30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence

Kazakhstan is a proud descendant of the outstanding nomadic civilisation of the Great Steppe, represented by numerous nomadic state entities, including the Sakas (Asian Scythians), the Huns, the Turkic Khaganate, the Golden Horde and the Kazakh Khanate, which was established in 1465. After being part of the Tsarist empire and the Soviet Union for 260 years, Kazakhstan regained its independence on 16^th December 1991 with Nursultan Nazarbayev elected as the country’s first President.

At the dawn of independence, Kazakhstan embarked on a series of reforms aimed at shifting the country’s economy from a centrally planned system to a modern free market model and changing its one-party government to a multi-party democratic system. Over the past 30 years, Kazakhstan has established diplomatic relations with 186 countries and transformed into one of the dynamically developing economies of Eurasia and a reputable diplomatic voice on the world stage.

Kazakhstan can truly boast a centuries-old history and multifaceted cultural heritage. Many objects which now form an essential part of modern life and culture originated in Kazakhstan. These include:

Culture of horsemanship. The domestication of horses first took place in the territory of modern Kazakhstan, as did the culture of horsemanship. The ancestors of Kazakhs were the first to create protective armour for the horse and the rider from armour plates.
Golden Man: In 1969, ‘Kazakhstan’s Tutankhamun’ was discovered near the town Issyk. The skilful craftsmanship of the golden warrior garment revealed a rich mythology, reflecting power and aesthetics of the Steppe civilisation.
The Silk Road: The unique location of Kazakhstan, in the heart of Eurasia, has contributed to the emergence of transit ‘corridors’ between various regions and civilisations since ancient times. These routes were transformed into the Silk Road system - a transcontinental network of trade and cultural ties between East and West, North and South of Greater Eurasia.
Apples and tulips: The foothills of the Tien Shan mountain range are the historic homeland of apples and tulips. The world’s original apple tree – the Sievers apple tree – also originates from Kazakhstan. Around the world, there are now more than 3,000 varieties of cultivated tulips, most of which are descendants of ancient Kazakh local flowers.

Kazakhstan’s economy and investment climate

Kazakhstan has a GDP of above $180 billion (World Bank), which has increased 16-fold since independence. It is the largest economy in Central Asia, accounting for more than half of the region’s GDP.
Unemployment is low (4.9% in 2020 - gov.kz)
Kazakhstan joined the World Trade Organisation in 2015.
The economy provides great opportunities for local entrepreneurs – the government is planning to increase the number of people employed in SMEs to 4 million compared to 3.3 million in 2020, thus increasing the GDP share of SMEs to 35% by 2025 compared to 31% in 2020 (primeminister.kz).
Kazakhstan is widely considered to have the best investment climate in the region, ranking 25^th in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report (2019).
The country has attracted over $330 billion in foreign direct investment since independence.
Kazakhstan ranks 29^t^h in the UN E-Government Survey 2020 among 193 countries (compared to 39^th in 2019) - the highest among CIS countries.
Kazakhstan ranks 34^th in the 2021 Index of Economic Freedom (in comparison with 59^th in 2019) among 180 countries (www.heritage.org).

Kazakhstan accounts for approximately 70% of FDI into Central Asia.
Around 50% of FDI in Kazakhstan has been attracted from the EU, including $96.6 billion from the Netherlands, $16.7 billion from France, $8.7 billion from Belgium, $6.8 billion from Italy and $5 billion from Germany (2020).
Kazakhstan is a regional leader in terms of economic reforms, openness to international trade, investment and political stability.

Kazakhstan has been introducing comprehensive reforms in recent years to strengthen protection for investors, cut red tape, make tax more transparent and support entrepreneurship.

Kazakhstan plays a crucial role in enabling the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. Kazakhstan accounts for 70 percent of transit traffic passing from China to Europe and vice versa.
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) was established in 2018, a project aimed at making Nur-Sultan a financial hub in the region.
The main export items of Kazakhstan include: crude oil, copper, natural gas, uranium, ferroalloys, wheat.

Kazakhstan’s foreign policy and international cooperation

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan peacefully settled its borders with all of its neighbouring states.
The country has implemented a multi-vector foreign policy to establish good relations worldwide.
Kazakhstan is a world leader in the movement to ensure nuclear security:
On 29 August 1991, Kazakhstan closed the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and gave up the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world;
Kazakhstan contributed to the establishment of the Central Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (CANWFZ) in 2009;
The country previously hosted two rounds of nuclear talks between the P5+1 and Iran;
A Low-Enriched Uranium Bank under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been established on the territory of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan permanently contributes to international efforts on strengthening global and regional security, crisis settlement, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development.
Kazakhstan convened the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which now consists of 27
Kazakhstan is an active participant of regional projects being as a co-founder of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (CCTS).
Kazakhstan became the first post-Soviet and the first Muslim-majority country to chair the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010, and hosted the first OSCE summit in eleven years, which adopted the Astana Commemorative Declaration towards a Security Community.
Kazakhstan successfully chaired the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2011-2012.
Kazakhstan is a founding member of the Eurasian Economic Union which was established in 2014.
Kazakhstan became the first Central Asian country to be elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2017-2018.
Kazakhstan has made a significant contribution to the settlement of the Syrian crisis through the Astana Process, which provided a platform for negotiations between the Syrian government, the armed opposition and the guarantor states (Russia, Turkey and Iran).
Contribution to rebuilding of Afghanistan is a major priority for Kazakhstan. The country has provided humanitarian and development aid, student scholarships with special focus on young women, and training programmes for the police.
Kazakhstan hosted the EXPO 2017 International Specialised Exhibition in Nur-Sultan with the theme of Future Energy.

Kazakhstan’s political system and civil society

Since independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has consistently supported efforts to foster a democratic and free society.
Kazakhstan has a presidential form of governance. Executive power is held by the government, while legislative power is exercised by Parliament consisting of the Senate and the Mazhilis.
Since 2019, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev embarked on further reforms aimed at modernising the political system and ensuring protection of human rights. They include:

- establishment of the National Council of Public Trust, an advisory body under the President to conduct open dialogue with representatives of the public;

- legal formalisation of an institute of parliamentary opposition;

- 30% quota for women and young people to be included in political parties’ candidates lists;

- decriminalisation of libel;

- liberalisation of peaceful assemblies and registration of political parties;

- lowering the threshold for political parties to enter Parliament from 7% to 5%;

- joining the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, thus abolishing the death penalty;

- strengthening the role of the Ombudsman for Human Rights;

On 10 January 2021, parliamentary elections took place to elect members of the Mazhilis and local representative bodies. The elections were the first since the implementation of new national guidelines designed to further increase the openness, fairness and transparency of Kazakhstan’s electoral system. 3 out of 5 political parties gained enough votes to win seats at the lower house of Parliament following the election.
Kazakhstan is ethnically and religiously diverse. There are approximately 140 different ethnic groups and almost 4,000 religious organisations operating freely across the country representing 18 religious denominations. The largest ethnic group is Kazakhs (68.5%). Other ethnicities include: Russians (18.9%), Uzbeks (3.3%), Uighurs (1.5%), Ukrainians (1.4%), Germans (1.0%), Koreans (0.6%). The majority of the population are Muslims (around 70%). A further 26% are Christians (The Ministry of Information and Public Development, 2020). In 1995, the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan was established to harmonise interethnic relations in the country. Comprising various ethnic associations, it delegates nine members to Parliament.
Every three years, the capital Nur-Sultan hosts the Congress of Leaders of World & Traditional Religions to provide a forum for religious leaders to discuss the core issues facing the humanity and communities worldwide.
Kazakhstan ranks 51^st in the UN Human Development Index 2020 (compared to 76^th in 1999) - the highest among CIS countries – in the Very High Development group.
In 1993, the state-funded International Scholarship “Bolashak” was introduced, which has allowed thousands of young Kazakhs to study at the world’s top universities.
Kazakhstan ranks highest among Muslim-majority countries in the 2020 Global Gender Gap Index (72^nd), showing high equality between women and men (Global Gender Gap Report 2020).