Significance of the interview given by Kazakhstan ‘s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Kazakh publication Ana Tili
The recent interview given by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jommart Tokayev is significant in that it is his special address to fellow citizens, which sets the agenda for 2025, the year when Kazakhstan will be marking a landmark in its history- the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism in the Second World War.
By Aditi Bhaduri
The recent interview given by Kazakhstan ‘s President Kassym-Jommart Tokayev to the Kazakh publication Ana Tili (Mother Language) is of significance at several levels.
First, the detailed open nature of the interview itself is important. Questions ranged from Kazakhstan ‘s economic and foreign policy to natural disasters to youth, and even criticism of the government. This reflects openness, transparency and people’s participation in governance. This kind of communication between the people and the president shows the trust, confidence, and openness with which Kazakhstan is governed.
Next, the interview itself with all the information and statistics was in essence a record of the past year and Kazakhstan’s achievements and lapses. At the same time it set thr roadmap for the next year, that is 2025. This points to accessibility of the government to the people of Kazakhstan.
Third, the many achievements of Kazakhstan during the previous year is simply breathtaking. This is particularly extraordinary given the difficult geopolitical situation in the world, especially the Ukraine war which in many ways directly affects Kazakhstan as the country shares its longest land border with Russia. Apart from this the country also faced unprecedented floods in 2024, and more recently an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed om Kazakh territory, killing 38 passengers on board.
Here are a few instances of what Kazakhstan has achieved in the previous years:
A total of 18 million square meters of housing was completed, and 7,000 kilometers of highways were built or repaired. New passenger terminals were inaugurated at the airports in Almaty, Kyzylorda, and Shymkent. Large-scale projects were implemented in the mining, petrochemical, and metallurgical industries. The agricultural sector achieved a record harvest of nearly 27 million tons of grain—the highest in the past decade. The National Infrastructure Plan through 2029 was adopted, outlining more than 200 projects with a total investment exceeding 40 trillion tenge. Kazakhstan attracted $15.7 billion in foreign direct investment for new projects in 2024, marking an 88% increase compared to the previous year.
This is really a remarkable fear for the country. Along with the above, Kazakhstan, as per the interview is also making strides in being a social state and ensuring social security for its citizens, while promoting the rule of law and fighting corruption.
For instance, pensions, allowances, scholarships, and salaries for civil servants were increased. The legal foundation for the “Keleshek” (Future) voluntary savings system has been laid, and accumulated funds can be used for education in Kazakhstan and abroad, as well as for purchasing housing. A law to reduce citizens’ indebtedness has also been enacted. By 2029, it is planned to provide rental housing to 10,000 families annually.he national project “Modernization of Rural Healthcare” continues, with medical facilities being constructed in rural areas. The construction of 217 modern schools with a combined capacity for 460,000 students is planned, with 105 schools already completed.
Hundreds of new schools, kindergartens, and sports centers were built nationwide. More than ten branches of leading foreign universities were established. Funding for science was increased.
The law on women’s rights and child safety was adopted to eradicate domestic violence. Punishments for any form of violence against women and children have been toughened. Life imprisonment is now imposed for the murder or rape of a minor, and administrative responsibility has been introduced for bullying minors for the first time.
At the same time efforts to fight corruption resulted in the reclaimation of more than 2 trillion tenge (4.1 billion USD) since 2022, which had been illegally acquired financial and other assets, These funds are being used to build schools, develop critical infrastructure, and address other social needs.
Yet another significance of the interview is that it reflects Kazakhstan ‘s multi-vector foreign policy and its main directions. The President outlined the primary importance of three countries for Kazakhstan: Russia, the US, and China. In spite of the complexities of the relations of the US with both Russia and China, Kazakhstan is determined to pursue relations with all of them as that serves Kazakhstan’s interests.
At the same time, another important foreign policy stream is the Organization of Turkic States, which Kazakhstan is a founding-member of. As a middle power Kazakhstan is determined to play its role in international community at a critical time when many changes in the international order are taking place with major new alignments and realignment taking shape.
It is also praiseworthy that in the interview President Tokayev made a very fair, balanced, and objective assessment of the contribution of first Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to the nation. He acknowledged how in a relatively short period, under the leadership of former president Nazarbayev a stable statehood was established, government institutions were formed, a new capital was built, state borders were legally secured, valuable cooperation with many countries was developed, and foreign investments were attracted to the economy.
However, he also evaluated the former president ‘s overreach and attempts to concentrate power even after stepping down as president, but retaining the role of Chairman of the Security Council,
This brings us to the next and final significant factor of the interview of President Tokayev – because he also laid down the roadmap for future governance of Kazakhstan for efficient and smart, transparent governance so that there is no more rerun of the January 2022 events.
The above is reflected in the fact that now Kazakhstan ‘s power will be consolidated with no place for any dual power. Second, the Head of State is a public servant entrusted with a specific term, not the ‘shadow of the Almighty.’ Third, candidates for high public office, including leaders of law enforcement agencies, will be carefully selected and deeply committed to the Homeland and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Most importantly, the principles of justice have to be upheld everywhere, and the unity of the people, based on the concept of ‘Law and Order,’ must be safeguarded.
Thus, the interview itself is remarkable as it is, in the words of the President himself, is his special address to fellow citizens, which sets the agenda for 2025, the year when Kazakhstan will be marking a landmark in its history- the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism in the Second World War.
