Kazakhstan’s day on 31 October brought three stories that meet at one point: who controls state money and the digital economy, and by what rules. The President proposed a state commission to oversee “People’s Construction”, with maslikhat deputies among its members [1][2]. The Kurultai discussed a new Civil Code that takes account of digital assets and artificial intelligence [9][10], and the Energy Ministry presented the “Energy AI Kazakhstan” concept, with data and models kept under the ministry’s control [12][13]. As for the maslikhats from whose deputies part of the commission is to be drawn, they are yet to be elected: candidate registration closes on 1 November and voting is on 29 November [6][8].
Day of 31 October
- 6.5 trillion tenge
to be allocated from the National Fund to “People’s Construction” by the end of 2029 - 3,447
deputies elected in 228 maslikhats on 29 November - more than 150
amendments and additions made to the current Civil Code - 34%
fall in the number of violations by individual entrepreneurs in the first half of the year, according to the President
From the issue’s materials
- 6.5 trillion tenge
The commission: what is known and what is not
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, writing on the social network X, proposed creating a state commission to oversee the spending of budget funds under the “Halyk Kurylys” (“People’s Construction”) programme [1][2]. Its members would include heads of several line agencies, deputies of the Kurultai and maslikhats, members of the Halyk Kenesi, public figures, activists, volunteers and journalists [1][2]. The President announced the programme in the Address on 28 October; 6.5 trillion tenge will be allocated for it from the National Fund by the end of 2029 [2]. The Akorda reports give no deadline for creating the commission, no chair and no powers [1][3].
Questions about the spending arose before the start. The Supreme Audit Chamber found questions about 66 National Fund projects worth about 1 trillion tenge in total, while the draft budget provides 5 trillion tenge instead of the 6.5 trillion from the Address [3]. On 29 October the Government planned to draw up a list of projects by the end of the year, and on 30 October the Kurultai told all committees to treat “People’s Construction” as a priority [3]. No date for creating the commission has been named, so it is not yet clear what will come first: the list of projects or the oversight of them.
Maslikhats: the overseers who do not yet exist
Maslikhat deputies are named among the commission’s members, but there are no maslikhats at present. The President signed a decree ending the powers of maslikhats at all levels early on 12 October [4]. The main reason given was changes in the party system: most sitting deputies had been elected from Amanat, which decided in 2026 to join the new “Adilet” party [5]. The next day the Central Election Commission called extraordinary elections for 29 November: 3,447 deputies are elected in 228 maslikhats, of which 20 are regional, 38 city and 170 district ones [6][8].
The calendar is as follows: registration of party lists and candidates closes at 18:00 on 1 November, campaigning lasts until 00:00 on 28 November, 28 November is the day of silence, and results will be fixed no later than 3 December [7][8]. It follows from these dates that maslikhat deputies of the new convocation will be able to take part in the commission no earlier than the election results. The Akorda reports do not say when the commission will be created or deputies of which convocation will be included [1]; the conclusion about timing is our reading of the dates, not a statement by any agency.
Rules for digital: the Code and “Energy AI”
Two other events of the day show who sets the frame for the digital economy. The Kurultai’s committee on constitutional legislation held a round table on a new Civil Code that takes account of digital assets, smart contracts and artificial intelligence [9][10]. The committee chair Unzila Shapak recalled that the President ordered the document in the Address: deputies must start work with the Government and adopt the Code by the end of next year; more than 150 amendments and additions have been made to the current Code, but it does not fully take account of digital assets and smart contracts [10][11]. The content of the new norms has not been named [11].
The Energy Ministry presented the “Energy AI Kazakhstan” concept, a single digital environment in which AI will be used in production and management in the fuel and energy complex [12][13]. One of its principles is technological and information sovereignty: data, computing infrastructure and sector models are to be hosted in Kazakhstan under the ministry’s control; the timing, cost and form of participation of the partners, the companies 01.AI and Q.AI, have not been named [12][13][14]. Both events point to the same thing: the state wants both a legal framework for digital transactions and control over the data on which AI runs. How the two lines will meet in one Code is not yet visible.
Inspections: a pause for business, a commission for the state
In the Address the President proposed that the Kurultai and the Government discuss a three-year moratorium on inspections of micro and small businesses from 1 January 2027 [15]. According to him, in the first half of the year violations by individual entrepreneurs fell by 34%, but the amount of fines rose by almost 11% and unscheduled inspections grew many times over [15]. There is no decision: on 30 October the Kurultai bureau ordered the issue to be worked out jointly with the Government [16][17]. Two proposals about oversight stand side by side, pointing in different directions: to pause inspections of private business, and to check the state’s construction spending more closely. In this issue we also report separately on how a similar moratorium already operates in Tajikistan.
The border, entry and sport
From 1 November the first stage of the QazETA electronic permit for foreigners begins: at Aktau airport and four road border crossings; it will become mandatory only on 1 July 2027 [18]. The agreement on visa-free travel for holders of service passports to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg takes effect at the same time [19]. Details are in the issue’s news item. Today, 1 November, the final of the freestyle wrestling world championship in Astana is also due: Nurkozha Kaipanov at 74 kg will meet the Russian Inalbek Sheriev; for Kazakhstan’s team it is the first final at a home world championship [20][21]. The result is unknown at the time of this review’s publication.
What remains unknown
It is unknown when the commission on “People’s Construction” will be created, who will chair it and what rights it will have, or deputies of which convocation of maslikhats will be included. There is no decision on the moratorium on inspections. The content of the new Civil Code norms on AI and digital assets is not visible. The timing and cost of “Energy AI Kazakhstan” have not been named. The outcome of Kaipanov’s final will be known only after the bout.
