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

ASTANA. Oct 11 (Interfax) - The first stage of construction of a China-Kazakhstan industrial park is underway on the territory of the Khorgos - Eastern Gateway Special Economic Zone in the Zhetysu region, the SEZ press service reported.

The project is being carried out by China-Kazakhstan International Industrial City LLP, which has begun excavation.

"The company has launched the first stage of construction on the area of 200 hectares, which will include the construction of utilities and the main street," the statement said on Wednesday.

The press service added that from November 2023, investors will begin construction of the first-stage facilities. That will be administrative buildings and a hotel outside the free economic zone.

"The goal of the project is the construction of an industrial park, the organization 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 rate. The total area of the project is 1,000 hectares. It is planned to create more than 2,000 jobs for residents of nearby settlements.

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

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 cargo station and the KTZE-Khorgos Gateway dry port are located on its territory.