The Damu Fund offers preferential loans under its Örleu programme to micro, small and medium-sized businesses. IT and the creative industries are listed as a separate eligible sector. Partner banks can provide up to KZT 7 billion at a nominal annual rate of 12.6%, for up to 10 years.
The programme is active and partner banks are accepting applications. The fund does not specify an application closing date on its programme page.
Damu launched Örleu in June 2025 (zakon.kz). By the end of November 2025, it had financed 1,614 projects worth KZT 475 billion, with an average loan of KZT 294 million. Manufacturing received 51% of the funding, while transport and warehousing and tourism each received 14%.
Which IT and creative businesses qualify
A borrower’s sector is determined by its OKED economic activity code. Damu lists five codes under “IT and the creative industries”:
- 58.2 — software publishing;
- 59.1 — production of films, videos and television programmes;
- 59.2 — sound recording and music publishing;
- 62.0 — computer programming, consultancy and related services;
- 63.1 — data processing and application hosting.
Beyond IT, the programme is open to manufacturing, transport and logistics (freight transport and warehousing), and tourism (hotels and other accommodation).
Loan terms
The limit per borrower is KZT 7 billion. For manufacturing projects involving low and medium levels of processing, the ceiling is lower, at KZT 5 billion.
The nominal interest rate is 12.6% a year. The effective annual rate is higher: Freedom Bank lists a range of 13.1% to 15.2% (bankffin.kz). For comparison, the National Bank’s base rate has stood at 16.25% since 4 September 2026, making the programme’s nominal rate 3.65 percentage points lower.
Investment loans are available for up to 120 months. A refinancing loan cannot run longer than the remaining term of the original debt. Principal payments may be deferred for up to 24 months and interest payments for up to 12 months. Banks may charge an arrangement fee of no more than 0.5% of the loan amount.
What the funding can be used for
The programme page currently lists two purposes: investment and refinancing. Investment covers creating and expanding production capacity, modernisation and efficiency improvements. Only loans issued on or after 1 December 2025 can be refinanced.
Working capital is not included in the current list of purposes. It was permitted in the 2025 version, with a KZT 3.5 billion limit. Borrowers should clarify this point with their bank.
The money cannot be used to acquire an existing business, pay dividends, fund consumer spending or repay debts owed to individuals or legal entities.
Conditions and restrictions
Companies are ineligible if state enterprises or institutions directly own 25% or more of their authorised capital. Businesses affiliated with large companies, registered offshore, more than 60 days in arrears or owing tax debts are also excluded, as are producers of excisable goods.
Borrowers must meet performance obligations. Where funding creates or expands capacity, output or revenue must rise by at least 10%, and one job must be created for every KZT 100 million borrowed. An IT company borrowing KZT 700 million would therefore need to create seven jobs. Modernisation projects have different requirements: labour productivity (revenue per employee) must rise by 10%, and the payroll must grow at least as fast as cumulative inflation. These indicators are checked after the first financial year and annually thereafter.
Collateral and guarantees
Damu does not detail collateral requirements on the programme page. Örleu borrowers may apply for the state guarantee programme if their project meets its criteria. On 18 September 2026, the government said guarantees for loans of up to KZT 7 billion could cover up to 85% of the amount, capped at KZT 3.5 billion (inbusiness.kz).
The fund does not identify the programme’s current funding source on its page. In 2025, Örleu totalled KZT 750 billion: KZT 300 billion from Damu and KZT 450 billion in bank co-financing. In August 2026, Halyk Bank and Damu announced a new KZT 55.6 billion stage of the programme (zakon.kz).
How to apply
Applications go to a partner bank rather than directly to the fund. The bank assesses the project and issues the loan under the programme’s terms. Nine banks are currently listed: Freedom Bank, Halyk Bank, Bank CenterCredit, ForteBank, Nurbank, Bank RBK, Bereke Bank, KZI Bank and Eurasian Bank. Damu’s call centre answers programme questions on 1408.
Programme listing in the RAEM grants directory
Terms checked on 26 September 2026.
