Effective September 1, 2026, modernized regulations govern the «Isker Aymaq» program administered by the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund. The initiative enables micro and small enterprises across Kazakhstan to dramatically lower commercial borrowing costs on bank loans and leasing agreements through state interest subsidies. The Fund subsidizes 40% of the nominal rate for standard commercial enterprises and 50% for certified social entrepreneurship entities.
The «Isker Aymaq» program is engineered for entrepreneurs seeking financing for capital expenditures, equipment modernization, or working capital replenishment. Under current parameters, the maximum subsidized facility is capped at 200 million KZT, with a subsidy tenure lasting up to three years. The nominal lending rate charged by participating commercial banks is capped by statute at the National Bank baseline rate plus 4.0 percentage points.
Following administrative overhauls in August 2026, bureaucratic mechanisms were simplified: subsidy allocation pools are no longer pre-allocated or rationed among separate banks. Borrowers can initiate credit requests with any registered financial institution partnered with the Damu Fund. Once the lending institution approves the credit package, documentation is transmitted to Damu, which executes subsidy decisions within five business days.
Who Qualifies for Program Subsidies
Eligible applicants include registered individual entrepreneurs and micro/small corporate entities operating within regional single-industry towns (monocities), rural administrative districts, and regional industrial hubs. Ineligible activities include real estate speculation, tobacco and alcohol manufacturing, gambling operations, and financial service mediation.
| RAEM Verification: Verified September 2026. Primary source: Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund official regulations and guidelines. Unified Contact Center: 1408. |
Capital Expenditure and Working Capital Limits
Financing parameters distinguish between long-term investment and liquidity needs:
• Investment Facilities: Up to 200 million KZT for factory construction, equipment acquisition, production automation, and commercial fleet modernization, subsidized for up to 36 months;
• Working Capital Replenishment: Up to 100 million KZT for raw material procurement, supplier inventories, and operational overhead, subsidized for up to 12 months.
Borrower Obligations and Compliance Monitoring
Recipients must commit to clear economic performance metrics: maintaining or expanding permanent workforce payrolls and demonstrating at least a 10% annual increase in gross business revenues or tax payments over the subsidy lifecycle.
