Kazakhstan’s business activity picks up in February 2025Kazakhstan’s Business Activity Index (BAI) climbed to 51.3 in February 2025, up from 50.2 in January, according to the National Bank of Kazakhstan."Business activity showed improvement in February, reaching 51.3. Growth was seen in both the manufacturing and services sectors, with their indices moving into positive territory at 54.0 and 50.6, respectively, compared to 49.9 and 49.7 in January," said Rustem Orazalin, Director of the Monetary Policy Department at the National Bank.The National Bank noted that business activity in trade remained steady at 51.6, while construction slowed, dropping from 51 in January to 50.3. The extractive sector was the only area to see a decline, with its index staying in negative territory at 48.5, down from 49.8 in January. Growth in manufacturing was fueled by a notable rise in new orders, production output, and employment levels.The Business Climate Index (BCI) fell from 12.8 in January to 9.4 in February, reflecting weaker assessments of both current and future business conditions. However, the business cycle indicator remained in the growth zone.Businesses reported an overall increase in demand across the economy, though construction continued to slow down. The strongest growth was recorded in manufacturing."Respondents noted a slight improvement in infrastructure, but other factors—such as business protection, tax burden, and access to finance or credit—were viewed negatively. Concerns over tax burdens and business protection issues worsened significantly," the National Bank stated. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX