2024: A year of transformation for Kazakhstan under Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s leadership

Analysis of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s key achievements in 2024 based on his 3 January interview with the Ana Tili newspaper.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (pictured) highlighted the major achievements of 2024 in an interview with Ana Tili (Mother Tongue) newspaper on 3 January, as reported by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali in The Nation, writes Derya Soysal, Central Asia Expert (Université libre de Bruxelles).

He noted that at the start of the year, he had predicted 2024 would be a pivotal year for Kazakhstan in many ways. The country launched systemic and ambitious economic reforms, laying a strong foundation for its five-year development plan. These efforts included numerous projects and initiatives aimed at progress.

When analyzing 2024, it is evident that the country is on a remarkable economic growth trajectory and increasingly becoming a regional power. Kazakhstan has also cemented its position as a key partner for the European Union. Among its notable achievements was its closer alignment with French President Emmanuel Macron. On November 5, 2024, President Tokayev was received by Macron for a state visit to France, strengthening the already robust partnership between the two nations (Élysée, November 5, 2024).

Kazakhstan also engaged in numerous meetings with the European Commission regarding critical raw material cooperation. Over recent years, global attention—particularly in the EU—has turned to the energy transition. In the 21st century, climate change is a global concern, and experts from the IPCC, engineers, and others have proposed low-carbon energy solutions. Critical raw materials are essential for producing such energy. Consequently, the EU has prioritized importing these minerals from producing countries, with Kazakhstan emerging as a key partner.

One notable event in this collaboration occurred on December 12, 2024, at Euractiv’s offices. This gathering brought together members of the Kazakh government and European Commission experts, including Ingrid Cailhol, Team Leader for the Middle East and Central Asia at DG INTPA (European Commission), and Bauyrzhan Mukayev, an independent associate at Kazakh Invest. They discussed cooperation on critical raw materials.

President Tokayev emphasized the modernization of engineering and public utility infrastructure across all regions, which were previously in disrepair. He highlighted that 18 million square meters of housing were commissioned, and 7,000 kilometers of highways were built or repaired. New passenger terminals were opened in the airports of Almaty, Kyzylorda, and Shymkent. This significant investment in infrastructure positions Kazakhstan as a vital link between Europe and Asia.

Additionally, the Kazakh government adopted a national infrastructure plan until 2029, encompassing 204 projects in energy, transport, digitalization, and water infrastructure, valued at nearly 40 trillion tenges ($81.8 billion) (Sakenova, October 16, 2024).

Tokayev also reported substantial progress in the manufacturing sector, noting that its contribution to industrial output is now nearly equivalent to that of the extractive sector. He praised farmers for achieving a record harvest of nearly 27 million tons of grain over the past decade. Data indicates a clear shift towards the production and export of manufactured goods (Verbeeck, August 30, 2024). Focus areas include high-value goods and services, innovative projects, and fostering sustainable economic growth. Proactive policies are attracting foreign investments in vehicle and equipment production, food products, and the chemical industry.

Finally, President Tokayev addressed the devastating floods in 2024 and the measures implemented to tackle their root causes and prevent future occurrences. This highlights Kazakhstan’s recognition of the urgent need to address climate change and its consequences.

Conclusion

In 2024, Kazakhstan made significant progress under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s leadership. Ambitious economic reforms and substantial infrastructure investments laid the groundwork for sustainable development and continued economic growth. The country also strengthened its international relations, particularly with the European Union and France, and took critical steps to address environmental and climate challenges. These efforts position Kazakhstan as a key regional player and a strategic partner for Europe.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(Elysee. (2024, 5 novembre). Visite d'État de son Excellence Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev, Président de la République du Kazakhstan. elysee.fr. https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2024/11/05/visite-detat-de-son-excellence-kassym-jomart-tokaiev-president-de-la-republique-du-kazakhstan

Sakenova, S. (2024, 16 octobre). Kazakhstan Adopts Infrastructure Dev’t Plan Until 2029 - The Astana Times. The Astana Times. https://astanatimes.com/2024/10/kazakhstan-adopts-infrastructure-devt-plan-until-2029/

The Government of Kazakhstan has approved the National Infrastructure Plan until 2029 | Press Release | Chambers and Partners. (s. d.). Chambers and Partners | Showcasing the Best Legal Talent. https://chambers.com/articles/the-government-of-kazakhstan-has-approved-the-national-infrastructure-plan-until-2029

Verbeeck, N. (2024, August 30). Kazakhstan seeks foreign investment from EU for in-country value-added production. Euractiv's Advocacy Lab. https://www.euractiv.com/section/central-asia/news/kazakhstan-seeks-foreign-investment-from-eu-for-in-country-value-added-production/

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