Astana International Forum: Renewed Hope for Multilateralism
A quick glance at the current state of the world and the global political and economic landscape may offer no immediate reasons for optimism. Great power relations continue to sharpen, protracted conflicts show no sign of abating, and the rules-based multilateral system faces an uncertain trajectory. On the geo-economic front, globalization is slowing, with some…
Kazakhstan and European Union: Three Decades of Partnership, Cooperation and Friendship
Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on February 2, 2023. Over the course of thirty years, bilateral ties have grown into a robust and multi-faceted partnership. Several elements of this partnership stand out: the EU is Kazakhstan’s leading trade and investment partner, accounting for…
Early Presidential Election Paves Way for New Kazakhstan
The early presidential elections of November 20 not only confirmed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s re-election but also brought an end to the most eventful and turbulent year Kazakhstan has faced in its 30 years of independence. While the outcome may have not come as a big surprise, the most notable aspect is that the elections took…
New Political Reforms In Kazakhstan Only the Beginning of Continued Process of Renewal and Reform
On the 5th of June, Kazakh citizens will head to the polls to vote on the package of reforms intended to transform the country from a super-presidential system to a “presidential system with a strong parliament”. While the result of the referendum may not be in question, this exercise is still worthwhile. Furthermore, the proposed…
Kazakhstan – EU Relations in the Spotlight in Brussels
This week has seen a flurry of high-level visits from Kazakhstan to Brussels, with one clear message: Kazakhstan – EU relations matter and are ready to be taken to the next level. First Deputy Chief of Staff of the President Timur Suleimenov; Special Representative of the President for International Cooperation Erzhan Kazykhan; Human Rights Commissioner…
Turning Kazakhstan into a Competitive, Merit-Based Political System
NUR-SULTAN – On March 16, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his long-awaited state of the nation address. Initially scheduled for September, the fact that already a major package of reforms was unveiled in March points to the urgency of transformative and long-lasting change in Kazakhstan, increasing demands for accountability and transparency of Kazakh citizens towards the…
Towards a New Kazakhstan: From Unrest to Stability and Reforms
Kazakhstan’s January unrest caught international observers by surprise, both in Kazakhstan and elsewhere. Kazakhstan, which had successfully managed in the three decades of its journey as an independent nation to become a beacon of stability, was rocked by violent protests which caused over 200 casualties and considerable damage to public property, and left a nation…
President Nazarbayev’s Social Initiatives confirm people-oriented agenda, will strengthen middle class
On March 5, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev outlined five new major social initiatives to improve the socio-economic standing and progress of Kazakh citizens. These initiatives are a key pillar of Kazakhstan’s ambitious modernisation programme and will aid the nation in the pursuit of the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy. With its strong focus on infrastructure, logistics, private…
Switching to Latin alphabet further opens Kazakhstan to the world
In October 2017, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree, which was amended recently, on the phased transition of the Kazakh alphabet from Cyrillic into Latin script by 2025. By that year, Latin letters will be used in all official documents, books, newspapers, media and other areas. All the political, economic and cultural conditions…
