Toqayev Discusses Plans for 2025

In a recent interview with Ana Tili, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev outlined Kazakhstan's key initiatives for 2025, expanding on developments from 2024.

Nuclear Power 

Kazakhstan plans to launch competitive bidding for its nuclear power plant (NPP) construction in 2025, with several international companies expressing interest.

While Rosatom is among the contenders, Toqayev noted significant interest from other parties:

Negotiations are also underway with a Chinese company, taking into account China's great success in building civilian nuclear facilities. There is also interest from other foreign corporations, including Western ones.

The President envisions Kazakhstan with developed nuclear energy, saying the country should eventually host two or three power plants.

Infrastructure and Transportation

A significant milestone expected in 2025 is completing the Dostyq-Mointy railway's second track, spanning 836 kilometers.

Toqayev emphasized its significance:

This project will radically change the country's transit and transport infrastructure. The route's capacity will increase fivefold, and the speed of container trains will increase significantly.

Additional infrastructure projects include completing the Almaty bypass railway and expanding gas pipeline networks.

The President supports using the National Fund for these developments, stating:

I believe that for the construction of large infrastructure facilities that will give a powerful impetus to economic development, it is possible and even necessary to use the funds of the National Fund. After all, it was created for such purposes, and not for storing funds in foreign financial institutions.

Social Development

The government is committed to expanding housing access, pledging 10,000 apartments annually for waitlisted citizens through 2029.

Education infrastructure is also a priority:

The construction of 217 comfortable schools for 460 thousand students is planned. 105 of them have already been built. The goal is to completely solve the problem of schools in disrepair and three-shift education, and resolve the shortage of student places.

Digital Innovation

Kazakhstan aims to become a major digital hub in Eurasia, with plans to open the Alem.AI international artificial intelligence center by year's end.

Toqayev shared his perspective on AI's future impact:

We must keep in mind that in the coming years, artificial intelligence will make such a qualitative leap that it will radically change people's ideas about life and completely reformat people's lives. The time is not far off when smart machines will appear - robots that will surpass humans in intelligence many times over and will also acquire such a quality as empathy, that is, feelings and emotions characteristic of people.

Political Structure

Addressing speculation about political reforms, Toqayev confirmed his commitment to the current system:

My concept of 'a strong President - an influential parliament - an accountable government', I am convinced, is the best fit for Kazakhstan's political system. But to fully implement this concept, we have to work hard. I am sure that the presidential form of government is the most optimal for Kazakhstan now and in the near future.

The president also dismissed rumors of early parliamentary elections.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin