Millions for Christmas Trees: How Much Are Regions Planning to Spend on New Year Decorations?

According to government procurement data, district akimats have already allocated funds for this purpose, with some amounts reaching up to 14 million tenge. The money is intended for New Year decorations and trees, as reported by inbusiness.kz. We present an overview of how much regions are willing to spend on New Year decorations and consider whether these expenses are justified.

It is worth noting that, to ensure transparency, akimats purchase everything necessary for the New Year through the government procurement portal. The requests from regions vary. For example, in Atyrau region, they are willing to spend 14.2 million tenge for a tree and decorations, while in some villages the amount barely exceeds 50 thousand.

Let’s start with the most expensive order – 14.2 million tenge for the installation of two trees in the Kayyrshakhtinsky rural district of Atyrau region. According to the technical specifications, the artificial fir trees must be at least 8 meters tall and are intended for multiple uses. This amount includes transportation, installation, dismantling, and decorations for the trees. After reviewing all proposals, the district administration selected the cheapest one – for 6.5 million tenge. It should be noted that the Kayyrshakhtinsky rural district includes several settlements – the villages of Tomarly, Talkairan, Besikty, Akzhar, Aksai, residential areas Koktem, Zhuldyz, and ANPZ.

In Aktobe region, the akimat of the Badamshinsky rural district allocated 5.3 million tenge for the purchase and installation of an artificial tree 12 meters tall with a lifespan of at least five years. The amount includes balls, garlands, snowflakes, and the installation of themed figures.

In Altai (East Kazakhstan), they decided to install a real tree for 2.6 million tenge. The coniferous tree will be cut down within the city limits, and the cost also includes decorations for the tree, the installation of figures of Father Frost and the Snow Maiden, a snowy scene, and slides for riding.

In Akmolinsk region, in the village of Sofievka, 2.5 million tenge was allocated for the installation of a 12-meter artificial tree. This amount includes decorations, delivery, installation, dismantling, and a timer for turning on the tree.

Meanwhile, in Astrakhan, located a two-hour drive from Sofievka, 831 thousand tenge was allocated for the installation of a tree in the central square.

In Pavlodar region, in the villages of Maikain and Uspenka, they are ready to allocate 650 thousand and 250 thousand tenge respectively for the installation and decoration of an artificial tree, including garlands, toys, and tinsel.

Our list also includes the most modest akimats. For example, the administration of the Akzhalsky rural district (Abay region) allocated 38.5 thousand tenge for the purchase of a real tree, while in the Samsinsky rural district (Zhambyl region), they decided to spend 70 thousand tenge to decorate a tree.

In preparing this material, we selected only those lots where the customer was the akimat. However, if you look at the government procurement website, you can also see requests from other government bodies, such as departments of culture, education, housing and communal services, central parks under the akimats, and so on.

It should be noted that in some cases, the cost of their orders exceeds 10-20 million tenge. For example, the culture and language development department of the city of Taldykorgan ordered a 29 million tenge 20-meter tree, which will be decorated in a Kazakh style.

"The tree with a dome is not only the central element of the festive space, but also a symbol of the connection between earth and heaven. Its design emphasizes the uniqueness and magic of the New Year holiday, creating a unified image filled with light, color, and dynamic decorative solutions. Light effects, projections, and the tree's glow will provide a festive mood and create a memorable atmosphere for all visitors," – states the technical specification.

By the way, the procurement was made exactly for the declared amount. The residents of Taldykorgan will have to determine whether this tree was worth such an expense.

Meanwhile, on one of the popular marketplaces, the price of a 5-meter artificial tree starts from 399 thousand tenge, while sets of New Year toys, such as large balls, cost from 7 thousand tenge, and garlands – from 6 thousand tenge and above.

Expenses for festive decoration often spark active discussions among Kazakhstanis. Some believe that it creates a festive mood, unites people, and forms a positive image of the city, while others are convinced that such expenses are not always justified in difficult economic conditions.

Nevertheless, the pre-New Year purchases by akimats have long been an established tradition, to which new elements are added each year, such as light projections and thematic installations. Perhaps, for some, the holiday budget seems excessive, and in some cases, more economical options could suffice, but many Kazakhstanis still look forward to the time when their streets will be adorned with New Year lights and tall trees, bringing a festive and magical spirit to cities and villages.