Pension funds eye Kazakhstan concessions
Changes to be made include the selection of best technical solution at first stage and best price offer at second stage of the tender process.
"We are trying to introduce [this] to improve the quality of the selection of concessionaires, and secondly to reduce the terms of the state budget for the preparation of concession projects," said Zhamar Taizhanova, head of knowledge transfer at the Kazakhstan PPP Centre.
Pension funds are also willing to fund PPPs in the country, which will ensure long-term investments for the period of 20-30 years. Along with direct state guarantees, increased transparency and openness have made the involvement of pension funds more likely, said Andrei Karyagin, chairman of the board, Astana Pension Fund.
Six concession projects worth around €500m in total are currently being implemented in Kazakhstan. The country’s first pilot PPP – the Big Almaty Ring Road – is currently awaiting procurement by the government.
