Заместитель Премьер-министра – министр национальной экономики Серик Жумангарин встретился с Постоянным представителем ПРООН в Казахстане Катаржиной Вавьерниа. Стороны обсудили итоги совместной работы и приоритеты страновой программы на 2026-2030 годы.
Катаржина Вавьерниа отметила значимость многолетнего партнерства с Казахстаном и вклад совместных инициатив в развитие зеленого финансирования, продвижение Целей устойчивого развития ООН и укрепление потенциала регионов. Среди приоритетов дальнейшей работы выделено региональное экономическое развитие, цифровизацию планирования, повышение производительности бизнеса и диверсификацию сельской экономики.
В рамках новой страновой программы ПРООН предлагает усилить региональный подход к экономическому развитию и фискальной устойчивости. В частности, планируются анализ доходов и расходов регионов и проработка подходов к укреплению доходной базы местных бюджетов.
Еще одно направление – цифровизация регионального планирования. ПРООН предлагает разработать геоэкономическую модель для определения перспективных точек роста, инфраструктурных потребностей и инвестиционных приоритетов регионов. Также планируется развивать цифровые инструменты, которые позволят использовать данные о потенциале территорий при принятии управленческих решений.
Программа предусматривает поддержку малого и среднего бизнеса, повышение производительности предприятий и качества занятости. В регионах предлагается апробировать модели развития производственных кластеров МСБ. В сельской местности акцент будет сделан на диверсификации экономики, расширении переработки сельскохозяйственной продукции и повышении доходов населения.
Стороны также обсудили совершенствование прогнозирования потребности в трудовых ресурсах с учетом будущих запросов экономики.
Отдельное внимание уделено достижению Целей устойчивого развития ООН, в том числе интеграции ЦУР в государственное планирование и бюджетирование, совершенствованию региональных показателей, а также климатическим и водным вопросам.
Серик Жумангарин подчеркнул важность дальнейшего сотрудничества с ПРООН и отметил заинтересованность Казахстана в региональных инициативах и развитии зеленого финансирования. Стороны также обсудили возможности расширения доступа регионов к финансовым инструментам, в том числе за счет международных кредитных рейтингов.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin met with Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region of the Russian Federation. The parties discussed the development of mutual trade, cooperation in agriculture and industry, and transport logistics.
In the first eight months of this year, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the Leningrad Region increased by 2.5% to $257.9 million.
The parties identified the agro-industrial complex as a promising area. Kazakhstan is interested in developing joint projects in dairy farming, plant breeding, food production, and agricultural processing. The Leningrad Region's experience in these areas could serve as a basis for expanding cooperation and increasing raw material processing volumes.
Special attention was given to industrial cooperation and localization of production. Potential for joint projects exists in mechanical engineering, the chemical industry, equipment manufacturing, and construction materials. The parties also discussed the supply of raw materials for mineral fertilizer production and a project to produce modern organic fertilizers in the Zhambyl region.
Transport logistics was an important topic. Alexander Drozdenko noted the region's interest in long-term contracts for the transportation of Kazakh cargo through the ports of the Leningrad region. The parties also discussed rail transit and the need to improve the sustainability of freight transport.
Furthermore, prospects for cooperation in the nuclear industry, including the training of nuclear specialists, were discussed.
Serik Zhumangarin emphasized the importance of moving from agreements to specific projects and proposed intensifying direct contacts between enterprises in the two regions.
"Our goal is to expand mutual trade, develop joint ventures, and create conditions for the implementation of initiatives that will bring practical benefits to both sides," noted the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.
The 11th meeting of the Coordinating Council for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was held in the Government under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. Representatives of the UN, heads of central state bodies and regional akimats took part in the discussion.
The vice-premier noted that Kazakhstan demonstrates a high commitment to the global agenda of sustainable development, consolidating the status of a leader in Central Asia and strengthening its position in the international community.
"As the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev repeatedly pointed out, the implementation of the SDGs is directly related to our national priorities. Speaking at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, the President emphasized that Kazakhstan integrated the tasks of sustainable development into state planning and budget formation. In order to achieve these goals, we attach special importance to strengthening cooperation with international organizations," said Serik Jumangarin.
Permanent coordinator of the UN in Kazakhstan Sarango Radnaaragcha spoke about the importance of preparing the annual national report on the SDGs, the connection of budget planning with the tasks of sustainable development and strengthening of regional cooperation. Emphasis was placed on the joint work of Kazakhstan and the UN in the issues of climate change and water resources management.
The permanent representative of the UNDP in Kazakhstan, Katarzyna Vavernia, has especially highlighted the progress of the country in the integration of the SDGs into the state planning system. The next important step is the adaptation of national priorities to the specifics of each region, the development of local self-government and the development of the economic potential of the territories.
With the support of the European Union, a three-year initiative to promote the reform of local self-government was launched. The project will be implemented together with the Ministry of National Economy and local executive bodies in five regions: Abai and Zhetysu, Turkestan, Mangistau and Kostanay regions. The initiative is aimed at stimulating the local economy, strengthening the potential of regions, expanding employment and increasing the income of the population.
The participants of the meeting reviewed the intermediate indicators for achieving the SDGs and discussed future prospects. Among the key results of Kazakhstan, positive dynamics in achieving the SDG indicator "Share of the population covered by the social security system" is noted. By the end of 2025, its recipients were 54,400. families, so at the present time their quantity has decreased to 41.3 thousand.
In the Kyzylorda region, the share of schools that created conditions for inclusive education reached 99.3%. Fully resolved issues of three-shift and emergency schools.
In the Zhetysu region, 110 settlements in the territory from the Kerbulak district to the suburban zone of the city of Taldykorgan were provided as part of gasification, in 2022 there were only five such settlements. The level of gasification in the region reached 67.2%, covering 467 thousand. человек This year, it is planned to gasify 16 more settlements, as a result of which the level of gasification in the region will reach 72%.
One of the following directions is the formation of a comprehensive national system for regular monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Work on localization of indicators will continue at the local level.
Entrepreneurial activity in the country maintains positive momentum and demonstrates resilience to external and internal economic changes, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.
Including the self-employed, the total number of businesses increased by 32.5%, reaching 3.2 million. The number of entrepreneurs operating under the general regime—VAT payers—increased by 28%. Conditions have been created for citizens to exit the shadow economy: 981,000 people are registered as self-employed, of whom 807,000 registered for tax purposes for the first time.
"In the first nine months of 2026, 277,000 new businesses were registered, including 34,700 legal entities and 242,300 individual entrepreneurs. During the same period, 19,700 legal entities and 356,000 individual entrepreneurs were deregistered. Deregistration of individual entrepreneurs does not mean the actual cessation of economic activity. Of the 356,000 individual entrepreneurs who closed, 42.6% had no income in 2025, and 20.8% transitioned to self-employment status, continuing their activities,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
The government, together with the National Bank, continues to implement a set of measures to reduce inflationary pressure. At the end of September of this year, the annual inflation rate was recorded at 9.3%, down from 9.8% in August. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin reported this at a government meeting. According to him, the main factor behind the slowdown was the slowdown in food price increases. In September, prices for food products fell by 0.1%.
"Containing inflation is one of the Government's efforts to increase real incomes. Against the backdrop of slowing inflation in the second quarter of this year, real incomes increased by 0.7% compared to 0.1% in the first quarter," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
Investment continues to drive economic growth. In the first nine months of this year, investment in fixed assets amounted to 16.1 trillion tenge, an increase of 7%. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.
"What's special is that private investment is the main driver of investment growth, increasing by 18.2%," reported Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.
The share of private investment was 85.7%. Gross foreign direct investment inflows for the first half of this year amounted to $9.4 billion. The most significant growth was observed in manufacturing (40.1%), construction (32%), information and communications (29.2%), healthcare (20.4%), and agriculture (9.1%).
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin presented a report on socioeconomic development for the first nine months of this year at a government meeting. According to him, growth was supported by the non-resource sector, which increased by 5.4%.
"Kazakhstan's economy continues to grow and demonstrate positive dynamics. Growth in the first nine months of this year amounted to 4.2%. This was supported by the non-resource sector, which grew by 5.4%. Among industries, construction, manufacturing, transportation services, and trade demonstrated the highest growth rates. The combined contribution of these sectors to GDP growth is over 75%," the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Serik Zhumangarin emphasized that, thanks to the gradual diversification of the economy, the share of oil production in GDP has decreased to 7.8% by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, the share of manufacturing has increased to 14.1%, and mining to 12.4%.
According to the National Bank, in the first half of 2026, the current account of the balance of payments of Kazakhstan was formed with a surplus of 2.4 billion dollars, or 1.6% of GDP.
According to the National Bank, in the first half of 2026, the current account of the balance of payments of Kazakhstan was formed with a surplus of 2.4 billion dollars, or 1.6% of GDP.
For comparison: at the end of 2025, the current account deficit amounted to 13.1 billion dollars. The main factor of the improvement was the outpacing of the growth rate of exports over imports.
What is the current account surplus?
The current account of the balance of payments reflects the foreign economic operations of the country, including trade in goods and services, as well as the movement of income and current transfers.
Surplus means that income from current operations exceeds payments for the border. This reduces the economy's need for external financing.
Dynamics of payment balance
During 2016-2025, Kazakhstan's current account was in deficit in nine out of ten years. The average deficit was about 2.7% of GDP. At the same time, trade in goods annually provided a surplus, a significant part of which was compensated by income payments to foreign investors.
After a surplus of 6.4 billion dollars in 2022, the current account again became a deficit. The result in 2025 will be influenced by a drop in oil prices and a high volume of imports.
In the first half of 2026, the current account balance improved by almost 6 billion dollars: from a deficit of 3.6 billion dollars a year earlier to a surplus of 2.4 billion dollars. The main improvement occurred in the II quarter, when the surplus amounted to 3.2 billion dollars. USA.
Thus, after three deficit years, the current account again entered the positive zone.
The meaning of surplus for economy
The inflow of currency into the economy is increasing. V
The key role in the first half of the year was played by the expansion of the commodity surplus more than twice - from 7.7 to 16.2 billion dollars. USA.
The excess of export earnings over import expenses, services and income allows to cover external expenses with own foreign exchange earnings to a greater extent, reducing dependence on foreign borrowings and capital inflows. Reducing the need for external financing reduces the vulnerability of the economy to the outflow of foreign capital and the deterioration of conditions in the world financial markets.
External stability is strengthened. A stable supply of currency from exporters reduces pressure on the currency market and creates conditions for the accumulation of foreign assets.
The role of the state in the formation of the balance of payments
The state affects the state of the balance of payments through the management of external financial resources, the creation of conditions for investments and the implementation of economic policy.
Direct participation is connected with the management of reserve assets of the National Bank, funds of the National Fund and external borrowings. Indirect — with the formation of the investment climate, attraction of direct foreign investments, monetary and credit and currency policy.
Export: growth of supplies and increase in commodity component
According to the National Bank, in the first half of 2026, the export of goods according to the balance of payments methodology increased by 27.1% to 48.5 billion dollars. More than 80% of product positions have positive dynamics.
According to the data of the Bureau of National Statistics, during the same period, supplies of copper and copper cathodes increased by 58%, copper ores and concentrates by 42.9%, uranium by 15.1%, and wheat by 28.2%. Export of silver grew by 2.9 times, silver - by 2.4 times.
At the end of seven months, growth continued: export of goods increased by 15.8% to 50.9 billion dollars. The positive balance of foreign trade reached 14 billion dollars, surpassing last year's indicator by 5.4 billion dollars.
Against the background of the growth of the manufacturing industry, non-raw goods exports increased by 9% to 19.5%, up to 18.6 billion dollars.
Export of agricultural production increased by 34.8%, from 3.7 to 5 billion dollars. The main contribution was provided by wheat (+25.5%), sunflower oil (+49.1%), animal feed (+68.2%), flax seed (increased by 2.2 times) and flour (+37.1%). About 60% of agricultural exports account for this position.
Imports: increase in purchases for production while reducing consumer imports
In the first half of 2026, the increase in imports was accompanied by a change in its structure: the purchase of equipment and intermediate goods increased, while the import of consumer goods decreased. Comparison of the data of the National Bank and the National Bank of Ukraine shows that such dynamics coincide with the expansion of investments and output in the manufacturing industry.
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, import of goods increased by 5.5% to 31.5 billion dollars. Almost half of its volume — 47.6% — consists of intermediate goods. Imports increased by 14% to 15 billion dollars. The share of consumer goods amounted to 26.5%, decreasing by 10.5%. At the same time, the import of consumer non-food goods in the first half of the year decreased by 15.4%, amounting to 5.6 billion dollars. USA.
According to the methodology of the balance of payments of the National Bank, imports increased by 6.2% to 32.3 billion dollars. The growth rate of import was more than four times lower than the growth rate of export. According to the National Bank, purchases of intermediate goods increased by 13.8%, and import of non-food consumer goods decreased by 11.2%.
Import of investment goods
Import of investment goods grew by 10.6% to 8.1 billion dollars. USA. The increase in equipment purchases is accompanied by the growth of capital investments in the industry. In particular, the import of electric generator installations increased by 83%, machines and devices for lifting, moving, loading and unloading - by 70.1%, equipment for sorting and grinding soil - by 2.1 times.
Import of intermediate goods
The increase in the purchase of production resources was ensured by the increase in the import of natural gas by 96.3%, turbojet engines and gas turbines by 2.7 times, petroleum products by 41.6%, uranium by 2.6 times and gold by 6 times.
Production orientation of purchases is confirmed by the dynamics of capital investments. According to the BNS, investments in fixed capital increased in real terms by 9.6% to 9.5 trillion tenge. In the processing industry, the growth was 33.3%, up to 1.43 trillion tenge, or 15% of the total volume of investments.
At the same time, the output of the processing industry increased by 9.8%, machine-building — by 23.1%, and the chemical industry — by 20.7%.
The increase in the import of equipment is connected, among other things, with the construction of new enterprises, the expansion of existing production facilities, and technological modernization. The economic effect of such investments is manifested as new capacities are introduced.
Import of consumer goods
In the first half of the year, the import of consumer goods decreased by 10.5% to 8.3 billion dollars. The supply of passenger cars decreased by 21.9%, medicines - by 18.7%, suitcases and bags - by 49.4%, women's textile clothing - by 38.9%, air conditioners - by 34.3%.
According to the National Bank, the decrease in imports of non-food consumer goods continues for 11 quarters in a row, starting from the IV quarter of 2023.
The decrease in the import of passenger cars occurs against the background of the growth of domestic production. In January-June, the production of passenger cars increased by 37.2%, up to 88,886 units, while maintaining sales in the official dealer segment. This indicates a partial replacement of imports by domestic assembly.
The number of social entrepreneurs continues to grow in Kazakhstan. According to the results of the third quarter of 2026, 1,973 entrepreneurs are included in the Unified Register of Social Enterprise Subjects, which is 197 more than the previous quarter. Thus, in three months, the number of participants in the registry increased by almost 11.1%.
The unified register of subjects of social entrepreneurship is formed and updated by the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan on a quarterly basis. Inclusion in it allows entrepreneurs to apply for measures of state support provided by legislation and to develop projects aimed at solving socially significant tasks.
Social entrepreneurship unites businesses that not only conduct entrepreneurial activities, but also create public benefits: they provide employment for people with disabilities and representatives of socially vulnerable categories of the population, provide socially significant services or implement projects aimed at solving current social problems.
Formation of the register is carried out on the basis of the decisions of special commissions at local executive bodies, which consider the applications of entrepreneurs and assess their compliance with the established criteria.
Serika Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, met with Lord Anas Sarvar, the State Minister of Trade of Great Britain, in Astana.
The parties discussed the state and prospects of the development of bilateral cooperation, emphasizing the importance of further strengthening of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Great Britain.
Serik Jumangarin noted that Kazakhstan considers Great Britain as an important and reliable strategic partner. According to him, the visit of the British delegation gives a new impetus to bilateral relations and creates opportunities for the transition to the practical implementation of the agreements reached.
The Minister of State for Trade of Great Britain, Lord Anas Sarwar, emphasized the mutual nature of the partnership and expressed the readiness of the British side to deepen cooperation with Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, the interest in continuing the open and constructive dialogue and joint work on the implementation of the priority areas of cooperation was confirmed.