Decoding President Tokayev’s Vision for Kazakhstan in 2024
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s vision for Kazakhstan in 2024 represents a comprehensive and ambitious roadmap, spanning critical domains such as foreign policy, economic development, social progress, and geopolitical strategy. This in-depth analysis aims to examine the intricacies of President Tokayev’s vision, offering a detailed examination of the specific objectives, anticipated challenges, and potential impacts on the nation’s trajectory. President Kassym-Jomart Tokajev started the new year with a long interview to the newspaper Egemen Qazaqstan on January 3rd. In the interview, he discussed the most important achievements of the past year, gave opinions on both domestic and foreign policy, discussed social and economic development work and plans for 2024.
Tokayev repeated the important events that took place in 2023, including the start of work of the Constitutional Court, elections of representatives of Mazhilis and maslikhattis of all levels according to the new rules, elections of district akims (mayors), villages and towns of regional importance, as a result of which almost 700 akims were chosen.
The President emphasized that the country has begun to build a fair and competitive economic system, diversify and de-monopolize the economy, renew infrastructures, support entrepreneurship and attract investments.
The central issues of the social sector were consistently resolved. The construction of schools has started all over the country, also within the Viihtyisä school project, health facilities are being built in villages. The purpose of the country’s new social welfare law is to provide comprehensive support to vulnerable citizens.
“Officers in unsafe working conditions receive a special bonus, and environmental service employees receive an additional bonus due to risks to life and health. The salaries of doctors and teachers in schools, colleges and kindergartens have increased. The law on payment of the National Fund for Children was approved. A new method was introduced to determine the minimum wage, which takes into account key indicators of the economy, including inflation, he said.
All this work will take on a new meaning in 2024, emphasized Tokayev. This year is particularly important because it lays the foundation for the country’s next five-year term, the president said.
In a speech on the state of the country held in September 2023, Tokayev set the task of doubling the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) until 2029. The future extended board meeting will summarize the results of social and economic development. and determine the tactics of action in this direction.
“In the first quarter, the country will determine the main goal in the economic, socio-political and humanitarian spheres. Kazakhstan will continue a constructive and balanced foreign policy that takes into account the national interests of the country, said Tokayev.
Kazakhstan will host a number of high-level summits and forums in 2024, and at the same time will be the host of several the president of the international organization. These include Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Conference on Communication and Confidence Building Activities in Asia (CICA), Organization of Turkish States (OTS), International Rescue Fund Aral Sea (IFAS) and the Islamic Food Safety Organization.
In September, the fifth World Nomadic Games will take place in Astana, which are important for the popularization of national sports and a healthy lifestyle, as well as for the expansion of cultural and humanitarian ties between brotherly nations, Tokayev mentioned.
This year is also the 125th anniversary of the birth of the famous scientist Kanõš Satpayev and the 100th anniversary of the birth of the famous heroes Sagadat Nurmagambetov and Rakhimzhan Koshkarbayev. According to historians, this year marks 800 years since the formation of the Jochi Ulus, also known as the Golden Horde or Kipchak Khanate.
This year, researchers will finish the preparation of a multi-volume book on the history of Kazakhstan. More than 200 Kazakh scientists and almost 60 foreign experts participate in this work.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also mentioned about Russia. Their opinion is considered everywhere in the world; without the participation of this country, no world problem can be solved, and this is a fact,” said Tokayev in an interview published by the newspaper Egemen Qazaqstan.
Tokayev answered a question about the Russian presidential elections in March 2024. Moscow has an important role in world politics and that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a leader who “shapes the global agenda” with his words and actions
“So, presidential elections in a country like Russia have great international significance and will, to attract the attention of most countries of the world,” said Tokayev.
For Kazakhstan, according to Tokayev, the Russian presidential election is particularly interesting because of the high-level relations between Moscow and Astana.
He further said that 2024 will be an important year not only for Russia, but also for other countries holding elections, such as the United States, Great Britain, India and Azerbaijan.
Regarding Kazakhstan’s relations with China, Tokayev said that he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have started a new “golden 30 years” of cooperation between the two countries.
Expressing that the relations between Kazakhstan and China are developing “in the spirit of friendship, good neighborliness and eternal strategic partnership”, Tokayev said that it is important for Astana to cooperate with Beijing and effectively use all the advantages of its friendly relations and mutual relations understanding confidence.
Kazakhstan’s foreign policy approach to 2024
Tokayev also spoke about Kazakhstan’s foreign policy approach to 2024 and said that Astana will continue a constructive and balanced foreign policy that takes into account the country’s national interests.
He added that the country will preside over several international organizations at the same time, especially the Organization of Turkish States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Asian Conference on Communication and Confidence-Building Resources.
Regarding the referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country last September, the president said that the citizens must consider and discuss all the arguments for and against experts in order to make a “balanced and considered decision”.
Kazakh parliament adopts government budget for 2024-2026
Majilis, the lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, approved the amendments proposed by the Senate of the Upper House to the State Budget Law for 2024-2026.
According to the legislative procedure, the law on the government’s budget for 2024-2026 is now considered approved by the full house of the parliament and will be sent to the President of Kazakhstan for his signature. Senators earlier proposed an increase in the budget expenditures of 2024 by 119.5 billion tenge, which will be financed from presidential and government reserves.
Budgeted spending is now over 23.9 trillion tenge in 2024, over 23.8 trillion tenge in 2025 and over 25.1 trillion tenge in 2026, and over 18.4 trillion tenge in 2026. The deficit is expected to be more than 3.5 trillion tenge in 2024, more than 3.6 trillion tenge in 2025 and more than 3.9 trillion tenge in 2026. in 2024 to 218.5 trillion tenge in 2028.The budget was prepared assuming an oil price of $80 per barrel.
Inflation is expected to be 6-8 percent in 2024, 5.5-7.5 percent in 2025, and slowing to 5 percent in 2026-2028.
President Tokayev Charts Economic Blueprint with Focus on Structural Reforms
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined an ambitious economic course aimed at achieving a fair and just Kazakhstan and doubling the size of the country’s economy to $450 billion by 2029. During the interview, the president shared his views and addressed concerns about the feasibility of this goal.
President Tokayev answered questions about the realism of the economic goal, especially in the light of the forecasts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and indicated that economic growth in Kazakhstan is no longer expected in 2023-2024 than 3-4%.
“This is a completely achievable goal. According to analysts of the International Monetary Fund, by the end of 2023, the sum of the gross domestic product of Kazakhstan in current prices should exceed 259 billion dollars, that is 15% more than in 2022. This is the most important nominal growth in Central Asia, Tokaev said.
President Tokayev highlighted the positive development of GDP per capita, citing a forecast of almost $13,000 by 2023 and an annual growth of $1,600. He emphasized that according to the IMF, this figure should increase by a third to 16,800 USD by 2028.
“While macroeconomic indicators are important, the real well-being of citizens is most important,” said the president.
President Tokayev pointed out two main directions that the government must focus on to achieve the economic goal and emphasized the need for targeted tasks that stimulate the country’s development, such as large industrial projects.
“The first is to solve several targeted tasks that can contribute to the development of the country. These include the implementation of large industrial projects. In the September speech, the government was called to define a list of possible important projects and prepare an infrastructure development plan
These projects are studied and negotiated with large companies, institutional investors and the expert community,” he said.
He mentioned the creation of an Investment Headquarters endowed with broad powers to improve the investment climate and facilitate the high-quality implementation of investment projects.
“The second direction includes measures to implement systemic reforms to consolidate new ‘rules of the game’ for the entire economy. The government, on my instructions, is developing a new Tax Code designed to restart the relationship between the state and business,” President Tokayev explained.
He stressed the importance of balancing creating comfortable conditions for investors and maintaining the required budget revenue. President Tokayev also highlighted the significance of a new Budget Code, emphasizing rationality, thrift, and the relevance of budgetary use. He added that new laws on public procurement and public-private partnerships were considered necessary to ensure transparency and financial stability.
President Tokayev acknowledged global economic challenges, but emphasized the need for a detailed action plan to take advantage of new opportunities.
CONCLUSION
President Kassym-Jomart Tokajevandi’s Vision for 2024 is being developed as a comprehensive road map that guides Kazakhstan to a future characterized by economic prosperity, social progress and political reform. This strategic undertaking is not just an economic directive; it is a transformative journey that corresponds to the core values of the nation.
In leading Kazakhstan to economic prosperity, President Tokayev envisions a people-centered approach to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are shared equally among citizens. This commitment to inclusion and progress is the cornerstone of his economic strategy.
Outside the economy, the president sets ambitious goals for social progress, emphasizing harmony and peace in the country. This holistic perspective is not just about numerical growth; it includes the general well-being and prosperity of the population of Kazakhstan.
President Tokayev speaks directly about political challenges and defends transparency and reforms, recognizing the need to promote a more accountable political environment. This commitment to political development strengthens the foundations of nationhood and sustainable development.
As Kazakhstan embarks on this transformative journey, the global community under the leadership of President Tokayevand #039 will be watching the country’s position closely. His strategic vision not only shapes Kazakhstan’s destiny, but also contributes to the evolving story of a nation striving for excellence in all areas of its existence.
