EXPERTS DISCUSSED THE ROLE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN ATTRACTING INVESTMENT

A roundtable was held in Almaty, where experts, business representatives, and government officials discussed how quality corporate governance affects the investment attractiveness of Kazakhstani companies.

Particular attention was paid to the institute of independent directors. According to specialists, their presence on the board of directors is one of the signs of a mature corporate culture, which is highly valued by international investors.

“The involvement of independent directors on boards attracts investors. They are one of the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of a given company when considering matters such as, for example, preparing for an IPO. This is one of the key issues,” said Gulnara Musina, an expert in corporate governance.

The institute of independent directors began developing in Kazakhstan in 2007. Today, these professionals are involved in most large companies. Thanks to their independent status, they maintain objectivity when making strategic decisions and often chair key committees, which enhances transparency and strengthens investor trust.

“Investors pay attention to transparency. In general, they give a great deal of attention to corporate governance. If a project has a well-established corporate governance system, then the company’s risks are much lower as well. The company becomes much more attractive to investors,” emphasized Kamila Altaeva, Senior Manager at the International Financial Centre “Astana”. According to the participants, Kazakhstan is gradually adapting international standards, the role of supervisory boards is strengthening, and attention to the principles of sustainable development is growing. At the same time, experts believe that for further progress, support from the state and close cooperation between business and the professional community are necessary.