Since its arrival in Kazakhstan in 2012, Saraiva + Associados has grown into a key player in the region’s architectural scene, overcoming challenges, celebrating successes, and building a team that drives innovation on a global scale.
Sava Jović, city — Almaty, Country Manager at Saraiva + Associados Kazakhstan, linkedin
António João Bettencourt Henriques, city — Almaty, Business Development, linkedin
About the company
Our architecture business was established in Kazakhstan in 2012.
We were already well-established in Portugal and had positive experiences with international expansion, particularly in Algeria and Equatorial Guinea, where we had completed significant projects. Kazakhstan seemed like a promising next step, especially as it was conveniently located on the way to China, where we had just opened another office. It’s interesting how such practical considerations often drive strategic decisions.
Why Kazakhstan
In addition to the strong business case, two other factors played a crucial role:
Key connections: Antonio Henriques was already living in Kazakhstan at the time. Through him, we met our first client and friend, someone who shall remain nameless but was instrumental in making us feel welcome and showing us that no problem was insurmountable. You could say he "had our back" during those critical early months.
Prior experience: We had prior experience working with clients from Moscow and St. Petersburg. This gave us confidence in our ability to adapt to a new working culture, including dealing with SNIPs, GOSTs, and other unfamiliar business practices.
The business environment
When we arrived in 2012, the Kazakhstan economy — and the construction sector in particular — was going through tough times. People often joked, saying things like, "You're late to the party," or "Everyone wants to go to Europe, and you want to come here?"
Since then, we’ve experienced the highs and lows typical of a developing, dynamic economy. We quickly realized that relying solely on importing our conceptual work from our head office would be unsustainable, even if occasionally successful. This led us to establish a strong, sizeable local team in Kazakhstan, staffed with specialists from the region.
Opportunities in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a country with ambition and the resources to pursue its destiny as a "Country of the Future".
Having a government that respects private property and initiative while focusing on incremental improvements — like modern infrastructure — is vital. Infrastructure projects create a multiplier effect, enhancing overall development.
We’ve faced no significant regulatory or legal challenges, nor have we been involved in any major disputes. This is due to staying proactive, hiring reliable local specialists, and ensuring we understand the issues ourselves to make informed decisions.
For our field, architecture, the gradual adoption of Eurocodes has been beneficial as a European company. Over time, we’ve also become well-versed in local regulations, which no longer pose a challenge.
Challenges in the market
Decisions in the construction sector here are either very slow or extremely fast — there’s rarely a middle ground.
Over the years, we’ve had successes by staying attuned to local dynamics, but we’ve also faced setbacks. For example, projects can be canceled mid-execution due to shifting priorities or political changes.
As architects, we take pride in our technical work, but there’s always a sense of disappointment when some of our efforts don’t result in completed buildings for people to experience in their daily lives.
Results and plans
Our signature project in Astana is the Forte Bank Head Office, which we are immensely proud of. It stands as a testament to the collaboration between the client and specialists that made it possible.
We also contributed significantly to sustainability standards during Expo 2017, including designing two corporate pavilions for state companies. In Almaty, our work includes the entrances to the Botanical Garden.
But above all, we take the most pride in the team of 15 Kazakhstani specialists we’ve nurtured in our Astana office. This talented group consistently delivers top-quality architecture for Saraiva projects worldwide. Watching them grow professionally has been deeply rewarding.
We haven’t yet made inroads into Uzbekistan, but it’s on our radar.
In Kazakhstan, we aim to grow our team sustainably, increasing from 15 specialized architects to around 25-30. This expansion may include opening a new office in Almaty alongside our existing one in Astana — we’ll see how it unfolds.
Advice to entrepreneurs
Stay true to yourself. Good advice from the head office might arrive too late in certain situations.
You must think independently — only then can you build a truly sustainable business.
