07.06.2021-13.06.2021 No 310

A BRIEF REVIEW ON YOUTH POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN As of today, the population of Kazakhstan, a young nation with its low average age, and training were given to more than 20 thousand which is approaching 19 million, has an aver- that the investment made in human capital young people, approximately 1.500 people age age of 30.7 recorded in 2020. With this av- from independence to the present provides the were provided with micro-credits to start their erage, almost half of the population of Kazakh- emergence of a talented and young generation, own businesses, and as a result, employment stan, which ranks 114th in the world, is under and that this youth is the guarantee of the coun- was created for more than 160 thousand young the age of 29. The ratio of the population be- try’s development. In this context; “Who are people. Within the framework of this program, tween the ages of 14-29, which is accepted as we?, Where is our direction? Where will we be the youth unemployment rate, which was 5% the youth age range in the Youth Law and other by 2050?” questions were addressed to young in 2016, was reduced to 3.98% in 2021 accord- relevant official documents, corresponds to people and the goal of “being among the 30 ing to official data. 22.3% within the total population. In this most developed countries” is assigned to Important steps have also been taken in terms study, the youth policies of Kazakhstan from young people as a mission. Regarding the of socialization of young people, political par- its independence to the present will be briefly value judgments of youth, emphasizing that ticipation and representation. The most im- examined. moving away from cultural codes and deviat- portant of these is the Youth Council formed As a young republic, Kazakhstan has a young ing to extremes poses a great risk for national under the Parliament of the Republic of Ka- and very dynamic population demographically. identity and in particular, attention is given to zakhstan (Senate). Besides the Youth Council, During the 30 years since independence, Ka- the dangerous consequences of the recently which was established as an advisory board zakhstan has been experiencing significant emerged “real Kazakh” (Nagyz) and “half Ka- aiming to reflect the expectations of the youth changes and transformations in every field. zakh” (Shala) differentiation. In addition to the effectively in the legislative process, commit- Undoubtedly, youth as a social group has been general topics, the 2050 Strategy also includes tees and forums have been established to in- both an object and a subject of the transition a special section titled “Appeal to the clude young people in political and administra- period experienced after 1990. Based on this Youth”. In the aforementioned section, it is tive mechanisms, as well as at the level of var- importance, Kazakhstan has made many legal stated that the youth, the main element of the ious ministries and local administrations, espe- regulations on youth since the 1990s and has success chain extending from the family to the cially the Ministry of Information and Social developed various projects and programs re- state, constitute the power center of the 2050 Development. On the other hand, with the co- lated to implementation. These are chronolog- Strategy, therefore, especially the Youth Con- ordination and support of the Ministry of Infor- ically “Kazakhstan Strategic Development cept, which created important programs and mation and Social Development, it is encour- Plan 2030” (1997), “State Youth Concept” action plans for the youth and the best educa- aged to increase the level of social and political (1999), “Kazakhstan Youth Program” (2001), tion opportunities are offered to the youth for a participation of young people through non- “2005-2007 Youth Program” (2005), “Kazakh- better future. governmental organizations. As a result of all stan Strategic Development Plan 2020” (2010), We can say that the policies determined in the these policies, the visibility of youth in the de- “Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy” (2012), “Kazakh- basic regulations, which are briefly summa- cision-making processes and levels of politics stan Youth Policy Concept until 2020” (2013) rized, have been implemented to a large extent. and bureaucracy increases with each passing and “Kazakhstan State Youth Law” (2015). In addition to these, 2019 has been declared as year. Apart from these, there are other relevant legal the “Year of Youth”. Looking at these prac- Apart from these basic policies, various pro- regulations regarding the training of youth and tices to date, we can say that many projects jects and programs have been implemented to strengthening their place in the development of have been initiated and continued for educa- raise the health, housing and living standards the country, especially the education and labor tion, employment, entrepreneurship, political of the youth. For instance, the budgets allo- laws, and institutional structures such as the participation and representation, improvement cated to health investments are increased, with Youth Council. of living standards, protection and develop- government support, housing (over 40 thou- If we look at the Youth Law, which is a basic ment of national and spiritual values. Among sand) for young people (young families) is be- regulatory document, first of all, the youth is these topics, the field of education attracts at- ing built, both for rent and for sale at affordable determined as between 14-29 years old in the tention. Because within the framework of the prices. On the other hand, social opportunities first article of the law. Education, science, 5-year development programs, educational in- are tried to be developed for young people to health, employment, entrepreneurship, spir- stitutions in the field ranging from pre-school spend quality time by socializing. itual, cultural and physical development of to higher education have been taken to a very In conclusion, within a short period of 30 youth are determined as basic principles in the advanced level in terms of both infrastructure years, the youth policies of Kazakhstan, espe- law (art.3), which emphasizes the determina- and education quality. With the spread of Naz- cially in the field of education, had tangible re- tion of a scientific, holistic and systematic ap- arbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS), which was sults. However, some problems that need to be proach in youth policies. For the youth, which started as a pilot project, across the country, emphasized are still awaiting solutions. is accepted as the main element of intergenera- Kazakhstan’s secondary education approached Among them, despite the officially stated tional continuity, special emphasis was placed OECD standards. A similar reform process is youth unemployment rate of 3.98%, 42% of the on family education at the point of transferring experienced in higher education. As of 2021, youth have problems with job satisfaction and traditions, and “youth forums” created at the more than 500 thousand students are studying finding a qualified job, in addition, as a result national and regional level in terms of citizen- at various levels in 129 higher education insti- of other socio-economic expectations, it is seen ship, social and political participation and re- tutions. On the other hand, within the frame- that 41% of Kazakhstani youth have a high ex- sponsibilities were mentioned. work of the “Bolashak Scholarship Program” pectation to live abroad permanently due to ed- Apart from the Youth Law, one of the main initiated in 1993, 13.976 young people were ucation or work. It is vital for young Kazakh- documents of the growth and development awarded by scholarships to study at the world’s stan to take the necessary measures and the ne- planning of Kazakhstan are the Addresses of leading universities, and 7.846 of them com- cessity of emphasizing this phenomenon, the Founding President pleted their education and started working in which can be defined as the loss of qualified to the public and the 2030 and 2050 Strategy various institutions. human resources and brain drain. Another is- Documents, where important targets and road The “2020 Employment Roadmap” program sue that should be mentioned is the develop- maps for the youth of Kazakhstan were deter- was accepted within the scope of priorities ment of policies that will eliminate the possible mined. In this context, it is seen that youth is such as providing quality education, encourag- destructive consequences of globalization on given a special and detailed place in many parts ing entrepreneurship and ensuring workforce the national and moral values of the youth. At of the “Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy”, which is mobility according to the founding President this point, it is important to support national the most recent of the previous speeches and Nursultan Nazarbayev’s statement “human re- projects such as “spiritual resurrection” strategy documents. When we look generally, sources are the foundation of modernization”. (Ruhani Zhangyru) with comparative scientific it is frequently emphasized that Kazakhstan is In this framework, technical and vocational research on youth.

Written by Suat Beylur, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan

Politics, Foreign Affairs, and Security Economy, Finance, and Energy Society and Culture

 The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart The National Company «KAZAKH IN-  The Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic  Speaking Countries (TURKPA) together Tokayev had a meeting with the Deputy VEST» organized a meeting with Turkish in- Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Af- with Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbai- vestors in Kazakhstan. The investor delega- jan and Atatürk Center in Azerbaijan orga- fairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman tion, consisting of representatives of the Al-Thani of Qatar. The parties discussed the nized a symposium titled “Past, Present and "BRIMSTONE" Sulfur Provider Company, Future of the Turkic World” dedicated to the current state and prospects for the develop- 30th anniversary of independence of Turkic- ment of bilateral relations, including is engaged in the implementation of a project in the chemical industry in the country. The Speaking states, the Great Victory of Azer- strengthening political and economic cooper- baijan in the Second Karabakh War and ation. President Tokayev mentioned an im- project will enable the production of sulfur 100th anniversary of the Grand National As- portance of the joint preparation of several concrete in one of the western regions of Ka- sembly of . The event was attended by flagship investment projects, agreements on zakhstan. The company plans to invest about the parliamentarians and diplomats from the which were reached recently in a telephone $10 million and create around 50 new perma- member countries, heads of Turkic coopera- conversation with Qatar’s 4th Emir Sheikh nent jobs within the project (Kazinform, tion organizations and prominent scholars. Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (Kazinform, 08.06.2021). The participants exchanged views on 10.06.2021). achievements and progress in the Turkic-  The President of Shavkat Mir- speaking countries over the last 30 years and  The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov ziyoyev paid an official visit to Tajikistan. role of the parliaments in this context made an official visit to Turkey, where he had Within the visit, in the first Uzbek-Tajik in- (Turkpa.org, 09.06.2021). a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Minister terregional investment forum organized be-  During his first official visit to Ankara, the tween countries, bilateral documents worth President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov had of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Ka- a meeting with the Secretary General of the zakbaev, the meeting between the Presidents 730 million dollars were signed. The partici- pants noted that geographical proximity and Baghdad Amreyev and the is the first political contact at the highest President of the Chambers, Commodity Ex- level. The parties agreed to create a Kyrgyz- convenient logistics have created favorable changes and Union (TOBB), Mr. Rifat Turkish Development Fund to support Kyr- conditions for the development of mutual Hisarciklioglu. The parties discussed the on- gyz businessmen and Turkish investors and trade. To support and promote joint projects, going cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and to bring the trade turnover between the coun- the countries decided to create an Uzbek-Ta- Turkic Council Member States, emphasizing tries up to $1 billion (Kabar, 12.06.2021). jik investment fund with an authorized capi- economic aspects of the relations. In particu- The First Deputy Communications and In- tal of $50 million (UzReport, 10.06.2021). lar, it was agreed to organize a business fo-  rum of entrepreneurs of Turkic Council formatization Minister of Belarus Pavel  Representatives of Uzbek car manufacturer Member States in Issyk-Kul on August 9, Tkach and the Vice Minister of Digital De- UzAuto Motors visited Tajikistan to see pro- 2021 by the Turkic Council, TOBB and the velopment, Innovations and Aerospace In- duction facilities of the partner company Alu- Turkey: Culture of Change Initiative (TCCI) dustry of Kazakhstan Asset Turyssov con- (Turkkon.org, 10.06.2021). ducted a working meeting. The parties ex- minsokhtmon. As a result, the company from The EU will provide 100.000 Euro as human- changed experience in the development of Uzbekistan announced that it would build a  $2 million factory in Tajikistan. The parties itarian aid to assist the communities that have national information systems, introduction been affected the most a series of floods and and development of interdepartmental elec- will organize a joint venture with an annual mudflows in the Khatlon province of Tajiki- tronic document circulation, centralized stor- production of 10 thousand vehicles, which stan in early May, 2021. The funding is part age of electronic documents and archives. will be increased to 35 thousand units. The of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disas- They agreed to expand cooperation both partners agreed to name the new enterprise ter Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the In- within the Eurasian Economic Union and on Auto Motors Tajikistan (UzReport, ternational Federation of Red Cross and Red a bilateral basis (BelTA, 09.06.2021). 12.06.2021). Crescent Societies (IFRC). The aid will di-  Former Prime Minister of Mongolia rectly benefit some 1.800 heavily affected  According to the National Statistics Commit- people who have lost their food supplies, per- Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh won the presidential tee of Kyrgyzstan, the country’s foreign trade sonal assets, livestock and agricultural lands elections receiving 67.69% of the votes. His turnover during 4 month of 2021 reached (ASIA-Plus, 09.06.2021). main rivals Dangaasuren Enkhbat of the Right Person Electorate Coalition and the op- $2.1 billion, increasing by almost 14% com-  's Cabinet of Ministers approved a pared to the same period last year. Kyrgyz- bill to ratify the agreement with Turkey on a position Democratic Party’s candidate Sod- housing project for Crimean Tatars and other nomzundui Erdene received 20.31% and stan’s exports amounted to $590.4 million, decreasing by 8.7%, while its imports in- ethnic minorities that were internally dis- 5.99% of the votes, respectively. 1,208,408 placed. The document envisages cooperation out of 2,041,985 registered voters cast their creased by 26.2% and reached almost $1.494 between Ukraine and Turkey on the construc- votes, reaching 59.24% of voter turnout. billion. According to the data from the Com- tion of housing for internally displaced per- (Anadolu Agency, 10.06.2021). mittee, exports of paper and cardboard, knit- sons. According to the document, the Turkish  The Ambassador of Afghanistan to the Kyr- ted clothing and accessories, fruit and nuts, government provides non-refundable assis- gyz Republic Bismellah Vaziri met with Dep- and gold experienced significant decline (Ka- tance by building 500 apartments for the Cri- uty Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan bar, 11.06.2021). mean Tatars and other displaced ethnic mi- norities in three regions of Ukraine (QHA Aibek Artykbaev. The parties discussed is-  Economic cooperation between Turkmeni- Crimean News, 10.06.2021). sues of developing bilateral cooperation in stan and the is deepen- the fields of trade, economic, cultural and hu-  The inauguration of a new UN Office for Pro- ing. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development ject Services (UNOPS) in Turkmenistan was manitarian aid, including investment, tour- signed two agreements worth $100 million ism, education, as well as promoting peace held in Ashgabat. The opening ceremony was with the Government of Turkmenistan. attended by representatives of the Ministry of and security in Afghanistan. Deputy Minister Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, UN agen- Artykbayev thanked the Afghan government Within the first agreement, the Fund will al- locate $75 million for the construction of an cies in Ashgabat, diplomats and mass media. for the measures taken to improve the situa- The new office will work on implementing tion of ethnic Kyrgyz in the Pamirs (Ka- airport, while in the framework of the second projects in the fields of health care and com- bar.kg, 11.06.2021). agreement it will provide $25 million to fi- bating climate change in Turkmenistan  Speaking at the annual international forum nance the development of a 10-megawatt hy- within the Partnership Framework for Sus- "The Primakov Readings" held in in brid power plant. (WAM, 10.06.2021). tainable Development between the State and the International Organization for 2021-2025 hybrid format, the Russian Foreign Minister  Turkey and Azerbaijan in cooperation with (Centralasia.news, 11.06.2021). urged everyone involved in Georgia launched a new logistics project the Karabakh conflict to promote the estab-  delivered 70 thousand doses of the called “TURKUAZ”, where a cargo transpor- second component of the Sputnik V vaccine lishment of peace and normal life in the re- tation from Turkey to Azerbaijan and in the to Tashkent. A few days before that, 70 thou- gion. Minister Lavrov also mentioned that in- opposite direction is carried out twice a week. sand doses of the first component of the drug terests of Turkey and were unequivo- The project aims to increase the volume of were delivered to Uzbekistan. Residents of cally taken into account while drafting the cargo transported by the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars the country also receive vaccinations with the Nagorno-Karabakh agreement. The forum railway. Within the framework of TUR- AstraZeneca vaccine, the recombinant drug represents an international dialogue platform KUAZ project, 880 tons of industrial soda of the Chinese Anhui Zhifei Longcom Bio- for the exchange of ideas on global economic pharmaceutica, and the Russian Sputnik V. interdependence, foreign policy and potential products were delivered from Turkey to To date, More than one and a half million security issues (MEHR news agency, Azerbaijan in 32 20-foot containers recently. people in Uzbekistan have already been vac- 09.06.2021). (AzerNews, 11.06.2021). cinated (Uz.sputniknews.ru, 10.06.2021).

Prepared by Zhengizkhan Zhanaltay and Kanat Makhanov