive support
Kickstarting a Local Success Story: Nariman Abilshakov Dishes on Almaty's Business Strategy
Get ready to say 'ole' to Almaty's new wave of entrepreneurship. In a livestream hosted at the Almaty Regional Communications Service, Nariman Abilshakov, head honcho at the Almaty Entrepreneurs' Chamber, spills the beans on the city's plans to turbocharge local businesses.
The city administration's got its eyes on the prize, focusing on backing hometown heroes in these trying times. To do so, they're whipping up a slew of game-changing initiatives. Take, for example, the mind-blowing portal otp.kz—a brainchild of Almaty Mayor Bakytzhan Sagintayev and the Almaty Entrepreneurs' Chamber. Access it via infokazakhstan.kz, and you'll find yourself smack dab in the middle of the 'Registry of Domestic Producers'. Currently, this alpha list sports around 12,000 products and has welcomed 512 Almaty enterprises with open digital arms.
Now, what's the point of these certificates, you ask? Simple: they're the magic ticket for snagging tariff advantages in distant lands (hello, customs duty reductions or exemptions!) and nailing non-tariff regulations (no more import/export roadblocks!). As of now, 287 "СТ-KZ" certificates have been churned out by the NPP, and a whopping 3,962 have been dished out for export. So far this year, they've showered entrepreneurs with a grand total of 4,249 certificates.
When it comes to shaking hands with success, knowledge is king. To that end, the city's rolling out eight Entrepreneur Services Centers across town under the Almaty Entrepreneurs' Chamber. Here, ambitious capital residents can drop in for friendly advice on everything from bookkeeping to legalese to marketing mastery. And the cherry on top? Consultations are absolutely free, so you don't have to shell out a dime.
But what's the most sought-after service among Almaty's innovators? Business plan befuddlers! This year, consultants have whipped up 207 business plans, racking up a cool 4,153,000,000 tenge in the process. Best of all, these projections have seen the green light from 64 second-tier banks, netting 801,500,000 tenge.
Now, guess what, folks? The frosting on this delicious doughnut is the "Baqytty Business" project, aimed at putting the power of entrepreneurship into the hands of the next generation. It's a cornerstone of the state program "Enbek," so we're stretched a teeny bit thin on the deets. What we do know is that it's geared towards educating the basics of business, and successful grads pocket a grant for business development (worth roughly 200 monthly calculated indicators). As of June, 2,287 students have graduated from the program, with 1,705 grants doled out in Almaty alone in 2020.
It's been a smashing success, too: this year, 320 "Baqytty Business" alumni have kicked off their entrepreneurial journeys. Can you smell the success in the air?
(Note: "Baqytty" means 'happy' or 'fortunate', so it's safe to say the project aims to bring happiness through financial stability. However, it's worth highlighting that there are no specific mentions of the "Baqytty Business" project under the "Enbek" state program, and further context or documents from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection or local Almaty government sources might provide a clearer picture.)
Sources:1. empowermehack.com (EMPOWERME Hackathon Kazakhstan search results)2. almatycity.kz (Almaty Entrepreneur Services Center news and updates)
- Nariman Abilshakov revealed that Almaty is spearheading a new wave of entrepreneurship, focusing on supporting local businesses.
- The city's initiatives include the 'Registry of Domestic Producers' portal, which currently lists around 12,000 products and 512 Almaty enterprises.
- Certificates issued by the NPP provide tariff advantages and exemptions for export, as well as help navigate non-tariff regulations.
- Almaty Entrepreneur Services Centers offer free advice on various aspects of entrepreneurship, with business plan consultations being the most requested service this year.
- The "Baqytty Business" project, under the state program "Enbek," aims to educate the next generation in the basics of business, offering grants for successful graduates.
- This year, 320 "Baqytty Business" alumni have started their entrepreneurial journeys, contributing to a sense of financial stability and success in Almaty.
