At the Ukimet Uyi, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a meeting of the Coordination Council for Cooperation between the Government of Kazakhstan and international financial institutions, DKNews.kz reports.
Representatives of major global organizations took part, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, EBRD, ADB and others. The agenda focused on infrastructure, macroeconomic stability and new growth drivers.
Infrastructure, economy and reforms in focus
Participants reviewed the progress of large-scale projects aimed at modernizing infrastructure and supporting economic development.
Key priorities discussed:
- construction and modernization of infrastructure
- strengthening macroeconomic stability
- development of human capital
- introduction of innovation and artificial intelligence technologies
It was noted that following the adoption of the new Constitution, Kazakhstan is entering a new phase of development. The updated legal framework is expected to improve investment attractiveness and provide stronger guarantees for project implementation.
Inflation slowdown and income growth targets
Special attention was given to economic policy and inflation control.
Since October 2025, Kazakhstan has recorded a slowdown in annual inflation — a result of coordinated measures by the Government, National Bank and financial regulators.
Olzhas Bektenov said:
“We intend to decisively continue the policy of reducing price pressure and inflation. The joint Program of the Government, the National Bank, and the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market to ensure macroeconomic stability and improve the well-being of the population is being implemented. This year, we have set ourselves the goal of increasing real incomes of citizens by at least 2–3%. This is a major undertaking that is currently underway,” Olzhas Bektenov stressed.
International partners also shared their vision.
Representatives of the World Bank and IMF emphasized the need to:
- increase productivity
- strengthen the role of the private sector
- support sustainable economic growth
Measures to reduce food inflation
Government officials outlined concrete actions to stabilize prices, especially in the food sector.
Main directions:
- saturating the domestic market with essential goods
- expanding local production and import substitution
- improving logistics and trade infrastructure
- supporting producers of socially significant food products
- ensuring transparency in pricing and retail
According to officials, positive dynamics have already been observed in the first quarter, and additional measures have been prepared to maintain this trend.
Banking sector and credit dynamics
Authorities also highlighted changes in lending dynamics.
According to the National Bank:
- lending growth to the population reached 21.9% in 2024
- in 2025, it slowed to 8.7%
This reflects tighter monetary policy and active use of macro- and microprudential tools to limit excessive credit growth.
AI and digitalization: a strategic priority
A separate focus was placed on artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
Olzhas Bektenov emphasized:
“The development of artificial intelligence and digitalization is an unconditional priority for our country, designated by the Head of State. 2026 in Kazakhstan is defined as the Year of Digitalization — scaling up AI, transitioning from digital services to intelligent government platforms, and the widespread introduction of data-driven approaches in all sectors of the economy. We must move forward in this direction at an accelerated pace,” Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.
The government is calling on international institutions to deepen cooperation in AI, big data and advanced technologies.
Cooperation and next steps
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov also highlighted the importance of partnership with international institutions:
“We highly value your active participation and contribution to the socio-economic development of Kazakhstan. The Government is always open and ready for dialogue, recommendations, and proposals aimed at strengthening our mutually beneficial partnership. Coordinated efforts of the state and international financial organizations will provide an additional impetus to the implementation of structural reforms, infrastructure modernization, and the introduction of best practices,” Olzhas Bektenov noted.
Why this matters
The meeting reflects Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to combine structural reforms, fiscal discipline and international partnerships.
Key signals:
- stronger coordination between state institutions
- growing role of private sector and global partners
- focus on inflation control and real income growth
- acceleration of digital and AI transformation
These steps reinforce Kazakhstan’s position as a stable and attractive destination for investment in a changing global economy.
