Astana, January 5, 2026 – The Europe Today: President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has shared his strategic vision for Kazakhstan’s development in 2026 in an extensive interview with the Turkistan newspaper.
President Tokayev described the upcoming year as challenging, noting that it will mark a new stage of large-scale political transformation and the advancement of economic reforms. “The modernization of the country must become truly irreversible, fundamentally changing the essence and image of our society. Citizens will need to adapt to the realities of a new era. This is not an easy task, but I am convinced that our people, especially the youth, are capable of doing it,” he said.
The President highlighted that 2026 has been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. “This is a historic opportunity for our country. Digital transformation and the introduction of artificial intelligence open new prospects for the economy and many other areas of life—from public administration to education and healthcare,” Tokayev remarked.
Reflecting on Kazakhstan’s upcoming 35th Independence anniversary, the President emphasized its significance as a milestone for critical evaluation and forward-looking planning. “Thirty-five years of Independence is a landmark date. It is important not to turn the anniversary into a mere festive campaign. It must become a symbol of Kazakhstan’s progress,” he said.
President Tokayev also reaffirmed his personal commitment to the Taza Qazaqstan (Clean Kazakhstan) initiative. “This work is of great importance, as it concerns resource conservation, purity of thought, rejection of idleness, the importance of self-development, collective responsibility, kindness, and charity. At our country’s initiative, the United Nations has declared this year the International Year of Volunteers, which fully resonates with the idea of Taza Qazaqstan. I regard this nationwide movement as a crucial ideological campaign, since cleanliness carries a deep, multifaceted meaning. Cleanliness is the opposite of destruction—both in minds and on the ground. It must become the backbone of our national mentality,” he concluded.
President Tokayev’s remarks underline Kazakhstan’s commitment to technological advancement, national modernization, and the promotion of civic responsibility as the country enters a new phase of development.
