Feasibility study for DBK and IDF: expert review at the Development Bank and the Industrial Development Fund
A feasibility study to the development institution’s methodology: financial and economic model, marketing and technical opinions, answers to the external experts’ comments. For projects going to DBK, IDF, a SEC or an akimat.
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.
Development Bank of Kazakhstan: who it finances and what it requires
DBK finances large projects: the minimum loan is ₸15 billion for its core products, ₸7.5 billion as the bank’s share in syndicated financing. Term 5–20 years. The borrower’s own participation is at least 20% of the project budget, at least 30% for project finance.
Priority industries: metallurgy, agriculture and food, light industry, machine building, chemicals, oil refining and petrochemicals, energy, transport, logistics and communications, transport infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, construction.
A business plan or feasibility study for DBK must include a financial and economic model, a marketing study, a technical assessment, legal analysis and an ESG compliance assessment. Evaluation criteria: quality of documentation, profitability and payback, sales contracts, technological justification, environmental requirements.
Review stages at DBK
The full cycle with a complete document pack takes 60 working days. Submission is through the my.kdb.kz account.
- Business proposal: 5 working days, free. Needed: the bank’s document checklist, application, consent to a credit report, confidentiality agreement.
- Indicative analysis: 25 working days, free. The bank sets indicative financing terms.
- Bank expert review: 30 working days, with independent external experts on technology, marketing and law.
- Financing: approval, contracts, disbursement.
Industrial Development Fund: equipment leasing
IDF is part of the Baiterek holding as a DBK subsidiary and finances through leasing. For large manufacturing and infrastructure projects from ₸15 billion: 12.6%, 3–15 years, applicant participation from 20%, and the project must be in the Unified Industrialisation Map. Since 2026 operating SMEs in manufacturing can lease new equipment for ₸1–300 million at 12.6% for 3–5 years: 10% own funds, no additional collateral, at least one full previous year of operation, annual turnover at least one and a half times the equipment cost. Applications for this programme are selected by DAMU branches. Rates and limits depend on the year’s budget; check the fund’s site before applying.
First-stage documents: the fund’s checklist, lessee application, credit-history consent, feasibility study, financial and economic model, express-assessment questionnaire, marketing assessment. Preliminary review is free, followed by a paid project expert review that assesses security and payback.
Land for an investment project: SECs and akimats
To obtain state-owned land for an investment project, an application in Kazakh and Russian is submitted to the akimat together with a business plan to the established requirements and a project work programme. The land category must match the purpose stated in the business plan. The akimat decides within 5 working days after a positive opinion from the regional coordination council. When a plot is transferred through a SEC or a SEZ directorate, a financial and economic justification and design documentation are requested in practice.
Where projects get comments
DBK and IDF external experts check not only the figures but how they connect. Typical comments from our experience and Baiterek’s criteria:
- No sales contracts or letters of intent; the sales volume is unconfirmed.
- Technology or equipment supplier is not justified: no comparison of options or quotes.
- The financial model does not match the production plan: capacity, raw materials and revenue were calculated separately.
- Own participation is below the required 20–30% or not documented.
- Environmental and ESG requirements are not addressed; there is no impact assessment.
How we work
A free review: we look at the project’s scale and tell you where it can realistically go, DBK, IDF, a SEC or an akimat, and which document is needed. After the brief is agreed, 70% payment, we prepare the feasibility study and model to the chosen institution’s methodology, plus the marketing and technical opinions. During expert review we answer the experts’ comments and defend the project together with you. 30% is paid after the decision.
What you get
- Feasibility study to the methodology of DBK, IDF or an akimat, in Word and PDF.
- Financial and economic model in Excel for the financing term with scenarios.
- Marketing and technical opinions, the institution’s questionnaires and forms.
- Answers to the external experts’ comments and participation in the project defence.
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 feasibility study for DBK or IDF cost?
- From ₸350,000, from 3 working days for small projects. A DBK feasibility study with marketing and technical opinions takes longer; we name the exact deadline and price after a free review.
- How does a feasibility study differ from a business plan?
- A business plan proves the loan can be repaid; a feasibility study proves the project is technically and economically feasible: technology, capacity, raw materials, infrastructure, then the economics. Development institutions ask for a feasibility study with a financial and economic model.
- Have you worked with DBK?
- Yes: DAMU, IDF, DBK and akimats. See the cases on this page, including a feasibility study for a SEZ and one aligned with a technopark’s priorities.
- Who answers the experts’ comments?
- We do: we prepare the answers and defend the project before the committee together with you. Revisions after comments are free for three months.
- The project is under ₸15 billion, where do I apply?
- To IDF: operating SMEs in manufacturing can lease equipment for ₸1–300 million through DAMU branches. Other options: a second-tier bank under DAMU programmes, or an akimat for land and a SEZ. We will advise what fits at the review.
Cases
Cement plant
$10 million loan from a foreign fund. Business plan and model in two languages. Amount: $10 mln
Grinding media plant
Entry into a SEZ and 80/20 financing. Feasibility study revised to the SEZ’s comments. Amount: $5 mln
Shopping centre, hotel and boiler house
Three loans with an interest subsidy. Three plans, recalculated at the bank’s request. Amount: $15 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.