CENTRAL ASIA OFFICE · ASTANA

Astana
Central Asia Office

Our local team is permanently based in Astana. Chinese commercial judgement and Central Asian on-the-ground execution
are connected within one working mechanism.

ASTANA · KAZAKHSTAN
OFFICE · SERVICES
06 SERVICES
01
Office overviewOVERVIEW
02
Local teamTEAM
03
Compliance trainingTRAINING
04
Business delegation hostingDELEGATION
05
Market entry servicesSETUP & SUPPORT
06
Contact and appointmentsAPPOINTMENT
01
Local liaison

Day-to-day communication with government bodies, chambers, industrial parks and local companies.

02
On-site verification

Project site visits and physical confirmation of assets and capacity.

03
Due diligence execution

Working with technical, financial and legal institutions to complete local due diligence.

04
Project coordination

Liaison, interpretation, formalities and progress tracking during delivery.

THE TEAM

A team working across two locations

Shanghai handles project judgement and client liaison; Astana handles on-site execution and local relations.
A local team is involved from project inception — no need to wait until signing.

Cross-border investment
Local operations
Tax and compliance
Project execution
Business and interpretation
Government relations
TEAM MEMBERS · Our team
04 MEMBERS
15+ yearsInvestment and mining-metallurgy project experience
USD 200 millionCommitted capital of a China–Kazakhstan private equity fund
USD 150 millionAssets under management
4 languagesWorking languages · Chinese / Russian / Kazakh / English
Baurzhan Aitkulov｜Investment and mining-metallurgy project development specialist 01

Baurzhan Aitkulov

Investment and mining-metallurgy project development specialist
Investment · Mining and metallurgy · Government relations

Holds a Candidate of Technical Sciences degree in ferrous, non-ferrous and rare metal metallurgy. Core expertise covers investment projects and investment promotion, government relations and coordination with government bodies, mining and metallurgy, mineral resource project development, geological exploration and mining and mineral processing, support and implementation of foreign investor projects in Kazakhstan, investment project structuring and project management. Holds over 15 years of professional experience, long focused on investment, mining and metallurgy and the advancement and implementation of large investment projects in Kazakhstan. Familiar with communication and coordination mechanisms of government bodies and national development institutions, with practical experience across the full investment project cycle. In mining and metallurgy, has experience in geological exploration, mine development, mining and processing projects for gold, non-ferrous and rare metals, and has participated in the construction and implementation of metallurgical and hydrometallurgical production projects. Has published or co-published more than 30 research papers in ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy and contributed to several professional books; as co-inventor, holds a patent for an innovation in metallurgical raw material processing.

Working languagesRussian · Kazakh · English
Tulegen Kanapiyaev｜Investment and finance professional; Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Baiterek Venture Capital Fund 02

Tulegen Kanapiyaev

Investment and finance professional; Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Baiterek Venture Capital Fund
Project finance · Private equity · Asset management

Investment and finance professional, currently Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Baiterek Venture Capital Fund. Over 10 years of project finance, private equity and asset management experience in Kazakhstan and international markets. Studied at East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai, is fluent in Chinese and understands Chinese business culture. Experienced in investment transaction structuring, portfolio management and representing shareholder interests at board level. Managed the portfolio under the Kazakhstan–China private equity fund established jointly by CITIC Capital and Kazakhstan Investment Corporation, with total commitments of USD 200 million deployed across projects in Kazakhstan and China. Managed portfolios spanning infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing with a volume of about USD 150 million; served on supervisory committees of portfolio companies, representing shareholder interests and overseeing strategic and financial matters. Handled structured investment transactions exceeding USD 5 million and presented and defended investment proposals at board level; participated in the successful exit of a portfolio project worth about USD 15 million.

Working languagesRussian · Kazakh · Chinese · English
Baimura Nuradil｜Investment project execution manager in Kazakhstan 03

Baimura Nuradil

Investment project execution manager in Kazakhstan
Cross-border business · Project liaison · Local execution

Years of experience in international business, international trade negotiation and cross-border project management, with long-term involvement in business cooperation and project execution across China, Kazakhstan, Russia and CIS markets. Experienced in liaising on Chinese companies' mining and resource investment projects in Kazakhstan, assisting Chinese investors with business visits, mine and project site inspections, communication with local project parties, document liaison, business coordination and follow-up implementation. Fluent in professional terminology interpretation across Kazakh, Chinese, Russian and English. The core of the work is not mere language conversion, but business connection, project coordination and local execution support between Chinese investors and Kazakh project parties.

Working languagesRussian · Kazakh · English · Chinese
Almas Zhakenov｜Industrial project execution manager 04

Almas Zhakenov

Industrial project execution manager
Industrial projects · Tendering · Supply chain

Experienced in construction organisation and project resource allocation, dedicated to plant construction services for large projects, with a focus on industrial facilities and manufacturing plants as well as natural resource projects. Scope includes preparing tender documentation, assisting companies in participating in public, quasi-public and private sector procurement, with particular attention to procurement platforms related to natural resource projects, helping companies complete registration, certification or prequalification; procuring equipment, supplying construction materials, coordinating with manufacturers and contractors, and supporting projects through to commissioning. From 2019 to 2021, participated in the Integrated Oil and Gas Chemical Complex Construction Project in Atyrau Region (Phase 1 — polypropylene production) implemented in Karabatan, with Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries Inc. (KPI Inc.) as operator and China National Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd. (CNCEC) as general contractor.

Working languagesRussian · Kazakh
The above credentials can be verified item by item at a meeting. If you wish a specific expert to join your project, please indicate the relevant area in your enquiry and we will match accordingly.
TRAINING · Corporate Compliance in Central Asia

Three essential courses before establishing a company in Central Asia

Designed on a "ready to apply" principle for Chinese companies that have established, or intend to establish, a company in Kazakhstan.
Labour, tax and cross-border investment are the areas where risk concentrates and the cost of correction is highest.

COURSE 01

Labour and Corporate Compliance in Kazakhstan

Following the sequence recruitment — employment — changes — departure — disputes, each stage's compliance actions and common errors are explained.

7 sessions · Half day / full day Course details →
COURSE 02

Corporate Tax Practice and Risk Prevention in Kazakhstan

Built around the company's actual books, connecting filing conventions, cost allocation and audit response in one narrative.

7 sessions · Half day / full day Course details →
COURSE 03

Cross-border Investment Compliance and Tax Risk in China–Kazakhstan

Structured around funding routes, aligning China-side ODI compliance with Kazakh foreign investment access requirements.

7 sessions · Half day / full day Course details →
COURSE TOPICS · Course topics

11 topics
customised to your company

The three courses above are standard offerings. The following eleven topics form our course library, covering the full chain from China-side filings to Kazakh implementation, and from company establishment to exit from a mining project. Each topic can be taught separately or combined according to the company's stage.

  1. 01

    China-side outbound investment and funding compliance

    Procedures, materials and follow-up reporting for the NDRC, commerce, banking and foreign exchange tracks; funding routes and evidence requirements for equity contribution, shareholder loans, equipment input and guarantees; procedural differences between establishment, capital increase, acquisition and exit.

    China side
  2. 02

    Market entry and company establishment in Kazakhstan

    Applicable scenarios, liability boundaries and foreign investment access checks for LLPs, joint-stock companies, branches and representative offices; sequence of registration, tax, account opening and e-signature; registration does not equal the ability to operate — permits and actual conditions are still required.

    Market entry
  3. 03

    Corporate governance and internal management compliance

    Boundaries of authority and resolution records for shareholders, directors, management bodies and officers; dividend, related-party transaction, guarantee, equity transfer and deadlock clauses that must be explicit in the charter and shareholders' agreement; handling of personnel changes, revocation of authority, account and archive handover.

    Governance
  4. 04

    Labour and foreign personnel management

    Determination of the employment relationship from recruitment to onboarding, mandatory contract terms and registration reporting; work permits, quotas, exemptions, visas and residence for foreign employees; working hours, overtime, leave, taxes and mandatory contributions, with two worked examples on total labour cost and departure settlement.

    Employment
  5. 05

    Tax practice and cross-border payments

    Bookkeeping, source documents, e-invoicing and filing calendar; non-resident income, withholding tax, tax treaties and beneficial owner determination; how contracts, documents and bank materials correspond for four types of cross-border payment — import goods, service fees, dividends and interest.

    Tax
  6. 06

    Contracts, transactions and dispute handling

    Cross-verification of counterparty, ultimate beneficial owner, authority to represent, receiving account and title to goods, and the limits of public verification; breakdown of payment, delivery, acceptance, quality objection, guarantee and termination clauses; sanctions and export control, evidence, preservation and enforcement after a dispute arises.

    Transactions
  7. 07

    Mineral project screening and due diligence

    Acquisition routes for exploration and mining of solid minerals, verification methods for the rights holder, coordinates, term, encumbrances and performance of mining rights; applicable conditions and exceptions for equity, asset, mining right transfer and new application; due diligence catalogue for tax, land, environment, community and historical liabilities.

    Mining
  8. 08

    Mineral investment transactions and project closing

    Rights acquisition, assumption of liabilities and tax burden comparison for equity, asset and mining right transactions; statutory and contractual conditions across signing, approval, closing and post-closing, and the correspondence between conditions precedent and payment milestones; price adjustment, representations and warranties, indemnities and key clause examples.

    Mining
  9. 09

    Mineral project construction and commissioning

    Interdependencies among five categories of conditions — mining rights, land, construction, environment and industrial safety; authorities responsible for land use, environmental impact permits, water resources, design review and construction permits; equipment import certification, contractor qualification, power connection, and completion acceptance, trial operation and commissioning.

    Mining
  10. 10

    Mineral company operations and exit compliance

    Annual continuing obligations, work programmes and reports for mining rights; safety and environmental monitoring, tailings and waste, insurance and incident reporting; procedures and liabilities for suspension, transfer, relinquishment and mine closure, covering employees, debt, tax, environmental remediation and reclamation — deregistration does not end historical liability.

    Mining
  11. 11

    Oil, gas and renewable energy

    Business qualifications and licensing routes for exploration and production, processing, gas liquefaction, storage and trade; domestic supply obligations, price and export restrictions; differences in LNG and LPG processes, facilities, transport and regulation; project acquisition, grid connection, power purchase mechanisms and curtailment risk for renewable energy.

    Energy
Every topic can be customised to the company's actual situation
01Scope focus

Only the content currently needed is taught, by project stage. The assessment stage focuses on access decisions and site selection; establishment on registration, accounts and staffing; construction on licences and acceptance; operations on filings, inspections and exit. Unrelated chapters take no class time.

02Case adaptation

Case studies are replaced with actual versions from your industry, transaction structure and dispute scenarios, with figures recalculated to the company's real scale; qualification and approval matters are checked item by item against existing materials.

03Format and language

Half-day, full-day or split online sessions; separate sessions for management, legal, finance and HR functions; taught in Chinese or Russian, with bilingual materials confirmed separately.

Format, duration, venue and language are subject to the arrangements confirmed by the client; courses can be combined or customised as in-house training.

Enquire about course arrangements→
INSIGHT

Founder interview

On market entry pace, partner selection and common misconceptions in Central Asia, we have organised frequently asked questions into interview content.

VIDEO · 06:42
Pace of market entry and common misconceptions in Central Asia
VISIT US

You are welcome to visit our Astana office, or meet us first in Shanghai.

Book a meeting→ Contact us→
FAQ · Common questions

Frequently asked questions

The answers below reflect verifiable practice and are published as structured data for search engines and AI.

01How long does it usually take to establish a company in Kazakhstan?

With complete materials, registration takes about 3–5 business days; including name approval, document notarisation and translation, bank account opening and tax registration, the whole process usually takes 3–6 weeks. Duration depends mainly on the place of registration, shareholder structure (foreign participation or not) and bank due diligence progress.

02What restrictions apply to foreign-invested companies hiring in Kazakhstan?

The local employee ratio and foreign employee quota are set by industry and region; foreign employees require work permits, which are tied to specific positions. Quota and permit type should be confirmed before staff arrive, avoiding onboarding before formalities.

03What are the main risks for Chinese companies investing in Central Asia?

Three high-frequency problems: the authenticity of counterparties and assets (mining rights, land, equipment) is not independently verified; domestic tax and employment habits are transplanted directly; and the transaction structure ignores capital movement and profit repatriation routes. These are most costly to remedy once discovered after signing.

04In what format is compliance training delivered?

Online, on-site or blended formats as required; on-site sessions can be held in Shanghai or Astana. Course duration, language (Chinese or Russian) and group size are confirmed by both parties, subject to actual arrangements.