Baiterek Housing Transformation

SCE’s collaboration with the Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC – the national housing agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, covered a multitude of areas, which culminated in the development of an implementation roadmap for its affordable housing. This partnership, formalised in 2018 under the “Nurly Zher” initiative, aimed to restructure existing housing complexes and remodel Baiterek’s operations using Singapore’s Housing Development Board (“HDB”) model. By 2019, the initial phase had been completed, resulting in a proposal for restructuring housing complexes in Kazakhstan. Shortly after, the second phase commenced in 2020, leading to the formation of a unified housing management entity. This project achieved its key objectives in supporting the development of affordable housing, enhancing governance and improving operational efficiency within Kazakhstan’s public housing sector. 

For the project, SCE aggregated both public and private-sector expertise from Singapore in the urban and housing domains. The Singapore consortium delivered an improved governance framework for public housing organisations, produced a roadmap for public housing transformation, conducted a thorough review of affordable housing policies and standards, and helped to train specialists to build human capital in this sector. Additionally, the collaboration also included developing a “Digital Mortgage” platform, the “My Home Portal,” and the “Digital Construction Portal,” while standardising procedures across housing programs. SCE also worked with HCSBK/Otbasy Bank on the “Virtual Integration” project and upgraded the “Nurly Zher Situation Centre” for enhanced forecasting, as well as assessed strategies for rejuvenating older housing stock. This resulted in improved governance for the public housing system in Kazakhstan and helped to enhance the provision of affordable housing for its citizens, which aligned with the broader developmental goals for transforming the country’s housing landscape.