Business plan for DAMU: subsidies, guarantees and preferential loans
The DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund does not lend directly: the application goes through a bank, and the fund checks the project against its own criteria. We prepare a business plan that passes both checks.
The first review of your project is free and without obligation. We reply in working hours and tell you where to apply and whether you are in time.
Apex Consulting is a consulting firm in Astana, working since 2017. We have prepared 2,137 business plans for 535 clients; our clients have raised $1.7 billion in financing. Payment: 70% after the brief is agreed, 30% after the committee approves the project. Revisions after expert comments are free for three months. We defend the project before the committee together with the client. From ₸350,000, from 3 working days.
What changed in DAMU programmes in 2025–2026
Since 2025 the fund has been moving from interest subsidies to preferential lending through partner banks: the borrower gets a loan at 12.6% per year, the fund co-finances 40% of the amount and the bank 60%. The limit is up to ₸7 billion per borrower, up to ₸3.5 billion for working capital. Investment loans run up to 7 years, working-capital loans up to 3. Priority goes to manufacturing, transport and logistics, tourism, education and healthcare.
Interest subsidies remain for micro and small business: on loans up to ₸200 million the fund compensates 40% of the rate, 50% for social entrepreneurship, for up to 3 years. The bank’s rate must not exceed the National Bank base rate plus 4%.
Guarantees: the fund covers up to 85% of the loan amount, but no more than ₸3.5 billion, for a fee of 1.5% per year. This is the way out when collateral is short.
Who meets the criteria
The fund checks business size, activity code and region. SME criteria for 2026: micro business up to 15 employees and income up to ₸129.75 million a year, small business up to 100 employees and income up to ₸1.2975 billion. Medium and large business is subsidised through akimats.
- Priority industries of the Isker Aimak programme: food, textiles, clothing, leather, wood, paper, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, metal products, furniture. The regional list is set by the akimat.
- No tax arrears: certificate no older than 30 days.
- A loan for investment or working capital within the programme’s purposes, not to refinance consumer debt.
- Agriculture has a separate Ministry of Agriculture programme: a guarantee of up to 50% of the loan, up to 85% for investment projects, loans up to ₸5 billion.
How the application works
The procedure is the same for every programme. You apply to a partner bank or leasing company with a business plan and documents. The bank checks the programme fit and makes its credit decision. The documents then go to the DAMU regional branch, which reviews them within 5 working days: participant, loan purpose, activity code and limits. A positive decision is valid for 6 months. The interest subsidy can also be arranged through eGov with a digital signature, attaching the bank’s decision letter and the business plan.
What a business plan for DAMU must contain
The document is read twice: by the bank’s credit analyst and by the fund’s expert. The first cares about repayment, the second about programme fit. So beyond the standard sections you need those that answer the fund’s questions.
- Activity code matching the priority list and the akimat’s regional list.
- Loan purpose with a breakdown: what you buy, from whom, under which quotes.
- Jobs and payroll: the fund looks at the effect for the region.
- Financial model for the loan term with the effect of the subsidy or guarantee.
- Proof of sales: contracts, orders, sales history.
- Document pack: state registration certificate, charter, licence if required, certificate of no tax arrears.
How we work
In the free review we check whether your activity code and business size meet the criteria and which programme is better for you: subsidy, guarantee or preferential loan. Then we agree the brief, 70% payment, and prepare the business plan and model for the bank and the fund. We close the bank’s and fund’s comments ourselves; revisions are free for three months. 30% is paid after the decision.
What you get
- Business plan to the requirements of the partner bank and the DAMU fund, in Word and PDF.
- Financial model in Excel with the effect of the subsidy or guarantee.
- Completed forms and the appendix pack per the bank’s list.
- Answers to the bank’s and fund’s comments, support until the decision.
From ₸350,000, from 3 working days. Payment: 70% after the brief is agreed, 30% after the committee approves the project. Revisions after expert comments are free for three months; we defend the project with you.
Questions and answers
- How much does a business plan for DAMU cost?
- From ₸350,000, from 3 working days. The price depends on the programme, loan amount and the partner bank’s requirements.
- Can I apply to DAMU directly, without a bank?
- No. An application for a loan, subsidy or guarantee always goes through a partner bank or leasing company; the fund reviews the documents after the bank’s decision.
- How long does the fund take?
- Under the programme rules, 5 working days after receiving the documents from the bank. The decision is valid for 6 months.
- What if there is not enough collateral?
- That is what guarantees are for: the fund covers up to 85% of the loan, no more than ₸3.5 billion, for a 1.5% annual fee. A business plan is mandatory in this case.
- Have you worked with DAMU?
- Yes, since 2017 our clients have gone through DAMU, IDF, DBK and akimats. 30% is paid only after the decision.
Cases
Private medical centre
Loan for the building and equipment. Revisions to the bank’s comments until approval. Amount: $1.6 mln
Corrugated packaging plant
Development fund leasing: 3%, 20 years. Plan reconciled with accounts and debt. Amount: $1.1 mln
Fish farm
10-year loan from a development corporation. Plan built to the lender’s checklist. Amount: $1 mln
Sources
Programme terms change. Checked on 14 October 2026. Verify with the primary source before applying:
The first review of your project is free and without obligation. We reply in working hours and tell you where to apply and whether you are in time.