BKS Webinar: Kazakhstan at 30 - What next? A conversation with Sir Suma Chakrabarti

Panel Discussion:

The webinar will focus on the great economic progress of Kazakhstan over the last 30 years and the future ambitions and recommendations for Kazakhstan following Gap Analysis.

Host:

Rupert Goodman DL - BKS Chairman

Moderator:

Mark Beer - Co-Founder of Seven Pillars Law, Professional Associate at Outer Temple Chamber, and a member of the International Council at the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan 

Special Introduction:

HE Erlan Idrissov - Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom and Honorary President of BKS

Keynote Speaker:

Sir Suma Chakrabarti - Adviser to the President of Kazakhstan, Deputy Chair of the Kazakhstan Supreme Council on Reforms, and Deputy Chair the AIFC Management Council  - The great economic progress of Kazakhstan over the last 30 years and the future ambitions and recommendations for Kazakhstan following Gap Analysis.

Outline of Sir Suma Chakrabarti's talking points:

Kazakhstan faces an ambitious target to achieve sustainable, balanced, "green" growth. The country seeks to get into the 30 most developed countries by the middle of the century by transitioning from a resource-based economy towards a cleaner, more innovative, and diversified model.

• This requires also further transformations aimed at improving the system of public administration, increasing openness and competitiveness of the economy, promoting environmentally friendly development, ensuring equal access to all economic and social opportunities.
• Gap Analysis: what have been done.

During last visit to Kazakhstan in February carried out an extensive study of what needs to be done around 3 following main areas:

(1) STRATEGY AND ECONOMIC REFORM AGENDA;

(2) QUALITY OF GOVERNANCE, DELIVERY AND ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITY and

(3) DOMESTIC COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL BRANDING

As a result of this work, gap analysis on key challenges and opportunities facing Kazakhstan on economic development and effective governance with concrete recommendations and an implementation Road Map were submitted in March to the President of Kazakhstan. The report

was prepared on the basis of information gathered primarily through interviews with representatives of government, the private sector, civil society, and international organisations.

Major points in each pillar:

• Diversification is a key component of the economic reform strategy and has for some time been an important priority of policymakers in Kazakhstan. This raises issues such as: which sectors outside of oil and gas are most promising, the need to move up the value chain, raise productivity, and enhance competitiveness. Kazakhstan ranks low in terms of total products market efficiency, local competition intensity, market dominance, and foreign ownership prevalence. To address these issues, a broad-based plan to remove the basic barriers to private sector development, including privatization and further improvements to the investment climate, would be required.
• Despite the progress made in recent decades, the state's structure and functioning remain a major impediment to the successful design and implementation of reforms, and Kazakhstan still has a long way to go in terms of key governance indicators.
• Each ministry, agency, and region in Kazakhstan has its own press service. Information and media policy is regulated by the Central Ministry of Information and Social Development. However, the current set-up lacks a modern network of communications experts. A modern, forward-thinking communications approach is essential. And a lot of work is needed on Kazakhstan’s international brand, based on renewed reform momentum and its rich pre-Soviet history.

The conversation will be followed by a live Q&A session, please send your questions in advance to secretariat@bksoc.org.uk

There will also be available a simultaneous language interpretation to the Russian language.

Registration is necessary to attend the webinar. Therefore, please RSVP. Registration link will be provided a day before the webinar (please check your spam folder as well).

Registration will close on the 25th May 20:00.