What kind of business do Kazakhs want to start?

Everyone has probably thought about starting their own business. Some follow the well-trodden path of their father and relatives, others choose the direction they like, while others are idle in endless thoughts and doubts. Today there are a lot of different reviews and expert opinions about what kind of business you should start. And maybe there is some truth in them. But what do the statistics say? What kind of business Kazakhs choose most often? A journalist from the World of NAN will try to answer these and other questions.

Our country, no matter how skeptically you may think, creates a favorable environment for small and medium business. State projects support enterprising citizens in every way to expand the business community. For example, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan "Atameken" has a program called "Bastau Business," through which unemployed and self-employed people can start their own business.

According to the Chamber of Entrepreneurs, from 2017 to 2020, 151,528 Kazakhstani people were trained under the project. There were 44,362 business projects launched, which means that only 29% started their own business. The lion's share of projects - 59% (26132), relates to agriculture. It turns out that today Kazakhs prefer to start a business in agriculture.

Yerbol Yesseneyev, director of Atameken's agro-industrial complex and food industry department, explained the situation: "Today the most promising direction of business in Kazakhstan is agriculture. Nobody imposes the direction to program participants, a person himself, understanding his strengths, chooses his business. Historically, the bulk of trainees are villagers, who most associate themselves with agriculture".

Considering that, according to the United Nations, the earth's population will grow by 30 percent by 2050. And to feed mankind, farmers will have to increase production many times over, then agriculture becomes a very promising activity. This explains the increased interest of Kazakh entrepreneurs.

However it is not the only direction which today the inhabitants of our country prefer. In addition to projects in the field of agriculture participants of "Bastau Business" choose such areas as sewing (shops and tailoring), beauty services, trade, production of bakery and confectionery products, car service, printing services, cargo transportation, repair shops and more.

As Anastasia Shandryga, director of the Department of Mass Entrepreneurship, noted, when a person chooses one of these industries in business, they already have experience there. However, they still have to take a basic training course.

"The basic basis of the training program is 12 modules, which provide knowledge about the most popular directions for starting a business, state support measures, financial accounting, taxation regimes, legal basis for doing business, the basics of marketing and online trading", - explained Anastasia Shandryga.

This program allows you to learn just the basics of business. However, if a person wants to start a new business, he can also get information in the program.

"For example, if a person wants to do business in agriculture and does not know the basics of this business, he can be trained to help him develop a business plan, get a grant or a microcredit, purchase equipment or livestock. In addition, the training provides materials (videos, presentations) on the main areas of agriculture, that is already more in-depth knowledge of the different branches", - said Anastasia.

It is worth noting that the pluses of the program are not only in the training, but also in the preferential financing. After passing the course the participant receives the certificate, which gives the right to get a loan at 6% from MFO "Atameken" or grant funding under the program "Enbek".

Almat Nurmakhanov, a farmer from Kostanay region, took advantage of this opportunity. He took the course back in 2016 and, having received the funding, immediately opened his own business.

I set up production of camel milk and shubat in the village of Yubileynoye," Almat began his story. - I decided to do camel breeding because there are no competitors here. Plus, my family used to keep camels, so I know how to take care of them.

Today Almat's business is booming. He already has 28 head of camels on the farm. This year, the farmer has even expanded his field of activity by opening an ethnic café in Rudny, where tourists and city residents can buy shubat.

When asked what would be your advice to people who are thinking of starting their own business? The farmer answered very succinctly, "just get to it and do it. Indeed, what prevents you from starting your own business today? An unmotivated person will always find an excuse. But if you have made up your mind, then get out there and do it, just like an ordinary villager from the small village of Yubileynoye did.