Kazakhstan, China start work on $692 mln industrial park in Khorgos

The first stage of construction of a China-Kazakhstan industrial park on the territory of the Khorgos – Eastern Gateway Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Zhetysu region is underway, the SEZ’s press service reported.

The project is being implemented by the China-Kazakhstan International Industrial City LLP, which has started excavation works.

“The company has started the first stage of construction on the area of 200 hectares, which will include the construction of utilities and the main road,” the statement said on Wednesday.

The press service added that from November 2023 the investors will start building the facilities of the first stage. These will be administrative buildings and a hotel outside the free economic zone.

“The aim of the project is the construction of an industrial park, the organisation of production and logistics services in Khorgos – Eastern Gateway SEZ, as well as the transfer of industrial capacities from China to the territory of Kazakhstan,” the SEZ press service said.

The cost of the project is 330 billion tenge, or just under $692 million at the current exchange rate. The total area of the project is 1,000 hectares. It is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs for residents of nearby settlements.

It was previously reported that the project had been suspended due to the pandemic, but was revived in June this year.

The Khorgos – Eastern Gateway SEZ is located on the border with China in the Zhetysu region, on the route of the Western Europe – Western China highway. The Altynkol freight station and the KTZE-Khorgos Gateway dry port are located on its territory.