The relevance of the proposed project lies in its focus on enhancing the competitiveness and investment attractiveness of industrial enterprises in Kazakhstan. These enterprises must implement the process of ESG transformation in their operations. However, there are several challenges in this area, namely:

- а shortage of personnel with ESG competencies in the labor market of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

- а low level of integration of ESG principles into the business processes that define the operations of Kazakhstan’s industrial enterprises;

- а lack of systematic support from Kazakhstani educational institutions for training and retraining personnel with ESG competencies.

The implementation of this project is aimed at addressing these issues.

The idea of the project is to develop and implement an integrated system for training and retraining specialists capable of effectively integrating the principles of sustainable development into the business processes of Kazakhstan’s industrial enterprises. The project is designed to enhance the competitiveness and investment attractiveness of these enterprises through the implementation of ESG standards in line with modern international requirements.

The goal of the project is to improve the competitiveness and investment attractiveness of domestic industrial enterprises by developing organizational and economic mechanisms and scientific-methodological foundations for training and retraining personnel with the necessary ESG competencies in the fields of ecology, social responsibility, and corporate governance.

Expected outcomes:

Improving the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s industrial enterprises. By integrating ESG standards into business processes, it will be possible to optimize taxation in accordance with the «green economy» requirements, reduce production costs, and enhance product competitiveness. Enterprises implementing ESG transformation will minimize operational risks, improve their reputation and efficiency, and strengthen their positions in the global market.

Increasing investment attractiveness. Companies with high ESG performance will be more attractive to «green funds» and organizations interested in sustainable development, providing additional resources for modernization and growth.

Training highly qualified personnel. The project aims to educate, retrain, and upskill specialists with ESG competencies who can integrate sustainable development principles into enterprise management processes and effectively adapt international standards to Kazakhstan’s industrial context.

Reducing environmental and social risks.

Improving Kazakhstan’s international image.

The Department of Economics is conducting scientific research under a state-funded project: AR26100705 «Enhancing the competitiveness and investment attractiveness of domestic industrial enterprises through the training and retraining of personnel with ESG competencies», Contract No. 327/25-27GF/11, signed on October 1, 2025, between Toraighyrov University and the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Project implementation period: 2025–2027.

Main partners: Toraighyrov University stakeholders, members of the National ESG Club, sectoral government bodies, and the general public.

Key scientific schools:

- Satbayev University (Kazakh National Research Technical University named after K.I. Satbayev, Almaty, Kazakhstan) – collaboration agreement in place;

- International University of the Kyrgyz Republic (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic) – collaboration agreement in place;

- International University of Tourism and Hospitality (Turkistan, Kazakhstan) – collaboration agreement in place;

- Sherkhan Murtaza International Taraz Innovative Institute (Taraz, Kazakhstan) – collaboration agreement in place.