Astana, 23 October. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke at a ceremony marking Republic Day and summed up seven years: the country's GDP is approaching $350bn, second in the CIS, GDP per capita has exceeded $15,000, and the economy has grown by about 30% since 2019.
"Under the National Fund for Children project, $2.5 billion has been transferred to the accounts of 7 million children," the President said. According to him, more than 20 million square metres of housing were commissioned last year, average life expectancy is approaching 76 years, and the share of small and medium-sized business in GDP has reached 40%. Over seven years 88 trillion tenge was spent on the social sector; at the same time, Tokayev said, "certain types of payments are more of a waste of funds," and the government is now analysing the area.
The President named digital transformation as one of the country's priorities: the Alem.ai international artificial intelligence centre and the Astana Hub technopark operate in the capital, IT services exports have exceeded $1bn, two supercomputers have been launched and a third is on the way, and the "Data Centre Valley" cluster is under construction. On political reform, he said that after the adoption of the New Constitution a unicameral Kurultai was formed, the post of Vice President was created and the advisory body Qazaqstan Halyq Kenesi began work.
On the eve of the holiday the President signed a decree on state awards. The title Hero of Labour of Kazakhstan went to A.Dospanov, a smelter at the Zhezkazgan copper smelter of Kazakhmys Smelting LLP, and composer A.Korazbayev received the Order of Otan.
What it means: In his holiday speech the President reviewed seven years: economic growth, social spending, digitalisation and a new system of power. There were no new decisions apart from a signal that some social payments will be reviewed.
Who benefits: The speech was addressed to all citizens. The warning about "waste" in some payments means recipients may be affected by a review; the President did not say which payments.
Background: Public service centres and specialised centres will be closed on 26 October for the holiday.
List of sources used: Akorda, Kazinform, Astanovka98
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
