The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, delivered an address at the National Kurultai (National Congress) on March 15. He primally focused on Kazakhstan’s development, outlining key tasks and priorities for the country.

The President stated that addressing economic issues alone does not suffice for becoming a genuinely developed nation, adding that Kazakhstan must take a comprehensive approach, outlining guidelines not only in the socio-economic realm but also in the ideological sphere.

The National Kurultai, first inaugurated in the Ulytau Region in 2022, holds significant importance as a forum for charting the course of Kazakhstan’s future. The Kurultai comprises a diverse range of individuals from various sectors of society, including government officials, representatives from public organisations, business leaders, intellectuals, and public figures.

Key points from President Tokayev’s statement

On Kazakhstan’s foreign policy

  • Kazakhstan remains committed to bilateral and multilateral cooperation through constructive dialogue and active diplomatic and foreign economic activity.
  • The country is focused on the integration processes within the Eurasian and Central Asian regions.
  • Kazakhstan will make a positive contribution to the development of cooperation between the Turkic countries.
  • As a responsible member of the international community, Kazakhstan must always be ready to defend national interests, the sovereignty, and Independence of the state.
  • All decisions of our state apparatus, be it domestic or foreign policy, should be based on fundamental national interests.

Kazakhstan as a transit hub in Eurasia

  • Decisive steps must be taken to turn Kazakhstan into one of the key transit hubs of Eurasia.
  • It is necessary to consistently develop transit corridors running through the territory of Kazakhstan and comprehensively stimulate foreign trade turnover.
  • To do this, the country will build logistics centres and warehouses, increase the construction of railway lines, strengthen the infrastructure of maritime transportation, and pursue a flexible tariff policy.
  • This will maximise the benefits of the geographical location of the country and give impetus to many sectors of the economy.

Domestic development

  • IT technologies are a promising growth point. By the end of the year, Kazakhstan plans to create a supercomputer and launch a new data centre.
  • The country intends to build a fibre-optic communication line along the bottom of the Caspian Sea. This project will pave another digital corridor between Europe and Asia.
  • Kazakhstan must become a territory of total digitalisation and accelerated development of artificial intelligence.
  • The Government should increase the level of gasification of settlements and modernise at least 1,700 kilometres of networks. This will provide access to natural gas for more than 300,000 citizens.
  • The construction and reconstruction of the country’s road network will give a powerful impetus to the development of the economy. It is necessary to carry out works on at least 12,000 kilometres of highways. As a result, the transport accessibility of settlements will significantly improve, enhancing business activity and increasing people’s social mobility.

On political development

  • President Tokayev emphasized that as the Head of State, his main mission is to ensure a Just Kazakhstan.
  • Kazakhstan will build a just State with strong democratic institutions and a developed legal system that ensures the rule of law and order – the fundamental principle of the country’s policy.
  • Kazakhstan will always be tolerant of all faiths, beliefs, and teachings that do not undermine our statehood and public morality.
  • The President urged the government to focus on budget savings. Finances should be allocated exclusively towards implementing essential projects and addressing the most urgent issues.
  • Another priority is expanding the scope of use of the Kazakh language.

National identity and image

  • It is crucial that the perception of the Golden Horde in the world is inextricably linked with Kazakhstan.
  • It is necessary to begin inscribing natural and historical sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including the Ustyurt Plateau.
  • President Tokayev proposed the adoption of wearing ethnic clothes, suggesting that it would make Kazakhstan recognisable globally.

Core values of the country

President Tokayev proposed the following core values of the country that should act as a foundation for the country’s development:

 

  • Independence and patriotism
  • Unity and solidarity
  • Justice and responsibility
  • Law and order
  • Hard work and professionalism
  • Creation and innovation

In addition, President Tokayev suggested that the country must tackle the following five ‘social evils’:

  • Drug trafficking, including synthetic drugs. Production of narcotic substances should be increased to the maximum, equating it with the most serious crimes.
  • Spread of vape devices. The Parliament is currently considering a bill that would criminalise the import, production, and trafficking of vape devices.
  • Gambling addiction. On the initiative of the Amanat party, a relevant draft law has been prepared and is currently under consideration in Parliament.
  • Rise in domestic violence, bullying, aggression, and vandalism.
  • Wasteful spending.