The article is devoted to the development and financing of innovations of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is recognized in the world as an effective lever for ensuring the country's economic growth, since the main part of Kazakhstan's budget revenues is tax revenues from businesses and citizens: it is through them that expenses are financed state (along with borrowed funds). Particular attention is paid to the creation of SMEs around new innovative enterprises using various types of business cooperation and areas of activity in the field of ecology.

The article examines the development and formation of green finance in Kazakhstan. It is noted that green finance is now becoming The article defines the essence of responsible investment within the framework of the concept of ESG investment which takes into account the unity of environmental, social and corporate governance factors; an analysis of the status and development of responsible investment factors and corporate governance factors; the analysis of the status and development of responsible investments in economically developed countries; the possibilities of formation of ecosystem of financial support of ecologically responsible investments were estimated ecosystem of financial support for environmentally responsible investments in Kazakhstan; the following factors constraining and stimulating investments in “green” economy projects were identified, the measures of state support for environmentally responsible investment in the country have also been proposed. Investments in the country; and the measures proposed by the government to support the development of environmentally responsible investments in the country. Systematisation and refinement of scientific and theoretical approaches to defining The essence and economic content of environmentally responsible investment in the framework of The concept of ESG-investments and study of the possibility of their implementation in the practice of Kazakhstan.

The article reveals theoretical and methodological aspects of assessing the sustainable development of rural areas in Kazakhstan. In the course of the analysis, the authors revealed that economically stable and socially developed rural areas will become the basis of stability, independence and food security of the country. Changes in the number of rural population, natural growth and migration growth in recent years have been analyzed. The main socio-economic indicators of development of the Kazakh countryside are presented. The authors state that the losses are mainly observed in the spheres of professional, scientific and technical activities. It is concluded that the problems of improving the level and quality of life in the countryside should not be solved by the old costly methods. The conditions and opportunities for the development of rural areas are diverse in the republic. In this regard, studies aimed at assessing the potential of rural settlements, as well as the effectiveness of the activities of State and local authorities in ensuring sustainable development of rural areas, become relevant. The generalization of literary sources and foreign experience showed the importance of the main directions of public support for rural residents, the implementation of which contributes to the efficient use of agricultural resources, modernization of production and development of innovative technologies, formation of conditions for the intensive development of small business and entrepreneurship in rural areas, the increase in the employment level of rural residents due to expanding the scope of non-agricultural activities and more fully involving rural labor resources in economic turnover, increasing their level of income.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the current state and development of women’s entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan, which has a significant impact on the sustainable development of business structures. Therefore, in recent years, in the COVID-19 pandemic context, more and more attention has been paid to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises led by women, but in many low-income countries, women entrepreneurs still face significant barriers that do not exist when men are engaged in business. The analysis revealed that in practice, despite the organic changes introduced in COVID-19 pandemic conditions, women’s interest in the entrepreneurial activity organization is increasing every year from the point of view of the formation of the business process culture. The analysis identified the main reasons why women go into business: the desire for financial independence, the desire to realize their business idea, and the opportunity to combine work, family, and entertainment. Consequently, the state institution is actively pursuing a policy to reduce gender inequality, including in the business environment of Kazakhstan. The results of the study confirm that small and medium- sized business support institutions are interested in increasing women’s business, regardless of geographical location (city and village). Statistical analysis shows that the largest percentage of women entrepreneurs in wholesale and retail trade, the smallest percentage of women entrepreneurs is observed in the field of public administration and defense. To increase the business activity of women’s entrepreneurship, recommendations were developed for the formation and creation of a Unified National information Base on the development of women’s entrepreneurship.