Abstract:
This study presents the findings of an investigation into the development of women's
entrepreneurship and gender equality in Kazakhstan. Utilizing official statistical data, the
concentration of women's businesses in the service sector and regional disparities in credit funding
were identified. The economic opportunities of businesswomen were evaluated using the "5M"
theory, highlighting key policy directions and analyzing access to credit resources and
entrepreneurial development programs. While Kazakhstan demonstrates interest in supporting
women's entrepreneurship, the study reveals that most state-supported programs lack effectiveness
assessment. In-depth interviews with women entrepreneurs from diverse industries shed light on
gender-specific challenges and opportunities. The SWOT analysis yielded recommendations for
successful development, including support for women on maternity leave, digitalization, improved
infrastructure for rural businesswomen, monitoring of women's economic contributions, and male
engagement in gender equality efforts. Limitations of the study included insufficient quantitative
data and data fragmentation. Nonetheless, the study contributes to the development of integrated
approaches to gender analysis in entrepreneurship and provides a necessary scientific and
methodological foundation. The innovative application of this integrated approach adds to the
existing knowledge and sets the stage for future research on gender characteristics in business.
