Foreign investments in the amount of $12.3 billion were attracted to the economy of Kazakhstan in the first half of 2018,
This is 15.4% more than a year earlier ($10.6 billion). Interestingly, 92.4% of all investment flows to Kazakhstan in the six months accounted for only 10 countries.
The absolute leader in investing to the country was the Netherlands – in January-June the investments amounted to $3.8 billion. The second largest investor was the US with $2.8 billion, while Switzerland with $1.3 billion, ranked third.
It is worth noting that in the entire history of economic relations with Kazakhstan, the Netherlands invested $54.2 billion (75.8% of all investments) in the country’s mining industry, while $5.3 billion and $5 billion were directed to the manufacturing industry and professional, scientific and technical activities, respectively.
The US investors had a similar industry investment portfolio. The mining industry accounted for 91.6% ($28.2 billion) of total investments. Also, investors from the US are interested in the financial sector of Kazakhstan ($1.3 billion), as well as in professional, scientific and technical activities ($479.6 million).
Preferences of Swiss investors are completely different from the interests of the Netherlands and the US. The main Kazakh industry that attracts Swiss investors is the manufacturing industry – $3.1 billion (65.8% of total investments). Next come wholesale and retail trade, car and motorcycle repair ($480.1 million), and information and communications ($408.2 million). The total investments from Switzerland amounted to $4.7 billion. (AzerNews/Business World Magazine)