Kazakhstan presented its new electoral model to Thailand. The discussion focused on the transition from a bicameral Parliament to a unicameral Kurultai and on the Saylau information system, which updates voter lists and allows citizens to verify their personal data, DKNews.kz reports.
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Margulan Baimukhan, met with Sittichote Intaraviset, a member of the Election Commission of Thailand. The two sides discussed political modernization and prospects for professional cooperation between the electoral bodies of the two countries.
Thailand was introduced to the Saylau system
A separate part of the meeting focused on digital tools used in Kazakhstan’s electoral process.
Margulan Baimukhan presented the Saylau information system, which is used to update voter lists and allows citizens to check their personal information.
The dialogue goes beyond a diplomatic briefing. Kazakhstan and Thailand are also considering practical exchanges of experience between the institutions responsible for organizing elections.
Sittichote Intaraviset, in turn, briefed the Kazakh side on the specifics of Thailand’s electoral system and shared his views on prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between the election commissions of the two countries.
Kurultai replaced the former bicameral model
The Thai side was also briefed on one of the major changes in Kazakhstan’s political system — the transition from a bicameral Parliament to a unicameral Kurultai.
Kazakhstan’s new Constitution entered into force on July 1, 2026. Under the new framework, the Kurultai is the supreme representative body exercising legislative power and consists of 145 deputies elected through party lists.
During the meeting, Baimukhan presented the reform as a step aimed at streamlining the legislative process and improving the efficiency of public administration.
The first election of deputies to the new Kurultai is scheduled for August 23, 2026.
Kazakhstan’s economy grew by 6.5%
Economic indicators were also part of the discussion.
The Ambassador briefed the Thai side on Kazakhstan’s key socio-economic results. In 2025, the economy grew by 6.5%, while GDP reached $305 billion.
GDP per capita exceeded $15,000, while the unemployment rate stood at 4.6%.
According to the figures presented at the meeting, Kazakhstan has attracted around $470 billion in foreign direct investment since gaining independence.
These figures were presented alongside the political reforms to show the broader context of Kazakhstan’s development.
Around 200,000 Kazakh citizens visited Thailand
Ties between Kazakhstan and Thailand are also expanding in trade and tourism.
Bilateral trade reached $255.1 million in 2025, increasing by around 8%.
In the same year, approximately 200,000 citizens of Kazakhstan visited Thailand.
The two countries are connected by 23 regular direct flights per week. Including charter services, the number reaches up to 35 flights weekly.
Against this backdrop of growing tourism and transport links, cooperation between the two countries’ election commissions is emerging as another area of engagement between Astana and Bangkok.
Election commissions are ready to continue professional dialogue
Following the meeting, the two sides expressed interest in continuing professional dialogue, exchanging practical experience and developing cooperation in the areas of electoral processes, political modernization and public administration.
The specific format of future joint activities has not yet been announced. The dialogue is taking place as Kazakhstan prepares for the first election to its new unicameral Kurultai.
DKNews.kz previously reported on how the first Kurultai election will be organized and what changed after Kazakhstan moved to a unicameral model. A total of 545 candidates from seven political parties have been registered for 145 seats in the new legislature.
