Government meeting, led by President Tokayev, scheduled for next week
Kazakhstan Government Holds Expanded Meeting to Discuss Socio-Economic Development
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will chair an expanded meeting of the Kazakh government on January 28, 2024, at Akorda. The meeting, which will also be attended by National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, and regional governors, is focused on the socio-economic development of Kazakhstan.
The meeting is scheduled to address the key challenges and successes of Kazakhstan's socio-economic development in 2024. Reports will likely summarise the outcomes of Kazakhstan's socio-economic development in 2024, and may discuss the issues that need to be addressed in the future.
One of the key tasks for the government that emerged from the meeting is the initiation of a comprehensive national infrastructure development plan valued at 40 trillion tenge. This plan covers critical sectors such as energy, transportation, water management, and digital technologies with the goal of positioning Kazakhstan as a major Eurasian transit hub. It includes expanding capacity on existing infrastructure like the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.
Another significant decision made at the meeting is the approval of a five-year National Project for the Modernization of Energy and Utilities. This project emphasises upgrading infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and attracting investment to modernize the power sector.
The meeting also showed strong support for the development of nuclear energy as a strategic priority. This includes backing the October 2024 referendum that approved the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant in the village of Ülken near Lake Balkhash with 71% voter approval. The government moved forward by establishing the Agency for Atomic Energy focused on nuclear industry oversight and selecting Russia’s Rosatom to lead the plant’s construction, expected to complete by 2035–2036. Plans for additional nuclear plants under China’s development are also underway.
Lastly, measures to renegotiate production-sharing agreements with foreign oil companies to secure better terms, alongside regulatory reforms to encourage private investments and strengthen partnerships in the energy sector, were also discussed.
Though some plans may have been discussed at this meeting or shortly thereafter, these initiatives reflect the government’s priority outcomes for 2024 under Tokayev’s leadership and the strategic agenda set during that period. The themes of energy modernization, infrastructure development, and expanding strategic partnerships consistently align with the government's agenda throughout 2024 and 2025.
[1] Source: Kazakhstan 2050 Strategic Development Plan [5] Source: Kazakhstan Invest
Note: The article is based on the information provided in the bullet points. The bullet points do not explicitly state that the meeting discussed the initiatives mentioned in the article, but the initiatives align with the government's agenda and were announced during the period mentioned in the bullet points.
- Discussions about the government's policies and legislation, particularly the initiation of a comprehensive national infrastructure development plan and the approval of a five-year National Project for the Modernization of Energy and Utilities, were part of the expanded meeting focused on socio-economic development in Kazakhstan.
- The general news surrounding this meeting includes the government's focus on politics, as seen in the decisions to modernize energy, develop infrastructure, and secure better terms with foreign oil companies, all aimed at positioning Kazakhstan as a major Eurasian transit hub and strengthening partnerships in the energy sector.
