On April 25, 2025, the city of Shymkent hosted a roundtable meeting on the topic “The Impact of the EcoQolday Program on Recycling in Kazakhstan”. The event was attended by heads of authorized government agencies, development institutions, representatives of the business community, and industry organizations.
Key participants of the dialogue platform included Azat Abaidildin, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Industrial Development Fund JSC; Timur Tyulebekov, Managing Director of the Fund; representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Zhasyl Damu JSC; the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken”; and heads of enterprises engaged in secondary raw materials processing.
The agenda of the meeting focused on the effectiveness of the “EcoQolday” program and its impact on the development of the waste paper and glass collection and recycling system. Participants discussed in detail the practical aspects of the program’s implementation as well as proposals for integrating a full waste management cycle into the “EcoQolday” digital ecosystem.
Industry leaders emphasized the urgent need to continue building specialized facilities for the sorting and recycling of secondary raw materials.
Azat Abaidildin, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Industrial Development Fund JSC, fully supported this initiative, noting that the Fund is systematically working in this direction.
“I believe your proposal is absolutely justified and appropriate. It fully aligns with the country’s environmental agenda. With the growing volume of municipal solid waste, the key mechanism for protecting the environment is the organized, comprehensive reuse and recycling of waste. The Fund pays special attention to ‘green’ projects under ESG principles. For example, among the projects we have approved are: the establishment of a solid waste sorting and construction waste recycling facility in Kostanay Region; the modernization of tire recycling and processing production in Shymkent; and the technical re-equipment of rubber product recycling plants in Kostanay Region. These projects are aimed at reducing waste volumes in the regions, preventing their negative impact on nature, and ensuring the reuse and recycling of raw materials,” emphasized Azat Abaidildin.
Participants also discussed the development and updating of materials for the household waste recycling concept, as well as initiatives to amend current regulations of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan. These proposals aim to simplify procedures for industry enterprises, expand system functions, and ensure transparency at all stages of waste management.
Additionally, the participants explored ways to improve financing and subsidizing mechanisms under the EcoQolday program. It was noted that a systematic approach to supporting industry enterprises would not only increase recycling volumes but also create new jobs and promote the development of a circular economy.
Based on the results of the meeting, specific proposals were formed and will be submitted to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan for further consideration and inclusion in the action plan for industry modernization.
It is worth noting that since 2024, within the framework of the Concept for Kazakhstan’s Transition to a Green Economy, Industrial Development Fund JSC, in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Zhasyl Damu JSC, has been implementing a program aimed at the sorting, recycling, and disposal of municipal solid waste to strengthen the ecological balance.
Environmental ESG initiatives remain a fundamental priority for Industrial Development Fund JSC. This is evidenced by the ESG rating assigned to the Fund at level "2" with an overall score of 63 by the international rating agency Sustainable Fitch in 2024. The high rating reflects the Fund’s progressive environmental and social policies.
