- In exclusive interview, Head of State outlines 2025 successes, sets decisive agenda for digital transformation, tax reform, and nuclear energy while affirming unrelenting anti-corruption drive
Islamabad – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in a comprehensive Jan. 5 interview with the influential Turkistan newspaper, asserted that Kazakhstan has entered a new and irreversible phase of modernization. He outlined significant economic achievements from 2025 while setting ambitious priorities for the nation’s future, stressing that complacency is not an option.
The President reported robust economic growth, with GDP expanding by over 6% in 2025, surpassing the $300 billion threshold and achieving a per capita GDP exceeding $15,000.
“There are grounds for satisfaction, but I constantly urge all civil servants not to relax. We must work hard and move forward, especially since many unresolved issues remain,” Tokayev cautioned, identifying persistent inflation as a key challenge eroding household incomes.
Systemic Reset Through Tax Reform
Addressing public discourse on the new Tax Code, Tokayev framed it as a fundamental structural reset. He emphasized the code’s goal of fostering a partnership model between the state, business, and citizens, moving beyond a control paradigm.
“The new Tax Code is intended to shift the emphasis from control to partnership… In such a complementary system, taxes cease to be perceived as a burden,” he stated, describing it as an instrument for fair redistribution. He linked a mature tax culture directly to the fight against corruption, transforming fiscal duty into “a modern form of patriotism.”
Digital Survival and AI as National Imperative
President Tokayev positioned digital transformation and artificial intelligence as critical to national survival in an era of fierce global competition. He highlighted a growing digital ecosystem, including the 2,000-company-strong Astana Hub and IT exports hitting roughly $1 billion in 2025.
He pointed to foundational steps like establishing the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, passing dedicated AI legislation, and launching national supercomputers.
“With the emergence of artificial intelligence, a kind of watershed has formed between countries that manage to enter the future and those that remain in the past… This year will be decisive,” Tokayev declared.
Strategic Focus on Nuclear Energy and Rare Earths
The President underscored nuclear energy as a strategic necessity for technological advancement, framing the planned construction of several nuclear power plants as correcting a “historical absurdity” for a top uranium producer and a matter of national prestige.
He also highlighted Kazakhstan’s opportunity in the global rare earth metals market, noting expanding cooperation with major global partners, including the United States, China, the European Union, and others.
Asset Recovery: A Matter of Principle
Reflecting on the January 2022 events, Tokayev stated the overall situation had been restored. He firmly rejected any suggestion that asset recovery efforts have slowed, citing the recovery of over 1.3 trillion tenge (approx. $2.7 billion) from “oligopolistic structures,” with more than 1 trillion tenge ($2.1 billion) already funding social and infrastructure projects.
“Restoring social justice through the recovery of illegally acquired assets is not a matter of political expediency… but a principled position of the state. There is no question, nor can there be any question, of indulgences,” the President affirmed, stressing the ongoing, systemic fight against corruption.
The Turkistan newspaper, a leading print publication in circulation for over three decades, is known for its coverage of national developments and Turkic-related themes.
BY: Nadeem Faisal Baiga
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