Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan

On December 16, Kazakhstan is celebrating nineteenth anniversary of it's independence. Notwithstanding a short period, due to the choice for the values of liberal economy, democracy and freedom, young Republic following example of the most advanced states, managed to succeed in its development.

The right offered to the Republic to chair in the largest regional organization OSCE in 2010 can serve as a good example of the approval by the international community of Kazakhstan's achievements.

Kazakhstan as an OSCE's Chair-in-Office do its utmost to provide equal and balanced content of all three dimensions of the Organization's activities.

In this context Kazakhstan promoting all mentioned approaches not only in the framework of its Chairmanship, but also within such multilateral structures as the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Organization of Collective Security Treaty (OCST), etc.

With all this in mind in the year of the 35th anniversary of signing of the Helsinki Final Act, the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, and the 20th anniversary of the Paris Charter for a new Europe, the Organization's member-states decided to convene the OSCE Summit in the capital of Kazakhstan in Astana. Held after 11 years in the new century, Summit was a result of successful Chairmanship of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the OSCE.

The main achievement of the OSCE Summit was the adoption of the Astana Declaration "Towards a security community", in which Organization's member-states reiterated their commitment unconditionally and in good faith to fulfill all the norms, principles and commitments in all three OSCE dimensions, and identified main way forward to a genuine Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian community, equal and indivisible security. Thus, the outcome of the Summit allow to admit that Kazakhstan's chairmanship fully implemented its program of action at the head of this authoritative international organization.

Since gaining independence, friendship between the peoples of multinational Kazakhstan is an important component of the success of the state. Currently, the country is home to more than 130 ethnic groups. Unique body of unity and ethnic harmony has become the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.

By initiative of the President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the III Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions took place in Astana, to converge more than 60 delegations of various religious denominations.

Worth sharing Kazakhstan's initiative to declare 29th of August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. The relevant resolutions of the General Assembly called upon all Member States, UN agencies and civil society to properly celebrate this date, widely using all elements of the public relations.

In accordance with resolution Kazakhstan held several events to celebrate this international day at home and abroad. Thus, upon a joint initiative of the Kazakhstan's Government and the United Nations on 26th of August 2010 in Astana was held the International High-Level Conference, to address political aspects of the cessation of nuclear testing and disposal of nuclear weapons, as well as socio-economic and environmental problems.

After gaining its independence in 1991, Kazakhstan created a unique precedent in the history, giving up a fourth in the world nuclear arsenal inherited from the former Soviet Union.

In August, the Republic celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Constitution. By voting for it the people affirmed their unequivocal choice in favor of freedom and democracy, defining a strategy of sustained development for many years.

Kazakhstan has an adequate understanding of the country's responsibility for the global energy security. Taking the seventh place in the world on oil reserves, the sixth - on reserves of gas and the second - on uranium reserves, Kazakhstan has entered the number of the largest energy exporters.

The Republic possesses the proved extractable reserves of oil at a rate of
4.8 billion tons. In 2010 production of oil and gas condensate was 80 million tons. By 2015 growth of volumes of extraction will reach 100 million tons of oil, most part of which will go for export.

Indigenous gas becomes more perspective energy carrier for Kazakhstan. It's proved and estimated reserves are about 3.3 billion cubic meter, and potential resources reach 6-8 billion cubic meter.

With solid mineral resources Kazakhstan diversifies its economy by implementing programs of boosted industrialization and modernization.

Among them stands a special program "Path to Europe" scheduled for
2009-2011. The Program reflects Kazakhstan's interest to a wider interaction with European countries in the spheres of energy, transport transit, technology transfer, education, humanitarian cooperation. By all means, an important component of this Program and of the Strategic Plan of the Nation's Development is enhancement of institutes of society.

Modern Kazakhstan is one of the most dynamically developing countries of the CIS and Central Asia, who managed without revolutionary upheaval overcome the crisis of 90-ties and reach a stable economic growth. Comprehensive reform program in conjunction with some improvement in world market conditions on price and demand has led to significant results in all areas of the state and society.

One of the major macroeconomic indicators of the country's development is the growth of gross domestic product (GDP). So, starting from 1999 to the present time, real GDP growth in the country has a positive trend at an average of 8%, despite negative impact of the global crisis in recent years. For 8 months of 2010, GDP growth reached 9%, which indicates to overcoming of the negative trends of the global crisis and economic sustainability of the country.

One of the key factors in the diversification of Kazakhstan's economy is attracting foreign direct investment. An important aspect is to increase local content in the investment projects through the placement of state orders from domestic and multinational companies. The volume of attracted investments into the economy indicates to the favorable investment climate and image of Kazakhstan. According to the National Bank for the period from 1993 to date, there has been steady growth in foreign direct investments in the country, the total of which amounted to $118.5 billion.

The emphasis on sustainable economic growth through accelerated industrialization and infrastructure development was done in the "State Program on Forced Industrial-Innovative Development for 2010-2014" (PFIID) and "Industrialization Map". These programs will change economic model of Kazakhstan and shift from an extensive raw material orientation to industrial-innovative development. Within the PFIID the priority will be given to 7 areas: agriculture, metallurgy, oil refining, energy, chemistry and pharmaceuticals, construction, transport and communications. In addition, due attention should be paid to development of the tourism and engineering. Currently, "Industrialization Map" includes 237 investment projects, with 101 of them of national importance and 136 projects - regional.

Prospects for economic development are associated with successful implementation of "Development Strategy to 2030" aimed to rise the country to a new level of sustainable development and lay the foundations of a modern state with a high level of welfare and social security, with a diversified economy. Document includes measures of sustained involvement in the global geopolitical and geo-economic space, strengthening the investment attractiveness to improve economy and welfare of citizens, which will enable Kazakhstan to become one of the most competitive and dynamically developing countries of the world.

Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan