Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented the key results of 2024 in an interview with Ana Tili (Native Language) on January 3.
Exactly one year ago, on January 3, Tokayev gave an interview to Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper, where he outlined an ambitious economic course aiming to achieve a fairer Kazakhstan and double the size of the national economy.
“At the beginning of last year, I said in an interview that 2024 would be a decisive year for Kazakhstan in many ways. And it has been. By launching systematic and even challenging economic reforms, we have laid a strong foundation for the country’s five-year development. Many projects and initiatives have been completed in this direction, and there will be even more,” said Tokayev, reflecting on the achievements of 2024.
He emphasized that all regions had modernized their engineering and municipal infrastructure, which had previously been in poor condition. Additionally, 18 million square meters of housing were commissioned, and 7,000 kilometers of highways were built or repaired. New passenger terminals opened at airports in Almaty, Kyzylorda, and Shymkent. Major projects were also carried out in the mining, petrochemical, and metallurgical industries.
“The manufacturing sector has made significant progress, and its share in the industrial structure is almost equal to that of the extractive sector. I would especially like to highlight the success of our farmers, who have produced a record harvest of nearly 27 million tons of grain over the last ten years,” Tokayev said.
Social initiatives made notable progress: the National Fund for Children began its payments, while pensions, allowances, scholarships, and civil servant salaries were increased. Hundreds of schools, kindergartens, and fitness centers were built, over ten branches of foreign universities opened, science funding increased, cultural figures received strong support, and the development of mass sports was prioritized.
“This represents a significant investment in strengthening the skills of citizens,” Tokayev said.
“Overall, the past year was by no means simple; it could be said that it was difficult. Kazakhstan experienced the negative impact of external factors, and natural disasters also interfered with our plans. However, not only did we manage the situation, but we also continued to implement reforms. Thus, the reproduction strategy continued its development,” he said.
Lessons Learned from the 2024 Floods in Kazakhstan
In the spring of 2024, Kazakhstan was hit by devastating floods, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. In response, the government implemented comprehensive measures to support affected citizens and restore the damaged regions.
“The floods of last year were a serious test for our country. Such large-scale floods had never occurred before in Kazakhstan. However, the government was able to respond immediately to the most dangerous situation,” Tokayev said.
The floods caused widespread destruction, damaging homes, roads, bridges, and social and commercial facilities, as well as resulting in the loss of livestock.
“It must be acknowledged that such severe consequences could have been avoided if, in recent decades, more attention had been paid to building protective dams and other hydraulic structures. We are now working to rectify this shortcoming. The Parliament is reviewing a draft of the new Water Code. A comprehensive concept and plan for water resource management have been approved. These documents foresee the construction of more than 40 new reservoirs and the reconstruction of 37 existing ones, as well as the modernization of over 14,000 kilometers of irrigation channels by 2030,” he said.
A large-scale modernization of emergency forecasting and prevention systems has begun. To address the shortage of water specialists and strengthen research activities, the Kazakh National University of Water Resources and Irrigation has been established.
“The elimination of the consequences of the spring floods has demonstrated the effectiveness of the state. Not a single affected family has been left without assistance and support. Houses were built, apartments were purchased, infrastructure facilities were restored, and losses were compensated for all residents and businesses affected by the high waters,” Tokayev said.
In early December of the previous year, Tokayev participated in a Water Summit held in Saudi Arabia, co-chaired by Kazakhstan and France.
“Speaking at this important event, I emphasized the need to increase resilience to water-related disasters. In fact, water security and climate change issues require joint efforts from the international community. This is a priority issue for Kazakhstan,” Tokayev said in the interview.
In this interview, the President of Kazakhstan also discussed significant developments in the country’s foreign and domestic affairs in 2024. Key highlights included:
- Kazakhstan-China Relations: President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Kazakhstan marked a deepening of bilateral ties, with both leaders aiming to double mutual trade volumes. A visa-free regime between the two nations was established in 2023, fostering closer connections and trade expansion. The cooperation between Kazakhstan and China is seen as a permanent strategic partnership, and further high-level dialogues are planned.
- Kazakh-American Relations: The President expressed confidence in strengthening ties with the U.S., including trade, nuclear non-proliferation, and security. In a recent conversation with Donald Trump, the President highlighted Kazakhstan’s position on the Ukraine conflict and reiterated the country’s ongoing commitment to peace efforts without positioning itself as a mediator.
- Turkic Cooperation: Kazakhstan, as chair of the Organization of Turkic States, has been pivotal in enhancing cooperation in political, economic, and cultural sectors. The country continues to promote integration, with initiatives focused on trade, energy, and digitalization, while advocating for the preservation of Turkic heritage and unity.
- Middle Power Role: Kazakhstan is increasingly recognized as a “middle power” in international relations. The President believes middle powers can play a key role in reducing global tensions and promoting peace through collaboration and trust-building efforts.
- Commemoration of the Great Victory: Kazakhstan plans significant events for the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, honoring the nation’s contributions during WWII, including a military parade, exhibitions, and research on veterans’ history.
- Promotion of the Kazakh Language: The Kazakh language’s growing popularity among youth is seen as a positive trend. The government is focused on furthering its promotion through education, digital tools, and cultural content. This effort is aimed at ensuring the language’s future while respecting Kazakhstan’s linguistic diversity.
- Youth and Education: The President emphasized the importance of nurturing politically responsible, well-rounded youth. Initiatives include promoting vocational professions and supporting young specialists. Additionally, youth pursuing education or employment abroad are encouraged to return with knowledge and experience to contribute to Kazakhstan’s growth.
/Argumentum.al
