State support and barriers to SME and social enterprise development: evidence from Аkmola region

This study examines how small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs in the Akmola region perceive government support measures and identifies systemic barriers that hinder business development, including within the social entrepreneurship sector. The methodological framework is based on two focus group discussions involving representatives of various business types, including social enterprises. The use of purposive sampling and semistructured discussions allowed for a thorough understanding of entrepreneurs’ subjective assessments, identification of key problem areas, and analysis of their interactions with government support instruments. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis following the approach of Braun and Clarke, which allowed the identification of nine major thematic problem areas, including administrative barriers, difficulties in accessing credit, grant financing constraints, infrastructure limitations, and challenges specific to social entrepreneurship. The findings suggest that official statistics on the number of SMEs do not always reflect their actual economic sustainability, while existing institutional support mechanisms are often perceived as formal, fragmented, and insufficiently accessible, particularly for microenterprises and rural businesses. Social entrepreneurs, in particular, emphasize the high value of obtaining official status but highlight excessive bureaucratic requirements and the limited applicability of current eligibility criteria. The scientific significance of the study lies in conducting a qualitative regional analysis of the development of SMEs and social entrepreneurship in the Akmola region, which allows us to supplement existing quantitative studies with empirical data on the practical experience of entrepreneurs. From a practical perspective, the results may inform policymakers and regional development institutions by highlighting critical gaps between formal support mechanisms and real business needs. The study offers targeted recommendations aimed at improving the transparency, accessibility, and adaptability of government support instruments, with particular attention to the needs of microbusinesses and rural areas, thereby contributing to more inclusive and sustainable regional economic development.

1. OECD. SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2020. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2020. 80 p. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1787/34907e9c-en (In English)

2. Stam E. (2015) Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Regional Policy: A Sympathetic Critique // European Planning Studies, vol. 23, no. 9, pp. 1759–1769. (In English)

3. Defourny J., Nyssens M. (2017) Social enterprise and the third sector: Changing European landscapes. London: Routledge. 320 p. (In English)

4. Qazaqstan Respublikasy strategialyq josparlau jäne reformalar jönındegı agenttıgınıñ ūlttyq statistika bürosy. 2024. URL: https://stat.gov.kz/en/region/akmola/ (ötınış berılgen kün: 10.02.2026) (In Kazakh)

5. JSC “Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund”. Data from Akmola region. URL: https://damu.kz/ru/poleznaya-informatsiya/damu_analytics/map/akmola (accessed: 10.02.2026) (In English)

6. Mair J., Marti I. (2006) Social Entrepreneurship Research: A Source of Explanation, Prediction, and Delight // Journal of World Business, vol. 41, no. 1, рр. 36–44. (In English)

7. Saebi T., Foss N.J., (2020) Social Entrepreneurship Research: Past Achievements and Future Promises // Journal of Management Studies, vol. 57, no. 4, рр. 697–732. (In English)

8. Davies I.A., Haugh H., Chambers L. (2019) Barriers to Social Enterprise Growth // Journal of Small Business Management, vol. 57, no. 4, рр. 1616–1636. (In English)

9. Gururaja B.L. (2024) Barriers to the Social Enterprise Performance: A Literature Review // Empirical Economics Letters, vol. 23, рр. 1–15. (In English)

10. Nicholls A. (2010) Social Entrepreneurship: New Models of Sustainable Social Change. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 464 p. (In English)

11. Ivanov V.V., Zhil’cova E.A. (2021) Razvitie social’nogo predprinimatel’stva v Rossii i stranah SNG: institucional’nye i finansovye aspekty // Rossijskij zhurnal menedzhmenta. T. 19. No. 4. P. 112–130. (In Russian)

12. Muhamediev B.K., Esbergen R.B., Zhumanova A.K., Ahmetova Z.B. (2019) Bar’ery razvitija malogo i srednego predprinimatel’stva v Kazahstane // Journal of Applied Research in Life Environment and Economics. T. 1. No. 4. Р. 45–58. URL: https://journals.aserspublishing.eu/jarle/article/view/4150 (data obrashhenija: 10.12.2025) (In Russian)

13. El’shibaev R.K., Ukubasova G.S., Tungatarova B. (2020) Voprosy gosudarstvennoj podderzhki malogo i srednego predprinimatel’stva v Kazahstane // Journal of Economic Research & Business Administration. No. 134(4). Р. 98–110. (In Russian)

14. Williams C.C., Vorley T. (2021) InstitutionalAsymmetry and Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies // Journal of Business Research, vol. 122, рр. 620–632. (In English)

15. Dees J.G. (2001) The meaning of social entrepreneurship. Kansas City: Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. 15 p. (In English)

16. Sharir M., Lerner M. (2006) Gauging the Success of Social Ventures Initiated by Individual Social Entrepreneurs // Journal of World Business, vol. 41, no. 1, рр. 6–20. (In English)

17. Kazbekova D. (2024) Mechanisms of Stimulation of Smalland Medium-Sized Enterprises // Journal of Risk and Financial Management, vol. 17, no. 7, рр. 257–270. (In English)

18. OECD. SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Kazakhstan. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2018. URL: https://www.oecd.org/industry/smes/sme-and-entrepreneurship-policy-in-kazakhstan.htm (accessed: 10.12.2025) (In English)

19. Abylkassymova A. (2022) Social Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan: Current Trends and Institutional Challenges // Central Asian Economic Review, vol. 12, no. 3, рр. 45–60. (In English)

20. Braun V., & Clarke V. (2006) Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology // Qualitative Research in Psychology, vol. 3, pp. 77–101. DOI: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa (In English)

21. Aksakalov B., Tleubayev K., Saparov A. (2023) State Support Mechanisms for SMEs in Regional Kazakhstan // Journal of Regional Policy, vol. 8, no. 1, рр. 78–94. (In English)

22. Coad A., Frankish J., Link A.N. (2023) Government Support, Firm Growth, and Survival: Evidence from Small Businesses // Small Business Economics, vol. 60, no. 2, рр. 451–472. (In English)

23. Suchek N. (2023) Inter-Organizational Cooperation Oriented Towards Sustainability Involving SMEs // Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 6, рр. 5042–5055. (In English)

24. Hübner W. (2006) SME development in countries of Central Asia. Vienna: UNIDO Working Paper. 45 p. (In English)

25. Akinboye A.K. (2025) Exploring Obstacles to SME Growth in Emerging Economies // Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, vol. 12, рр. 34–48. (In English)