In his Address to the people of Kazakhstan titled "Current Tasks of Kazakhstan in a New Historical Cycle," President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the country's development priorities for the coming years. They cover infrastructure modernization, energy, industry, agriculture, digital transformation, investment and financial policy, as well as the social sphere. One of the large-scale decisions is to allocate about 6.5 trillion tenge from the National Fund to infrastructure projects until the end of 2029.

Speaking about strategic guidelines, the Head of State emphasized that the result of the current transformations should be a country with a strong economy, modern infrastructure and high living standards.

– I am deeply convinced that historical responsibility before future generations lies not only in leaving them monetary savings in accounts, but also in building and passing on to our descendants a qualitatively new country: technologically advanced, with a strong competitive economy, modern infrastructure and high living standards, where every citizen has the opportunity for self-realization. This is our main task, if you will – a mission of historical scale, – said the President.

Among the priority tasks is the construction of social, transport and engineering facilities in all regions. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed declaring 2027 the Year of the Nationwide Great Construction. According to him, this is not about several large projects, but about full-scale construction and repair of civilian infrastructure.

The Government has been instructed to prepare an initial list of projects covering all regions by the end of the current year. At the same time, the President set a requirement for the use of public funds, which must bring concrete economic and social returns. It was proposed to more actively involve local small and medium-sized businesses in the implementation of projects.

Along with this, the Head of State outlined the task of strengthening the position on Eurasian transport routes, noting that changes in global logistics increase the importance of land corridors.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also set the task of improving the condition of roads, expanding the Kokshetau-Petropavlovsk highway and completing the high-quality reconstruction of all automobile checkpoints next year.

Another direction is the digitalization of the transport industry, including international routes. The President drew attention to the fact that paper documents no longer correspond to the tasks of managing global cargo flows in the era of artificial intelligence.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called electricity supply one of the decisive factors in the competitiveness of the state and its economic sovereignty. Currently, Kazakhstan faces an annual electricity deficit, which is especially noticeable during periods of peak consumption.

– Therefore, we face a task that is strategic in its essence: to achieve a sustainable energy surplus by 2029, – noted the Head of State.

To achieve this goal, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to build new and modernize existing power plants and transmission lines, develop coal generation using modern technologies and pay attention to renewable energy, primarily solar power plants. The Government has been instructed to update the unified long-term energy balance of the country until 2035.

The Address also touched upon the development of nuclear energy. The President proposed to seriously consider creating a state strategic reserve of uranium, which would allow meeting the needs of Kazakhstan's nuclear power plants for the long term. In addition, the Head of State considers it necessary to begin construction of the Balkhash NPP next year and sign an agreement on comprehensive cooperation for the earliest possible start of construction of the Moyinkum NPP.

The President linked the development of industry with technological renewal, more efficient use of the mineral resource base and expansion of processing within the country.

A separate direction is critical and rare earth metals. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed creating a National System for Managing Reserves of Critical Metals and working out the issue of forming a Fund of Non-Ferrous and Rare Earth Metals. The Government has been instructed to prepare relevant proposals by the end of the year with the participation of the business community.

As for the agro-industrial sector, according to the data cited in the Address, last year agriculture grew by almost six percent, and output amounted to 15 trillion tenge. The volume of preferential financing increased from one to one and a half trillion tenge. However, as the President noted, farmers need long-term investment resources that allow them to plan the development of their farms several years ahead.

The Baiterek Holding has formed a list of promising projects in the food industry worth over 500 billion tenge. The Head of State called for not delaying the allocation of affordable financing and moving on to the implementation of well-prepared initiatives.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev singled out the issue of rational water use as one of the systemic tasks. The Government and akimats need to strengthen control over water consumption, reduce losses in networks and eliminate the misuse of drinking water. For reliable accounting of resources, the Head of State noted the importance of completing the creation of the National Information System of Water Resources.

Digital transformation is designated as one of the directions for the further development of Kazakhstan. Two supercomputers have been launched in the country, and a third is expected to be launched by the end of the year. The laying of a fiber-optic cable across the Caspian Sea has been completed.

The President emphasized that new technologies should work for the development of the economy and increase productivity, and not remain separate technological projects. Artificial intelligence is expected to be used more widely in public administration, industry, agriculture and other sectors.

An important part of economic policy remains the improvement of legislation. The new Civil Code has been instructed to be prepared by the end of 2027. In the tax sphere, the Head of State called for taking into account the real conditions of doing business and the need for sustainable development of the economy.

To support entrepreneurship, the President proposed discussing the introduction of a three-year moratorium on inspections of micro and small businesses from January 1, 2027. The share of small and medium-sized businesses is 40 percent of GDP, and the sector accounts for about 70 percent of investments in fixed capital.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev placed special emphasis on improving the quality of life of the population. The Address outlines measures to increase the incomes of certain categories of workers and expand healthcare infrastructure.

From January 1, 2027, the minimum wage is planned to be raised from 85 thousand to 100 thousand tenge. For primary health care specialists, a salary increase is envisaged – depending on continuous service, the increase may reach 40 percent.

The development of medical care for children is also part of infrastructure plans. According to data cited by the Head of State, children make up about 34 percent of Kazakhstan's population – almost seven million people, and more than 330 thousand children are born in the country every year. As part of expanding medical infrastructure, the construction of perinatal centers, hospitals and children's rehabilitation institutions is planned.

The President also drew attention to the need to create conditions for children with special educational needs, whose number exceeds 237 thousand.

At the same time, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that state support should be targeted and reach those who truly need it. New social assistance mechanisms and digital systems, according to him, should first be tested in pilot mode and only after evaluating the results gradually scaled up.

The Head of State also noted the need to restructure public administration taking into account digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence.

In the final part of the Address, the President emphasized that Kazakhstan is entering a new historical cycle and must revise approaches to long-term planning. The Presidential Administration, together with the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms, with the involvement of research centers, has been instructed to prepare within a year a document defining the long-term development priorities of the country.

– We face one big goal – to build a Just, Strong, Clean, Progressive Kazakhstan, – stated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The Head of State emphasized that the implementation of the set tasks requires discipline, responsibility and hard work, and the foundation of the strategic course must remain justice, the unity of society and the principle of "Law and Order."

Linarа SAKTAGANOVA
Astana