Expansion of Kazakhstan's Creative Sector Triples Since 2017, AIFC Reveals
In a significant stride towards cultural and economic development, Kazakhstan's creative economy has experienced impressive growth in recent years. According to the latest report titled "Creative Industries in Kazakhstan: Trends and Prospects," released by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in collaboration with Dasco Group on January 27, 2023, the creative economy's gross value added (GVA) reached 1.2 trillion tenge (US$2.6 billion) in 2023, marking a 3.2 times nominal increase since 2017.
The report highlights the role of creative industries, including digital advertising, music, filmmaking, and gaming, in driving economic and cultural development. Notably, IT and game development led the sector, contributing 459 billion tenge (US$1 billion) or 38% of the sector's GVA. Traditional industries such as architecture, fashion, and design followed, making up 24% of the sector's GVA.
This growth is reflected in various sectors within the creative industry, which have grown faster than traditional ones since 2019, more than tripling in size. Despite this significant expansion, the contribution of Kazakhstan's creative economy to its gross domestic product (GDP) remains modest at around 1%.
The AIFC is committed to fostering an ecosystem for creators, startups, and investors. They propose initiatives such as venture studios, crowdfunding platforms, and tokenized assets to accelerate growth in the creative industry. One such initiative is the Tolqyn Film Fund OEIC Ltd., Kazakhstan's first private film investment fund, launched with a target size of 5.5 billion tenge (US$12.1 million). The fund aims to finance 15-20 projects over three years.
The Astana Concert, a major player in the events sector, plans to host more than 10 high-profile concerts over the next three years, contributing significantly to the creative economy through tax revenue and tourism. This includes events like the Jennifer Lopez and Backstreet Boys concerts, indicating a thriving event sector.
In addition to these initiatives, the British Council is actively involved in strengthening Kazakhstan's cultural sector by offering training, networking opportunities, and international exchanges for creative entrepreneurs. This includes programs like the Women in STEM scholarships, which have supported Kazakhstani women in pursuing higher education abroad.
The British Council's Creative Economy program for 2025-26 aims to enhance the skills and networks of creative entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, fostering sustainable careers and economic development. Moreover, the establishment of a "School for Philanthropists" and the creation of endowment funds are part of broader efforts to develop sustainable funding models for various sectors, including higher education. This could potentially benefit the creative industries by establishing more stable financial frameworks.
Filmmakers like Alina Mustafina are advocating for greater institutional support, including long-term funding structures that would sustain artists between projects. This reflects a broader need for stable support systems in the creative sector. The National Development Plan for 2029 identifies creative industries as a strategic priority for diversifying Kazakhstan's economy.
The potential for creative clusters, such as the first one founded in Eastern Qazaqstan, suggests the possibility of more organized and collaborative creative hubs in the future. These initiatives and plans reflect a growing interest in developing the creative industries in Kazakhstan, focusing on both artistic growth and economic sustainability.
The AIFC's initiatives, like venture studios, crowdfunding platforms, and tokenized assets, are aimed at accelerating growth in the creative industry by attracting investors. (finance, investing, business)
The integration of artificial-intelligence in industries such as IT and game development is a significant factor in the growth of Kazakhstan's creative economy, contributing 38% of the sector's GVA. (technology, artificial-intelligence)
