It is almost 6 years since Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took office in Kazakhstan, the world's ninth largest country. During this time, the country, despite numerous challenges ranging from the coronavirus pandemic to global geopolitical tensions, has managed to achieve significant results in economic development.
By the end of 2024, GDP is 288 billion USD. GDP per capita exceeds 14,000 USD, increasing by almost half. Kazakhstan has come very close to the group of high-income countries.
The head of state has set the diversification of the economy as a priority task, with an emphasis on the development of the non-oil sector. And there are already concrete results - non-resource sectors are becoming the engine of economic growth. In 2019-2024 production in the manufacturing industry increased by 31.4%, while in construction the growth was 96.3%. In general, in the industrial structure, manufacturing enterprises are equal in share to the extractive industries.
In 2024 alone, 180 investment projects worth 1.3 trillion tenge were implemented in the manufacturing sector. As a result, the sector showed growth of almost 6% - the highest rate in the last decade. In 6 years, production in the machine-building sector has tripled, and the average annual growth of industrial production is 20.3%.
In specific figures, this is 134,000 passenger cars compared to 30,000 in 2018. The same applies to trucks, where growth was recorded more than sixfold - up to 7,100 units, buses - sevenfold, up to 2,900 units, special equipment - almost threefold, up to 711 units.
On the instructions of the president, active development of the petrochemical industry began. The country is systematically moving from the export of raw materials to deep processing - polymers, composite materials and chemical reagents are produced. These are products with high added value, in demand in various industries. One of the major projects is the KPI plant in the Atyrau region, which has already been launched and produces polypropylene. In terms of its capacity, this plant surpasses all similar production facilities in Central Asia.
The record grain harvest for 2024 demonstrates the effectiveness of state support measures for farmers. Over 6 years, 2.5 trillion tenge were allocated to subsidize the agro-industrial complex, which supported the growth of gross agricultural output by 1.8 times - up to 8.3 trillion tenge. Labor productivity per person employed in agriculture has doubled in five years, reaching 4.2 million tenge, and the volume of food production has increased 2.1 times.
Supporting domestic producers is one of the main priorities of the head of state. In state procurement, the list of goods, works and services of mechanical engineering, metallurgy, construction, light and chemical industries, as well as food products, which are purchased exclusively from Kazakh manufacturers, has been expanded many times.
At the same time, national development institutions continue to increase investments in the Kazakh economy. In 2025 alone, 8 trillion tenge will be invested through the Baiterek holding, and by 2027 this amount, on the instructions of the head of state, will be increased to 10 trillion tenge.
An important condition for dynamic development is the attraction of foreign investments, which are steadily flowing into the economy of Kazakhstan. This confirms the high level of confidence of foreign entrepreneurs in the country's economic potential and is supported by high ratings. Thus, in 2024, Kazakhstan received the highest rating in its history - Baa1 with “Stable“ outlook from Moody's. International agencies S&P and Fitch also confirmed Kazakhstan's investment-grade credit ratings.
Over the past 6 years, the economy has attracted 130 billion USD in foreign direct investment. It is important to note that foreign partners have begun to invest more in the processing industry, which amounts to 72.7 billion USD. The UN has identified Kazakhstan as the second largest recipient of FDI among landlocked countries.
Thanks to the active diplomatic efforts of the head of state, trade and economic cooperation with other countries is developing. As a result, over the past 6 years, foreign trade turnover has increased one and a half times - from 94.8 to 141.4 billion USD, and the volume of exports has grown from 61.1 to 81.6 billion USD.
At the same time, a significant result of the work is the increase in the share of exports of processed goods. According to the results of last year, their external supplies reached 28.8 billion USD, which is almost twice as much as in 2018. The share of exports of machinery, equipment, vehicles, tools and devices increased from 1.1% to 5.8%. The trend towards a decrease in the share of raw materials in the export structure continues - from 74.5% in 2018 to 63.5% in 2024.
Under the leadership of the president, a large-scale modernization of the country's infrastructure is being carried out. For many years, the heat and power sector has not received due attention: the infrastructure is worn out. Today, the acute phase of the crisis in energy and utilities has been overcome. If in 2019 the average level of wear of heat sources reached 71%, now it has been reduced to 61%.
By order of the head of state, the implementation of the National Project began in 2024, which provides for the modernization of 86,000 kilometers of utility networks, as well as the introduction of new production capacities. This will reduce the number of accidents by 20%, as well as the wear of the energy and utilities sector by an average of 40% throughout the country, and will also increase production by more than 7 GW.
It is important to note that in this area, local production will be used to the maximum. It is planned to fully load enterprises producing products for the housing and communal sector. The planned production volume of Kazakh companies will amount to about 3.5 trillion tenge.
Since 2019, electricity consumption has increased by 14% and amounts to about 120 billion kWh. Given the population growth, as well as the policies implemented for industrial development and digitalization, a further increase in energy consumption is expected. In this regard, nuclear energy is being developed on the instructions of the President. The area for the construction of the first nuclear power plant has been determined. Work has begun on determining sites for the construction of two more stations.
The construction industry is experiencing record growth rates. The volume of housing put into operation in 2024 will increase by 6.4 million sq. m, or 51.4%, compared to 2018 and reaches 19 million. A total of 97.8 million square meters of housing were put into operation from 2019 to 2024. This enabled tens of thousands of Kazakh families to acquire their own property and improve their standard of living.
In addition, the President constantly monitors the repair and construction of roads. Over the past 6 years, the reconstruction of 4,400 kilometers of republican highways has been completed. These are the corridors Center - East, Center - South, Taldykorgan - Ust-Kamenogorsk, Aktobe - Atyrau - Astrakhan, etc. In 2024, construction and repairs covered 12,000 kilometers of highways, of which 8,000 kilometers are republican roads, and the remaining 4 thousand are local. This is a record figure.
Also, over the past six years, about 250 new roadside service facilities have been built. The share of roadside service facilities meeting the national standard has increased from 52% to 90%.
Against the backdrop of the growth in the volume of freight transported by rail, the need for repair work is increasing. The annual volume of major repairs in 2024 increases by 41% compared to 2019. In total, 3 thousand kilometers of railway lines have been covered by major repairs in six years.
This year, the construction of the second Dostuk-Moynty railway line will be completed, which will increase the capacity from 12 pairs of trains to 60, as well as the Almaty bypass, which will relieve the Almaty railway junction by 40%.
The implementation of these projects will increase the cargo turnover between Europe and China, as well as increase the export potential of our country.
Maritime transport has grown by 20% since 2019. Significant growth is observed on the Trans-Caspian international transport route. Thanks to the ongoing work on the modernization of the transport infrastructure, the volume of transit traffic on the TMTR has increased sixfold since 2019 (2024 - 4.5 million tons), and the export of Kazakh products has increased 12-fold. The new Astana-Arkaluk-Turgai-Irgiz highway, announced by the head of state, will give an additional impetus to the route.
The country's gasification continues. By the beginning of 2025, more than 12 million citizens will have access to natural gas. In 2024, more than 1.7 thousand kilometers of gas networks were built. This year, 45 more projects for gasification of settlements will be implemented, which will bring the population coverage to 12.4 million people, and the degree of gasification to 62%.
The priority task is to provide Kazakhstanis with access to quality drinking water and modernize the water supply system. Significant work has been done in recent years: if in 2019 water supply was 97.2% in cities and 86.4% in villages, today these figures reach 99.4% and 97.8%, respectively. Out of 6,256 villages, 5,523 are supplied with water by the end of this year. In 238 of them, centralized water supply facilities will be built, and in 595 rural settlements, complex block modules will be installed.
To solve the problem of drinking water shortage in Astana, on the instructions of the President, the construction of pumping and filtering station No. 3 with a capacity of 105 thousand m3 per day was completed in 2023. Work has begun on the construction of a water supply line from the canal named after. Satpaev, which will allow for a long-term solution to the problem of water supply in the capital.
Along with the modernization of infrastructure, gasification and road construction, it is important to protect citizens from emergencies. A series of tragic events revealed problems with the logistical equipment of emergency services.
On the instructions of the President, modern models of rescue equipment, equipment and consumables were purchased, allowing for quick and effective conduct of emergency and rescue operations. Over the past six years, the level of equipment has increased from 53% to 64% and will continue to grow.
These measures have not only contributed to increased preparedness for emergencies, but also improved public safety. New technological solutions, such as a public warning system, have begun to be used.
The comprehensive approach to ensuring security includes not only the development of emergency services, but also strengthening measures to combat crime and prevent crimes within the framework of the principle of “Law and Order“. Since 2019, crime has decreased by 52%, in public places by 60%.
A priority is to strengthen the protection of the rights of citizens, especially women and children. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advocates the inadmissibility of domestic violence. As part of this policy, a law was adopted aimed at tightening penalties for domestic violence, providing for the criminalization of beating and intentional infliction of minor bodily harm, which was previously regulated only by administrative norms.
In addition, the head of state announced a new unified program "Children of Kazakhstan", aimed at systematizing and strengthening measures to support the younger generation.
At the event held on March 14 this year at the National Kurultai, the president once again emphasized that our state is social. And this is expressed in specific measures taken by the state to improve social indicators.
Over the past six years, the minimum wage has gradually doubled: from 42,500 tenge to 85,000 tenge. This has had a positive impact on the well-being of about 2 million citizens. The salaries of about 600,000 teachers have doubled, for three years the salaries of doctors have increased annually by 30%, those of average medical personnel by 20%, and the salaries of 38 thousand workers in the field of social security have doubled. A benefit has been introduced for large families, paid regardless of their income, and child-rearing payments have been extended from one year to a year and a half. A special payment has been introduced for workers employed in harmful working conditions.
Since 2019, life expectancy has increased from 73 to 75 years. The overall mortality rate decreased by 7.8%, maternal mortality by 26.3%, and infant mortality by 15.8%. This was facilitated by the increased effectiveness of prevention and expanded screening coverage.
Since 2019, 955 healthcare facilities have been built across the country. Among them are such important institutions as the National Scientific Oncology Center and the National Coordination Center for Emergency Medicine.
Thanks to the special presidential program “Ansagan Sabi“ more than 9 thousand babies have been born to families who could not have children since 2021.
Particular attention is paid to increasing the human resource potential of the healthcare system, especially in rural areas. For example, a one-time cash payment of 8.5 million tenge was introduced for medical workers who arrived to work in rural areas for a period of at least 5 years. There are accessible tools to solve housing issues.
In the field of education, work is being done to eliminate the shortage of places in schools and kindergartens, improve the quality of knowledge and raise the status of teachers. Over the past six years, 1,367 kindergartens have been opened, which has reduced the waiting list five times. Free meals are provided to 100% of children from socially disadvantaged families.
Since 2019, a record number of schools have been built in Kazakhstan - 1,200 educational institutions, providing about 1 million student places.
Over 3,000 rural schools have been modernized, which has solved the problem of 32 emergency and 71 three-shift schools, as well as the shortage of places in 200 schools in Kazakhstan.
This year, the construction of about 200 schools will continue. Also, on the instructions of the head of state, work is underway to modernize 1,000 schools in regional centers and villages. This is an important area, since 2/3 of all secondary schools are located in rural areas.
The Year of Working Professions declared by the President has given impetus to improving the system of technical and vocational education. In order to prepare qualified and sought-after personnel for the new economy, interaction between colleges and industrial enterprises is being strengthened. 410 educational institutions are covered by the patronage of 498 companies, 180 colleges have been modernized under the project “Zhas maman”. The amount of scholarships for students has been increased by 50%. 251 dormitories with 62 thousand places for students have been opened.
Support for scientific personnel is no less important, especially considering that the share of young people in science has increased sixfold over the past six years and is now 46%. To this end, the number of educational scholarships for doctoral studies is increasing and opportunities for conducting scientific research are expanding.
As for the commercialization of scientific developments, today 208 projects have already been successfully implemented and over 180 production facilities have reached the sales stage. The total contribution of commercialization projects to the country's economy amounts to 118.7 billion tenge. Over 2,000 new jobs have been opened. 25 projects were exported, 6 projects achieved sales of over 1 billion tenge.
The sports infrastructure is actively developing. Over the last six years, 314 sports and recreation complexes and 58 swimming pools have been built in the regions. The number of children's and youth sports schools has increased by 40 units - from 481 to 521. As a result, the share of citizens systematically engaged in physical education and sports has increased from 31.5%, or 5.9 million people, to 41.4%, or 8.4 million people.
The order of the head of state to direct funds received from the return of illegally withdrawn assets to solving social problems has become an effective tool for modernizing social infrastructure.
Over 194 billion tenge have already been transferred from the Special State Fund for the implementation of about 280 projects in the field of education, healthcare, sports, social security, as well as for the modernization of utility networks and water facilities.
The head of state emphasized the task of total digitalization and the widespread introduction of artificial intelligence. This should become the new driving force for economic growth.
Kazakhstan has achieved some success in this direction, increasing the export of IT services and confidently leading among the countries of Central Asia.
This is an industry in which our country has competitive advantages. Digital solutions have been firmly integrated into various areas, ensuring their efficiency and accelerated development. The “Digital Family Card“, “Social Wallet“ and digital vouchers in kindergartens are actively used, QazaqLaw (an assistant in the legislative framework) and the national language model LLM have been created, the “Digital Business Card“ are being developed, and others.
The volume of innovative products has more than doubled over the past five years – from 1.1 trillion tenge to 2.4 trillion tenge.
To promote the development of AI, on the instructions of the President, a venture fund of funds Qazaqstan Venture Group was created on the basis of the Astana International Financial Center with a target financing volume of 1 billion. USD.
The fund will prioritize investments in innovative projects in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
This year, the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Alem.ai will open its doors, which will contribute to the accelerated digital transformation of the country.
At the last meeting of the National Kurultai, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev particularly noted the high potential for the development of digitalization and artificial intelligence, transport, energy, the agro-industrial sector and human capital. The government will make every effort to achieve the set goals.
As you can see, much has been achieved over the past 6 years, but even more ambitious tasks lie ahead.
I am convinced that under the confident leadership of Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, Kazakhstan will achieve great successes and fully realize its enormous potential.
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
Olzhas Bektenov
