Chairman of the Management Board of Development Bank of Kazakhstan (a subsidiary of Baiterek National Investment Holding, hereinafter – DBK, the Bank) Marat Yelibayev participated in the Kazakhstan Investment Day forum held in Frankfurt am Main.
The event was organised by the Eastern Committee of the German Economy in cooperation with KfW Group and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Germany to advance strategic partnership against the backdrop of global economic transformation.
The Head of DBK spoke during the first panel session dedicated to industry, critical raw materials and logistics. In his remarks, Marat Yelibayev presented DBK as a reliable partner for long-term investment cooperation.
Particular attention was given to Kazakhstan’s potential in the field of critical raw materials and rare earth metals, exports of which have increased 4.6-fold since 2020. Under the Comprehensive Development Plan for this sector, DBK intends to allocate approximately USD 1 billion to finance relevant projects, offering loans starting from USD 10 million with maturities of up to 20 years.
The Chairman also emphasised the Bank’s successful track record of cooperation with German businesses, including projects with DERA GmbH and Glatt Engineering GmbH, as well as systematic collaboration with leading financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank, KfW Group, Euler Hermes, Helaba and Commerzbank AG.
“To further strengthen our support for investment initiatives, we are focusing on three key priorities: expanding co-financing and risk-sharing instruments, providing comprehensive support to projects throughout their entire life cycle, and promoting sustainable development projects in the context of the global energy transition,” – Marat Yelibayev noted in his address.
The Chairman expressed DBK’s readiness to develop effective financial solutions jointly with export credit agencies and commercial banks in order to enhance investment bankability and ensure the long-term sustainability of joint projects.
Welcoming remarks at the forum were delivered by Christiane Laibach, Member of the Board of Managing Directors of KfW Group and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, as well as by Nurlan Onzhanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Germany. Key presentations were also delivered by Dr Thomas Steffen, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Yersayin Nagaspayev, Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
On the sidelines of the forum, DBK’s management held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of leading international financial institutions, including KfW Group, Deutsche Bank, Helaba and Société Générale. Discussions focused on prospects for cooperation in financing investment projects in Kazakhstan, particularly in the chemical industry, as well as on opportunities to attract long-term funding and develop structuring and co-financing mechanisms involving international banks.
During the forum, representatives of German financial institutions expressed strong interest in Kazakhstan’s investment opportunities. Particular emphasis was placed on prospects for joint projects in industry, critical raw materials, energy and infrastructure. Participants highlighted the significant potential for expanding Kazakh–German investment cooperation, including financing mobilisation, technological partnerships and the development of sustainable value chains.
