This series of interviews with Kazakhstani entrepreneurs continues with the story of Maria Lipinskaya, the founder of "AsiaEliteFoodGroup." Today, the company produces more than 50 types of dairy products, including sour cream, cream, and cottage cheese, and its workforce has long exceeded 50 employees.
However, 20 years ago, the thought of a massive production facility was not even a dream. Maria worked at a successful company, and a chance event led her to contemplate starting her own business. The owner of the enterprise where Maria worked decided to change the business's profile. These changes motivated Maria to take a bold step – she left her job and opened her own company specializing in the sale of raw materials and ingredients for dairy production. The company quickly gained a solid reputation in the market, actively developed, and expanded its list of partners. One of these partners suggested to Maria the idea of starting a joint venture.
Today in Kazakhstan, to pay for goods and services with a card, you don’t even need to take out your wallet – the transaction can be completed using your phone. This is contactless payment, which is facilitated by apps like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, or Garmin Pay.
One of the key tips for investors is to use a variety of tools to increase their savings. Therefore, in addition to acquiring securities, investments in precious metals, including gold, are also in demand. According to experts, precious metals, including gold, can make up to 15% of an investment portfolio.
Travel requires thorough preparation, including ensuring all documents are collected. Equally important is verifying if there is a travel ban from Kazakhstan. If you find out at the border that you are prohibited from leaving, your vacation will be ruined, and your plans will have to change on the fly. It is better to find out in advance so you can resolve the situation before your departure and enjoy your vacation.
Summer is a time to live life to the fullest. Kazakhstani travel agencies offer countless opportunities for you to make the most of this season. With various destinations to choose from, there is certainly a perfect holiday spot waiting for you, whether you’re looking to recharge or live out a dream. So where should you consider for a July or August getaway from Kazakhstan?
For decades, the main trading partners of Kazakhstan remained Russia, China, and Uzbekistan. However, since 2010, another promising direction has been developing – trade with Turkey. By 2024, it is considered the most prioritized in the field of investment and trade-economic relations.
Despite the widespread digitalization that positions Kazakhstan as a leader in this area, not only among CIS countries but also globally, the official status of cryptocurrency in the country’s economy remains in a "gray" zone. On the one hand, regulators strive to stay abreast of modern economic trends; on the other hand, authorities act cautiously, wary of the decentralized nature of blockchain and the consequent risks of the shadow economy. Additionally, tax authorities have yet to develop transparent and comprehensible mechanisms for taxing all crypto market participants.
The Republic of Kazakhstan has been a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) since the day the EAEU was established. Other member countries of the Union are considered priority areas for trade relations. Economic integration is facilitated by the EAEU agreement, which ensures the free movement of goods, labor, and services across the Union’s territory, and a unified policy in various sectors of the economy. To coordinate the movement of goods through customs, the EAEU Customs Union was established. A zero VAT rate is applied when member countries export goods within the Union.
According to statistics, most of the population in Kazakhstan lacks significant savings and does not plan their budget. Often, this is not due to unstable employment or low wages, but rather a low level of financial literacy among the population. This article will explore the concept in detail, explain the importance of financial literacy, and discuss ways to improve it. We will also look at how to teach children financial literacy since it is important to introduce them to financial matters from an early age.
Last Friday, Bank CenterCredit gathered Kazakhstani entrepreneurs for a business meeting dedicated to the challenges of effective management and marketing in modern conditions. The discussion focused on business needs, development prospects, the importance of supply chains in the economy, and opportunities for optimizing these processes.
To win a grant, secure a bank loan, or obtain land for your business, an aspiring entrepreneur must present a business plan. This document is also essential for the businessperson to understand how to run the business efficiently, minimize costs, and achieve the expected profit.
The commonly used debit card allows individuals to make payments using their own funds. A credit card also enables transactions, but the payments are made using the bank's money, not the client’s. Let’s try to explain in simple terms what a credit card is and how it differs from other cards.
When registering an LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) in Kazakhstan, entrepreneurs provide crucial information, such as the legal address and the list of founders. But what should they do if this information changes? In such cases, a re-registration procedure for the LLP is required.
Individual entrepreneurs and partnerships operating under a simplified system in 2025 must submit Form 910 to regulatory authorities. This declaration contains data on income, taxes paid (including Personal Income Tax and social tax, totaling 3% of income), deductions made for oneself and employees. The form allows reporting these parameters for each month of the half-year.
Since the beginning of the year, mobile transfers have become a significant topic among Kazakhstani citizens. This is largely due to the fact that, starting January 1st, tax authorities began scrutinizing these transfers to identify entrepreneurs evading taxes. Some small business owners, concerned about these inspections, have already stopped using mobile transfers and have shifted to cash-only transactions, leading to an increase in cash circulation. However, it is important to understand under what conditions an entrepreneur may come under the scrutiny of tax authorities and what consequences this could entail. We will discuss this in our article.
Vivienne Westwood, the British fashion designer and one of the most famous designers in the world, had a simple style secret: "Choose your clothes carefully, buy less, and wear them longer." She is also known for another famous phrase in fashion circles: "Buy less, choose well, make it last." Unfortunately, most people do not follow this rule: according to statistics, people spend up to 20% of their budget on clothing. Yet many are dissatisfied with the results: money is almost gone, and there's still nothing to wear. This suggests that your wardrobe is likely not organized correctly.
In today's world, cashless payments have become an integral part of every Kazakhstani's life. However, the restrictions introduced this year on accepting payments through bank transfers present new challenges for entrepreneurs. Let's take a closer look at the features of cashless payments.
In mid-March, Bank CenterCredit launched a series of interviews featuring Kazakhstani entrepreneurs. The protagonist of the first interview was Gulmira Aytimbetova. Her story is truly inspiring: she embarked on a challenging journey from running a small tailor shop in a rented apartment to establishing her own business, whose clients now include some of the largest Kazakhstani and international companies. Among them are the luxury hotel chain The Ritz-Carlton, the Shymkent Brewery, the SMALL supermarket chain, and the Kazakhstan Hotel.
Today, GUITEX is one of the largest companies in the country specializing in corporate clothing production. It boasts over 100 regular organizational clients, and its production volume reaches 60 million tenge.
Wildberries, Ozon, Lamoda – these marketplaces are used by thousands of Kazakhstani citizens daily to order goods. For example, within just one year, Ozon’s turnover in Kazakhstan increased tenfold, and the number of orders per active customer approached 20 per year. An equally large number of people use the courier service SDEK. Therefore, opening a pickup point (PVP) for these companies is a promising business idea.