Turkish investors negotiate Kenderli resort project with Kazakh government

Investors from Turkey are ready to join the Kenderli resort project in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews reports citing IA Novosti-Kazakhstan.

During a governmental meeting in the Majilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan Asset Issekeshev told the MPs that Turkish investors were willing to join the development of the resort located on the coast of the Caspian Sea in Mangistau Oblast in western Kazakhstan.

“Development of Kenderli has been widely discussed. Now there is an understanding of how to develop this project. The government represented by the Akimat (municipal government) is in charge of the infrastructure. As is customary, the private investor is at the head. We have investors from Turkey, now negotiations with the government are taking place. I think that the negotiations will be completed by the fall and the first investor will be idefined," Issekeshev said.

In connection with the plans to open the resort, MP Serik Ospanov asked about the possibility of making airplane tickets to Aktau (the administrative center of Mangistau Oblast) cheaper.

“We have a good airport in Aktau. The railroad link is being built. Now we have our own locomotive production, so I think that we will arrange comfortable tourist trains as the development of the resort project continues, so that people from across the country could go [to Kenderli]. I think that this problem will be solved,“ Deputy Prime Minister said.

Issekeshev added that in time it will become necessary to build a new mini-airport.

Construction of Kenderli resort has been in plans for over five years already. Originally, it was conceived as a large-scale resort investment project with participation of Arab investors.

The resort is expected to accommodate 600,000 tourists and 8,000 residence owners annually. It will be suitable for every age group and have 22 hotels on the area of 1,700 hectares (1.7 million m2) with approximately 10 kilometers of coastline and beaches.

Kenderli project will be worth about $3.3 billion with $1.96 billion needed before 2020. In addition to hotels, there will be shopping centers, stadiums, outdoor courts, three golf fields and a marina.

By Dinara Urazova