Baiterek Holding Launched Unified Front Office
The Unified Front Office (UFO) of the "Baiterek" Holding was opened in Astana at the regional branch of the "Damu" Entrepreneurship Development Fund. The project aims to build a comprehensive support ecosystem for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based on a "one-stop-shop" principle.
The main goal of the initiative is to enhance financing accessibility for entrepreneurs, expand opportunities for starting and scaling businesses, and facilitate the modernization of existing enterprises across the country. The establishment of the UFO provides SMEs with convenient access to financial and non-financial support instruments of all the Holding's subsidiaries at a single point.
The regional infrastructure of the "Damu" Fund served as the foundation for the Unified Front Office. The Fund possesses an extensive branch network across all 20 regions of Kazakhstan, as well as mobile front offices. This makes the instruments of the "Baiterek" Holding group of companies more accessible to business owners nationwide, including those in remote areas and regions where individual development institutions do not have local offices.
The Unified Front Office integrates the instruments of five Holding subsidiaries:
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Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan – export credit insurance;
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Development Bank of Kazakhstan – financing for major investment projects;
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Industrial Development Fund – concessional and lease financing for industrial modernization;
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"Damu" Entrepreneurship Development Fund – concessional lending, interest rate subsidization, guarantees, and non-financial support measures for SMEs;
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Qazaqstan Investment Corporation – private equity and venture capital financing instruments.
Thus, entrepreneurs in any region of the country can now receive all necessary information by visiting a single location. The Unified Front Office covers the complete business support cycle: initial inquiry – selection of appropriate tools – consultation – application submission – project facilitation – financing review.
This format eliminates the need for entrepreneurs to apply to multiple development institutions separately, enabling them to initiate project implementation from a single point of entry.
The combined measures housed under the UFO span a broad spectrum of support — from SME and large-scale investment project financing to direct equity investments, export insurance, and industrial modernization.
The "Damu" Fund coordinates inter-agency cooperation and guides the entrepreneur through the process until a final decision is reached, saving them from having to deal with each authority or organization individually. The pilot project of Business Support and Accompaniment Centers covers Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, as well as North Kazakhstan and Aktobe regions.
