Tokayev calls for ending unscheduled inspections of small and medium-sized businesses

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated the need to end unscheduled inspections of small and medium-sized businesses during an expanded meeting of the government on February 10, 2026.

The Head of State noted that the widespread adoption of digital technologies and artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship. According to him, today about 40% of gross domestic product and approximately 70% of all investments in fixed capital come from small and medium-sized businesses.

On shifting priorities in entrepreneurship support policy

The President emphasized that the results achieved were the outcome of systematic work in recent years, but current approaches no longer meet modern requirements.

“This is the result of systematic work over recent years. However, now is not the time to celebrate success. Despite significant efforts to stimulate mass entrepreneurship and create a favorable environment, it is becoming clear that existing approaches no longer meet modern requirements,” Tokayev said.

He noted that state policy should focus not on the number of supported projects, but on the quality and sustainability of businesses.

“In developing entrepreneurship, the government must pay special attention to quality. State support should be differentiated by the level of technological sophistication and categories of business. Support for small businesses should be targeted and effective, encouraging a transition from a ‘survival mode’ to sustainable growth,” the President said.

Medium-sized businesses and the digital ecosystem

According to Tokayev, support measures for medium-sized businesses with high development potential in the non-resource sector should contribute to expanding markets for finished products.

The President instructed the government, together with the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, to prepare proposals by April 1 for a comprehensive reset of the policy to support small and medium-sized businesses. A key element should be the creation of a unified digital ecosystem accessible to every entrepreneur directly via smartphone.

Unscheduled inspections as a systemic problem

Separately, the Head of State addressed the issue of business inspections. He pointed out that the current regulatory environment continues to create excessive administrative and financial costs for entrepreneurs.

“The current regulatory environment creates excessive administrative and material costs for entrepreneurs. One of the tools to reduce them was a moratorium on inspections of SME entities. However, after the moratorium ended, everything returned to the way it was before,” Tokayev noted.

The President cited specific figures illustrating the scale of the problem.

“Thus, while 70,000 inspections were conducted in 2020, this figure increased to 92,000 last year. Moreover, more than 85% of them were unscheduled. It is time to put an end to this questionable practice,” he said.

According to Tokayev, instead of exerting pressure on businesses, oversight efforts should be focused on other areas.

“Instead, the medical fund, private schools, and the system for providing social benefits should be inspected,” the President added.