According to the announcement, on September 16, a Kazakh-German business forum was held in Astana under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz.
As part of the event, 23 documents were signed, including a Framework Agreement on the construction of an international cargo and passenger airport in the Zhetysu region.
The agreement was signed by Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Talgat Lastayev and Managing Partner of SKYHANSA Jürgen Gretzbach. The total amount of private investment in the project is expected to exceed USD 500 million, with the creation of more than 300 permanent jobs.
It was also reported that the Akimat of the Zhetysu Region has allocated a land plot for the construction of the airport, and the investor plans to begin implementation after the Investment Agreement is concluded.
Project History
Plans to build an airport in the Zhetysu region were first announced in March 2024. At that time, Erik Shortanbayev, head of the SKYMAX TECHNOLOGIES group of companies, presented the project, and investors from The Hansa Consortium expressed their readiness to invest 250 billion KZT in its implementation. During the same period, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Zhetysu regional authorities and the investor company.
The project for the construction of the international airport envisioned the creation of 700 jobs. It was also reported that the airport would serve both passenger and cargo transportation.
In addition to building a major airport, the investors plan to develop general aviation in the Zhetysu region. The project also includes the development of supporting infrastructure: by 2032, plans call for the expansion of the airport area, as well as the construction of hotels and a shopping and entertainment center.
The international cargo and passenger airport is expected to begin operations in 2027, with the second phase of the project, including additional infrastructure such as hotels and entertainment facilities, to be completed by 2032.