CHINESE MULTINATIONALS IN KAZAKHSTAN: TRENDS AND PERSPECTIVES

In recent decades, with China’s “Go Global” and “Belt and Road” strategies, Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) have been provided with a new development direction. This chapter aims to identify the features of the entry of Chinese multinationals into Kazakhstan and analyze their characteristics in terms of investment attractiveness and location advantages. The basic method for evaluating the characteristics of the development of Chinese MNCs in Kazakhstan is a statistical analysis based on UNCTADstat. Based on the analysis, the authors conclude that although China has many MNCs, their rate of transnationality and competitiveness index are far behind those of European and American ones. The number of Chinese multinational companies investing in Kazakhstan (1,234 companies) ranks third in the number of foreign companies in the country. Chinese multinationals investing in Kazakhstan are mainly concentrated in Xinjiang because it borders Kazakhstan and has geographical and cultural advantages. China’s direct investment in Kazakhstan covers a wide range of industries, including agriculture, animal husbandry, planting, construction, mining, transportation and communication, hotel and catering industry, trade and auto repair industry, etc. However, most registered enterprises are engaged in developing and utilizing energy fields in Kazakhstan. © 2024 Natalia A. Volgina and Li Dingbang.