In 2024, over 655,000 tourists from China visited Kazakhstan. In fact, 2025 has been declared the Year of Chinese Tourism in Kazakhstan. This cooperation in the tourism sector strengthens cultural and economic ties between the two countries and creates favorable conditions for business operations.
How does WeChat Pay work? What are its advantages for buyers and sellers? How can it be used to pay for goods and services in Kazakhstan?
Coffee culture is rapidly growing among young people, but older generations are just as fond of this energizing drink. Unsurprisingly, the coffee business remains one of the most promising sectors in Kazakhstan. However, it comes with its own specific challenges. As life gets faster and busier, many people no longer have time to sit in a cozy café — that’s where self-service coffee points come into play.
What Is a Self-Service Mini Coffee Shop?
This type of business is based on coffee vending machines that offer a wide variety of drinks — from espresso and americano to latte, cappuccino, and raf.
The customer selects a drink and pays by card. In less than a minute, they receive their freshly brewed coffee.
When transferring money to a card or account, an IBAN number (also referred to as Iban, Ayban, or IBAN Number) is often required. IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number, and it complies with the ISO 13616 standard, which was developed to standardize interbank settlements worldwide.
If you’re buying a used car, it’s important to make sure it’s “clean” — meaning it has no legal restrictions (encumbrances). What is a lien on a vehicle? It refers to a situation where the owner cannot fully dispose of the car — for example, sell or gift it. A typical example is when the vehicle is pledged as collateral for a loan. Other forms of encumbrance include the car being stolen (under investigation) or seized due to debts.
The coffee business is one of the most popular in Kazakhstan because it's a great way to start your own venture. At the same time, competition in this niche is high, but with a solid business plan, a quality product, and a true passion for coffee, you can generate good profits. However, any food service business is never simple: you’ll only attract clients with high-quality service. Also, don’t set expectations for profit too high — a profitability rate of 30–35% is considered excellent for a coffee shop.
Let’s say you’ve purchased a used car. While the excitement is natural, don’t forget that a few procedures are still ahead — you can’t just get in and drive. One of these steps is vehicle re-registration, which legally transfers ownership to the new owner. From that moment on, all responsibility for the vehicle lies with the buyer.
The production calendar is essential for effectively managing workloads within an organization. It is used by all companies in Kazakhstan when planning their activities for the upcoming year.
In 2025, Kazakhstanis will enjoy a large number of rest days. For a standard five-day workweek, there will be 246 working days (compared to 249 in 2024), and 119 days allocated for weekends and holidays (117 in 2024).
As of July 1, 2024, Kazakhstan has registered 532,980 legal entities and 1,753,485 individual entrepreneurs. Additionally, over 2.2 million people are self-employed. The number of business representatives in each segment is steadily growing. This is due to favorable conditions created in the country: a lenient tax regime, the ability to work officially without a visa, and actively developing digitalization that simplifies most business processes.
What holds back proactive individuals from registering a business? Many face the problem: wanting to start their own business but not knowing what kind. What businesses are currently relevant in Kazakhstan? Let's explore the top business ideas for 2025.
A letter of credit is one of the possible settlement methods between a buyer and a seller. It represents a bank’s commitment, on behalf of the buyer, to pay the seller a specified amount in an agreed currency, provided that the seller submits documents confirming the shipment of goods or delivery of services.
From TikTok to Instagram: How to Promote Your Business Online in Kazakhstan TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram are often seen as platforms for chatting and viewing media. However, they are powerful tools for online business promotion: social networks gather a solvent audience and rely on advertising algorithms that help grow your brand, expand your customer base, and increase sales.
Where should you advertise your business online? How can you do it effectively?
Businesses that handle cash frequently need to deposit funds into a bank. However, transporting large sums of money can be risky. Cash collection services ensure secure transportation and help maintain the safety of your financial assets.
When entering into transactions that carry financial risks (such as buying an apartment under a shared construction scheme), an escrow account is often used. It is designed to protect the interests of both parties during unforeseen circumstances, secure the funds, and reduce the chances of misconduct. Escrow accounts can be opened by individuals, legal entities, and individual entrepreneurs.
According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, over 1.2 billion transactions were made using bank cards in September 2024 alone, totaling more than 16.8 trillion tenge.
However, for a business to accept such payments, it must connect to a banking service known as acquiring.
Both individuals and entrepreneurs may face situations where they lack sufficient personal funds for specific needs — for example, purchasing home appliances or raw materials for production. In such cases, the optimal solution is to apply for a bank loan. However, alongside standard loan products, banks in Kazakhstan also offer tools such as an overdraft, a credit line, and an account credit limit.
To enable a buyer to pay for goods and services in the Republic of Kazakhstan, it is necessary to create an invoice, which is more conveniently and quickly done online. This document is one of the primary ones in transactions between counterparties. How accurately it is filled out determines the successful transfer of funds to the seller or service provider's account.
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.
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.
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.