New Business Reforms Regulating SMEs and Agriculture Announced in Kazakhstan

At the 100th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission on the Regulation of Entrepreneurial Activity in Kazakhstan, new reforms to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were discussed. At the meeting, the results of issues such as the reduction of administrative burdens on enterprises in 2025, the decrease in the number of inspections, and the digitalization of state regulation were evaluated. In addition, new legal regulations regarding electronic lotteries, plant quarantine, and the grain market were also supported.

The share of SMEs within the country's national economy increased from 32.9 percent in 2020 to 40.9 percent as of the end of 2025. As of 1 January 2026, there are 2.4 million registered SMEs in the country, of which 2.2 million are actively operating. Authorities announced that the activity rate of enterprises has increased significantly in the last five years and that small enterprises continue to make up the vast majority of the sector.

At the meeting, it was also planned to take new measures regarding the agricultural sector and electronic lottery draws, where citizens suffered major financial losses. While extending the duration between draws and introducing purchase limits were on the agenda, regulations such as reintroducing the mandatory quarantine certificate for the inter-regional transportation of agricultural products and inspecting grain procurement centers were also discussed.