Kazakhstan Central Bank Chief Eyes Deeper U.S. Investment Links
Addressing senior executives from more than a dozen Fortune 100 companies active in Kazakhstan at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce-hosted event in Washington, D.C., on April 14, Timur Suleimenov, Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, laid out the country’s economic outlook and later spoke with The Times of Central Asia on a range of related issues. He was accompanied by Erzhan Kazykhan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Special Representative for Negotiations with the United States, Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov, and Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the United States, Magzhan Ilyassov.
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Timur Suleimenov, Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, with Javier Piedra[/caption]
Kazakhstan’s U.S. Financial Stakes Amid Growth and Inflation
Suleimenov offered a compelling case for Kazakhstan’s economy, citing steady growth, higher investment flows, and a deepening consumer market. Kazakhstan’s economy expanded 6.5% in 2025, marking a third straight year of growth above 5%. GDP per capita surpassed $15,000 – compared to approximately $3,162 in Uzbekistan and about $2,420 in Kyrgyzstan. Fixed-income investments rose 15% year-on-year, and foreign direct investment climbed to 20.5% (from 14.5%), broadening beyond oil.
Suleimenov emphasized the Central Bank’s strong stewardship, citing a new tax and budget code to enhance fiscal discipline and monetary policy that supports investment, stressing that, “We will deal with inflation pressures and external shocks simultaneously while managing cryptocurrencies and private digital payments systems, which can weaken central bank control over money and policy transmission. The markets suggest that we have been doing an excellent job in a complex environment.”
The government, Suleimenov said, is on track to consolidate the budget, with the deficit projected at 2.5% this year, 1.7% next year, and 0.9% by 2028, adding that this will strengthen fiscal-monetary coordination, and noting Kazakhstan’s debt-to-GDP ratio of 24% remains low compared with countries such as the United States (125%), Japan (230%), Italy (137%).
As inflation declined to 11% in March 2026 from 11.7% the previous month, Suleimenov reassured TCA that officials regard it as transitory, saying that “inflation was driven by resilient domestic demand backed by fiscal and quasi-fiscal stimulation, external price pressures (Russian inflation, global food prices), increasing regulated prices (utilities and fuel), and tax reform (a VAT increase from 12% to 16%), with volatile and elevated inflation expectations. For these reasons, we responded with rate hikes and liquidity tightening, bringing inflation down to about 11%, with a further easing expected to single digits by the end of this year.”
Suleimenov reaffirmed that “the United States is integral to Kazakhstan’s financial system and long-term asset strategy.” He noted that Kazakhstan manages approximately $190 billion in long-term assets, including some $75 billion in National Bank reserves, $60 billion in the National Fund, and $55 billion in the unified pension fund. Around one-third of these assets are invested in U.S. securities, while roughly $50 billion is managed by American firms, underscoring deep financial ties beyond industrial investment.
TCA asked how U.S. sanctions and export controls affect Kazakhstan, a concern that was especially acute in the initial stages of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Suleimenov responded that, “Kazakhstan is more deeply integrated into global financial markets than other Central Asian economies, making its custodial banking relationships and broader access to the international financial system especially important. As we said, Kazakhstan can’t risk severing trade ties with its neighbors given its deep economic integration, especially amid tougher Western sanctions; and yet banks have taken steps to tighten compliance around trade with sanctioned countries.”
Digital Finance and New Infrastructure
Suleimenov told TCA that Kazakhstan is leveraging digitalization to upgrade tax systems and improve oversight of state finances. He pointed to the digital tenge, launched in pilot form in 2023, as now fully operational and central to this effort, emphasizing its traceable, programmable nature for ensuring transparent and efficient public expenditure, particularly as budgets come under pressure from various sources. It is not designed to compete with private retail payment providers.
Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev signed a bill this year to create a new banking framework. The reforms simplify regulation via a two-tier licensing model— basic and full—with Kazakhstan, Suleimenov said, drawing inspiration from the U.S. for those financial institutions that fall into the lighter oversight category. The tenge, the national currency, was also codified into the constitution – a further step towards underscoring sovereign autonomy.
According to Suleimenov, “Kazakhstan is following the U.S. approach in digital finance— studying the GENIUS Act and moving quickly to complete our digital asset bylaws. By May, a comprehensive framework covering crypto, real-world tokens, and tokenized assets should be in place, ensuring the sector operates within clear regulation rather than in a gray zone.”
Kazakhstan wants to become a fully digitized country within three years, and is backing that goal with large-scale infrastructure plans. The Governor of the Central Bank has highlighted a proposed “Data Centers Valley” initiative in northern Kazakhstan, arguing that the region’s cool climate, existing power base and planned energy modernization make it well-suited for digital infrastructure. “The aim is to convert those advantages into computing capacity that can serve both domestic needs and foreign clients,” he stated, underscoring that Kazakhstan is already in talks with major U.S. firms such as Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, and that planned Trans-Caspian internet links would strengthen the country’s appeal as a regional hub for digital investment.
Alatau City, Suleimenov continued, is a planned special-status hub between Almaty and Konayev, which will serve as a new center of growth for Kazakhstan’s economy. Designed as a digitally driven jurisdiction with independent governance, tax, and regulatory systems—building on the Astana International Financial Center model—it aims to foster innovation and advanced tech, extending those strengths into a new smart city. He noted that early investors would gain a first-mover advantage as the city is still under development.
New investment tools are being introduced to broaden the financial system and address investor fears, such as a national crypto fund and a new alternative portfolio in the unified pension fund.
Balancing Openness and Data Protection
“Kazakhstan is seeking the right balance between an open digital economy and safeguarding personal information,” Suleimenov assured the chamber members, and that’s why partnering with tech giants matters. “In this regard, hyperscalers can state their required safeguards, and Kazakhstan will weigh them against its own interests. Our aim is innovation without losing security or compromising privacy. Kazakhstan already has a dedicated law on personal data protection, and that framework rests on the Constitution’s broader guarantees of personal privacy and individual rights rather than on a blind acceptance of impersonal market forces or a separate data code.”
On whether Kazakhstan would follow stricter European data rules or looser U.S./UK models, he said Astana will keep regulations relatively open. He acknowledged periodic calls for tighter controls over digital platforms but said the framework is still flexible, citing Kaspi Bank’s successful model that has accelerated cashless payments but maintains privacy.
The Next Phase of Kazakhstan’s Investment Story
Taken together, Suleimenov’s message was that Kazakhstan is trying to present itself not simply as a resource economy, but as a more disciplined, digitized, and institutionally ambitious investment destination. From fiscal consolidation and inflation management to banking reform, digital finance, and new infrastructure projects, he cast the country’s agenda as one aimed at widening the appeal to international capital while preserving macroeconomic stability. For U.S. investors in particular, Suleimenov’s pitch is that Kazakhstan is far beyond the start-up phase: “We already maintain strong financial ties with the United States and its capital markets, and are now aiming to deepen them through our ongoing reforms and expanded investment under Kazakhstan’s New Constitution.”
Kazakhstan Freezes Projects with Iran Amid Military Conflict
Kazakhstan has suspended several joint projects with Iran amid ongoing military hostilities in the country, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov has announced. The decision effectively puts on hold plans to expand trade and economic cooperation between Astana and Tehran, despite previously stated ambitions to significantly increase bilateral trade. On December 11, 2025, during the Kazakhstan-Iran business forum in Astana, Tokayev said bilateral trade had exceeded $340 million the previous year. The two sides set an initial goal of raising trade to $1 billion, with a longer-term aim of doubling that figure. However, the escalation of military activity in Iran has forced both sides to reconsider these plans. “The situation is currently very complicated. At this point, many of our projects with Iran have been frozen due to the country being in a state of war. As a result, our businesses and entrepreneurs are now in a wait-and-see position,” Issetov said. “Kazakhstan is not suffering major losses, as the volumes were relatively small and did not significantly impact the national economy. Nevertheless, given our strong partnership with Iran, there is an effect, though not a substantial one,” he added. Despite the growth in trade, Iran’s share in Kazakhstan’s foreign economic relations remains limited. According to the Ministry of National Economy, exports to Iran in 2025 amounted to $239.3 million, while imports totaled $191 million, equivalent to roughly 0.3% of the country’s total foreign trade turnover. The agricultural sector accounted for the bulk of trade: approximately 90% of Kazakhstan’s exports to Iran consisted of wheat and barley. In the first ten months of last year alone, grain shipments reached $280 million, exceeding the total agricultural trade volume for 2024 ($220 million). Government officials believe these volumes can be redirected to alternative markets if necessary. From a logistics perspective, Iran is not considered a critical transit route for Kazakhstan. This was previously confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. “I don’t think the conflict will have any impact on our logistics. Shipments through the Persian Gulf were never dominant for us,” he said. Despite its currently limited role, Iran had been viewed as a promising direction for the development of transport corridors. In December 2025, Tokayev announced plans to build a transport and logistics terminal at Shahid Rajaee Port, which was intended to provide direct access for Kazakh exports to global markets. Plans also included strengthening links between Kazakhstan’s ports of Aktau and Kuryk and Iran’s ports of Amirabad and Anzali, as well as integrating Bandar Abbas and Chabahar into regional logistics chains. “It is important for us to develop multimodal corridors connecting Central Asia with the Persian Gulf, and the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway plays a key role in this,” Tokayev previously stated. According to his estimates, cargo traffic along this route could have doubled by 2030. For now, those plans are effectively on hold.
Water Stress: Will the Summer of 2026 Become a Turning Point for Central Asia?
The summer of 2026 is projected to be a critical and potentially decisive period for Central Asia in the context of water stress. The region is entering the growing season with significantly lower water reserves in its main river basins, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, compared to previous years. The combined impact of climate change and rising consumption is expected to exacerbate irrigation shortages, threatening crop yields and food security. A Region Under Pressure: Water as a Strategic Factor For Kazakhstan, water is taking on an increasing strategic importance in 2026. The southern regions, Kyzylorda, Turkestan, and Zhambyl, have already entered a phase of persistent low water availability. Estimates suggest that the irrigation deficit could reach up to 1 billion cubic meters. The situation in the Syr Darya basin remains critical. Inflows are expected to fall 3.2 billion cubic meters below normal, and by the start of the growing season, total water volume may reach only 1-2 billion cubic meters, far below demand. The Shardara Reservoir, a key regional storage facility, is currently at roughly half of its design capacity. Uzbekistan faces an even more vulnerable position due to its high population density and large agricultural sector. The flow of the Amu Darya is projected to fall to 65% of its historical norm, putting food stability at risk. Tashkent is accelerating investments in canal reconstruction, as water losses during transport reach up to 40%. Against this backdrop, tensions between upstream and downstream countries could become more pronounced. Kyrgyzstan, acting as the region’s “water tower,” faces a difficult trade-off between energy security and its obligations to downstream neighbors. Low accumulation levels in the Toktogul Reservoir have constrained hydropower generation, leading to winter energy shortages and reduced summer water releases, precisely when Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan require them for irrigation. This cyclical dependency turns each growing season into a complex round of “water-for-electricity” negotiations, with diminishing room for maneuver. Tajikistan faces a similar situation in the Amu Darya basin. The Nurek Hydropower Plant is operating under strict conservation principles as reservoir levels remain several meters below previous norms. For Dushanbe, the priority remains fulfilling the Rogun project, which, under low-water conditions, raises justified concerns among downstream states. These tensions are compounded by the accelerated melting of Pamir glaciers, which currently increases water flows but poses a long-term risk of severe depletion. Turkmenistan is also expected to experience acute water stress in 2026. In the Ahal and Mary regions, pasture degradation and limited irrigation are reducing livestock numbers and grain yields. The government is investing in dredging the Karakum Canal and constructing small desalination plants, but these measures only partially offset declining Amu Darya flows. An additional destabilizing factor is Afghanistan’s Qosh-Tepa Canal project. By summer 2026, its impact on the Amu Darya basin is expected to become physically noticeable. Estimates state that unregulated water withdrawals could reduce downstream flows by 15-25%. Afghanistan’s absence from regional water-sharing agreements creates a legal vacuum that existing mechanisms cannot address. As a result, Central Asia is approaching a threshold where traditional water management systems, largely reactive and based on Soviet-era quotas, are no longer effective. The creation of a unified water-energy strategy is therefore shifting from an option to a necessity. Without transparent digital monitoring at hydrological stations and the coordinated management of glaciers and reservoirs, the risk of localized water disputes in 2026 could reach its highest level in decades. The Aral Sea: An Indicator of Crisis The condition of the Aral Sea remains the clearest indicator of regional water stress. In 2025, the projected inflow to the Aral Sea region was 975 million cubic meters, while actual inflow measured at the Karateren hydropost was only 589 million cubic meters, 386 million cubic meters below projections. The Northern (Small) Aral Sea, often cited as a partial recovery success, faces a serious test. Despite the Kokaral Dam, critically low Syr Darya inflows, less than 50 m³/s at the peak of the summer, cannot compensate for intense evaporation. By August, some experts expect water levels to fall by 50-70 cm, leading to shoreline retreat and increased salinity, threatening fisheries in Saryshyganak Bay. The Southern (Large) Aral Sea in Uzbekistan continues its seemingly irreversible decline, fragmenting into hypersaline water bodies. The summer of 2026 is expected to be unusually hot, increasing the likelihood of severe salt storms from the dried seabed, now known as the Aralkum Desert. High-end projections suggest the possibility of 10-12 major dust events capable of transporting toxic salts and pesticide residues hundreds of kilometers, affecting not only Karakalpakstan but also Khorezm and even the foothills of the Tien Shan. Public health impacts are already severe. The Aral region is experiencing rising rates of eye and respiratory diseases, as well as anemia and cancer. Since the 1960s, coronary heart disease has increased 18-fold, pneumonia 19-fold, and chronic bronchitis 30-fold. Poor drinking water quality has contributed to a 4.2-fold rise in kidney stone disease in rural Karakalpakstan. According to researchers, up to 46.4% of respiratory diseases in children and 38.9% in adults are linked to sulfate air pollution from dust storms. The main large-scale mitigation measure remains afforestation of the dried seabed. By mid-2026, saxaul and other halophyte plantings in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are expected to cover 1.7-2 million hectares. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources is also developing a forest nursery on the seabed with an annual capacity of 1.5 million seedlings. These “green shields” help stabilize sand and salt, but their survival depends on groundwater levels, which are also declining. Water Diplomacy and “Digital Trust” At the same time, 2025-2026 has marked a shift toward more pragmatic regional cooperation. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan have signed agreements on water-energy exchange, whereby electricity is supplied in return for increased water releases during the growing season. Parallel efforts are underway to introduce automated monitoring systems. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have begun installing digital measurement points along the Syr Darya to improve transparency and reduce disputes over water allocation. A key upcoming event is the Regional Ecological Summit (RES), which will take place in Astana from April 22–24. The agenda includes joint programs for the Aral Sea basin, reforms to the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), sustainable management of transboundary water resources, and the introduction of digital water accounting systems. Further progress is also expected on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal to establish an International Water Organization within the UN, reflecting the growing importance of water governance amid global warming. From Crisis to Management The summer of 2026 may prove to be a turning point for Central Asia. The convergence of drought cycles with infrastructural and institutional weaknesses is making water the region’s primary risk factor. Addressing this challenge will require a shift from reactive responses to systemic management. Key priorities include transparent allocation mechanisms, digital monitoring, infrastructure modernization, and alignment of long-term environmental and water-energy strategies. Without such measures, water could become not only scarce but a source of broader regional instability.
Stalking in Kazakhstan: Why People Have Only Started Talking About It Now
Until recently, stalking in Kazakhstan was widely perceived as something more typical of movies, TV dramas, or social media discussions than of everyday life. Persistent phone calls, dozens of messages, or being followed near one’s home or workplace were often not seen as a serious threat. Such behavior was frequently excused with phrases like “he just can’t let go,” “he’s just being too persistent in courting her,” or “that’s how he shows his feelings.” But in recent years, attitudes toward this issue have begun to change, and on September 16, 2025, amendments came into force in Kazakhstan, introducing a separate Article 115-1, “Stalking,” into the Criminal Code. Under this article, stalking is defined as the unlawful pursuit of a person, expressed in attempts to establish contact with and/or track them against their will, without the use of violence, but causing substantial harm.
What Exactly Is Considered Stalking?
In practice, stalking is not limited to following someone on the street. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs includes repeated phone calls, constant messaging, intrusive attempts to establish contact, harassment through social media, and other actions against a person’s will in this category. Official explanations also state that stalking may include threats, insults, defamation, online surveillance, reading private correspondence, monitoring through cameras, and GPS trackers. All of this causes fear, anxiety, and a sense of insecurity.
For a long time, society did not view stalking as a separate problem for several reasons. First, many people still held the dangerous belief that persistence is almost normal, especially in the context of former relationships or attempts to “win over” someone’s attention. Second, psychological harm was often underestimated: if there were no bruises or obvious physical violence, it was assumed that there was no serious problem. Third, before a separate article appeared in the law, it was harder for people to explain exactly what was happening to them and why it deserved a legal response.
The introduction of a clear legal norm helped call the problem by its proper name, and this matters not only for the police and courts, but also for the victims themselves.What Changed After the Law Was Adopted?
In reality, stalking is not about feelings and not about “love that is too strong.” Its purpose is control, intrusion into another person’s personal boundaries, and forcing one’s presence upon them. The Ministry of Internal Affairs directly emphasizes that such actions cause serious harm to personal safety and psychological well-being.
Stalking causes fear, stress, and anxiety about one’s life and health, and in some cases may escalate into more serious crimes, including violence, bodily harm, or property damage.The introduction of Article 115-1 showed that the state no longer regards intrusive harassment as something minor or as “a private story between two people.” The penalties for stalking include a fine of up to 200 monthly calculation indices (MCI), community service for up to 200 hours, or arrest for up to 50 days.
If the harassment is accompanied by violence, threats, blackmail, or the unlawful dissemination of information about a person’s private life, the acts are additionally classified under other articles of the Criminal Code. In this way, the law established an important principle: the answer “no” must be respected unconditionally, and the right to privacy and safety does not depend on whether the people involved had a relationship in the past.Is the Law Working in Practice?
Judging by the initial data, the new provision has not remained merely on paper. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that since the criminalization of stalking, 51 cases have been sent to court, and in 36 of them the suspects were placed in temporary detention facilities. The agency also noted separately that investigations of such cases are under the ministry’s supervision, and that before the article came into force, preparatory work had been carried out: methodological guidelines were developed and staff training was conducted. This is an important indication that the law does not merely exist formally, but is actually being enforced: complaints are recorded, materials are investigated, suspects are detained, and cases are transferred to court.There are also already specific examples showing that people are in fact being held accountable. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the West Kazakhstan Region, a former husband systematically stalked a woman, continued calling and messaging her even after being blocked and after she changed her number, came to her place of residence and threatened her; the court found him guilty and sentenced him to 100 hours of community service.
In Astana, another man stalked a woman for six months, came to her workplace and home, filmed her without consent, and the court also found him guilty: he was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay compensation for moral harm. Moreover, because he violated the terms of a previously imposed restriction of freedom, the unserved part of that sentence was replaced with actual imprisonment. In Semey, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, another man who had been following a girl for a long time was also brought to justice.What This Says About Society’s Attitude
The fact that people have started talking about stalking only now is connected not only to the new law, but also to a gradual change in the public understanding of personal boundaries. More and more people understand that intrusive harassment is not “a sign of attention,” not “persistence,” and not “a family drama,” but a real threat to a person’s safety and psychological well-being. When someone is forced to live in fear, change their phone number, avoid familiar routes, or be afraid to leave home, this is no longer about feelings; it is about a violation of rights and freedoms.
Stalking in Kazakhstan has become a visible topic only now because society and the state have finally begun to see it not as everyday intrusiveness, but as a real threat. The new article in the Criminal Code gave this problem a clear legal definition, and the first results of its application show that the law is genuinely working: cases are being registered, reaching the courts, and perpetrators are being punished.
This means that intrusive harassment is no longer considered something that should simply be “tolerated” or “kept private.” It is a violation of personal boundaries, privacy, and safety, for which specific liability is now provided.
How Young Professionals from Central Asia Are Building Global Careers
Beyond opportunity, a new generation of Central Asians is learning how to compete, adapt, and fit into global work environments.
“I felt like I would understand what real work is much faster by living in the U.S.,” Ruzana Ileuova says.
Many people view building a career abroad as an opportunity. However, for Central Asian professionals, it also entails constantly adapting to new identities and expectations. While logging in to work every day from a location that feels both familiar and unfamiliar, Ruzana learns to trust her abilities and adapt to unspoken expectations. She says that pressure increases when working remotely, as it requires a high level of self-discipline.
“I always feel like I have to do more to prove myself,” she says. Despite strong language skills and academic preparation, she describes an ongoing sense of self-doubt, particularly in high-performance environments. “Even the language barrier still gives me imposter syndrome,” she adds. “And I’m the youngest on my team.”
Her narrative highlights a crucial aspect of this generation: success overseas requires constant negotiation of confidence, identity, and location, in addition to opportunity.
Reinventing the Path
For others, the path to an international career begins not with a plan, but with chance.
Originally from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Aman Arykbaev did not imagine a global career. His journey began when he was unexpectedly selected for the green card lottery.
“I used to think the green card was not a real thing until I saw that I was selected,” he says.
His early years were characterized by uncertainty, as he arrived in the United States with little money and no guidance.
“I worked almost two years installing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. At that time, my English was very weak,” Arykbaev recalls.
After attending a six-month IT boot camp, he was able to enter a new field and land his first tech job in a matter of weeks. “I had several interview stages, and by the end of the week, I got an offer.”
Arykbaev, who is currently a senior quality engineer, exemplifies a characteristic of this generation: the ability to change course. Careers are now rebuilt, sometimes from the ground up, rather than fixed.
Breaking Into Global Systems
The route was more regimented, but no less difficult, for Aldiyar Bekturganov, an Amazon software engineer. He followed a well-known path of internships, networking, and applications after relocating to the U.S. for college. However, the process was anything but easy.
“I failed my first interview completely,” he says.
That setback accelerated his learning curve. Even after landing a job, entering the workforce was not without its challenges. The shift from university to professional life, he explains, was immediate. “You suddenly realize the work actually matters,” he says. “If something is delayed, people are waiting on you.” Unlike academic settings, where mistakes are part of the process, professional environments demand results that affect teams and timelines.
While Bekturganov represents a more traditional corporate trajectory, Dameli Bozzhanova offers a contrasting perspective shaped by entrepreneurship and flexibility.
Working in London’s startup scene, Bozzhanova’s path has been characterized by experimentation and curiosity.
“It wasn’t a grand plan; it was a sequence of small yeses. In 10th grade, I was set on studying law in Kazakhstan, had already chosen a university, and had even done a legal project I was proud of. But the more I reflected, the more I realised I was drawn to something broader: business, how companies work, how value is created. My father had studied in the UK himself and had always encouraged me to consider studying abroad. So when the two things came together – my shift toward business and his advice – the decision felt natural. I got into Cardiff Sixth Form College, then the London School of Economics, and everything followed from that,” she says.
Her path from studying in the UK to joining an early-stage startup reflects a different kind of ambition, one rooted in building rather than following.
“I’ve always admired entrepreneurship, the idea that you can build something from almost nothing. That curiosity eventually led me toward the startup world. I tried to build my own health app, learned an enormous amount from that experience, and it ultimately led me to Kolleno, which I joined when there were four people and no revenue. Five years later, we’re a cash flow-positive software company,” she explains.
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Image: Dameli Bozzhanova[/caption]
When asked if she felt connected to her Central Asian heritage despite living overseas, Bozzhanova said, “Yes, very much so. London has a wonderful community of Kazakh friends, and I also have family here who came to study and work. That keeps the connection very real and present, it’s not something I have to seek out. It’s just part of my daily life here.”
Adapting and Thinking Globally
For Bozzhanova, adapting meant changing one’s viewpoint rather than trying to fit in. Her deliberate choice to stay open rather than defensive in unfamiliar situations enabled her to navigate a new environment more successfully.
“Being curious rather than defensive. When something confused me or felt unfamiliar, I got interested in it rather than retreating to what I knew.”
“London is simply one of the most competitive cities in the world to study, work, and build anything. That’s just the reality of the environment. For excellent results, you need to put in excellent, or more than excellent, effort. That’s become part of how I operate. It’s not a burden; it’s just my understanding of how things work.”
Bozzhanova presents the pressure as a normal part of a highly competitive environment rather than something related to her home country. In this sense, the need to prove oneself is not an exception but an expectation that shapes both performance and mindset.
“Our generation is increasingly connected through international projects, building startups that are getting recognised in global media, and founding companies that are attracting real investment and attention. The region is producing founders and professionals who are operating at a global level and being acknowledged for it. That visibility matters. It creates a feedback loop: when young people from Kazakhstan see others like them succeeding on the world stage, it expands what feels possible.”
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Image: Dameli Bozzhanova[/caption]
“Right now, I’m focused on what’s in front of me professionally and personally. Where that leads geographically, I’m genuinely open.”
Bozzhanova does not define her future in terms of a specific location, even though she has spent years developing her career overseas. Instead, she remains open, balancing professional ambition with a continued connection to home.
A Generation That Is More Global
A recurring theme in these accounts is that this generation’s perspectives are changing as a result of their exposure to international environments.
“When you work abroad, your thinking becomes more global,” Ruzana Ileuova says.
At the same time, identity itself is evolving.
“You carry your identity with you rather than rooting it in one place,” Dameli Bozzhanova reflects.
Advice for the Next Generation
Bozzhanova emphasizes action over hesitation for those in Central Asia considering a similar path. Instead of overplanning, she advises starting before feeling fully prepared and learning through experience.
“Don’t be afraid to try, don’t overthink it, just start and learn as you go. Doing so teaches you things that no amount of planning or preparation ever will. You’ll make mistakes, you’ll course-correct, and you’ll end up somewhere better than whatever you had mapped out in your head. The path that’s right for you looks different from the one that looks good on paper and learning that difference early saves a lot of time.”
A similar perspective is shared by Ileuova, who emphasizes persistence even in moments of uncertainty:
“The most crucial thing is to keep going and taking action, even when it seems like nothing is working. Stay curious if you’re not sure what to do next. Unexpected opportunities can arise through networking, recommendations, and simply placing oneself in the right environments. You will learn and adapt as you go, so it’s important not to obsess over what is right or wrong at any given time. However, once you’ve made this decision, the only thing left to do is move forward.”
Redefining Success
This generation’s definition of success is arguably the most significant shift. Today’s young professionals are more inclined to experiment, change course, and take risks than their parents, who often followed more linear and predictable career paths.
“Older generations followed a linear path; our generation is more exploratory,” Bozzhanova says.
Many believe the future is no longer tied to a single place.
Aldiyar Bekturganov defines success as adaptability; Bozzhanova views identity as mobile rather than fixed; Aman Arykbaev’s journey exemplifies flexibility in its most literal sense; and Ileuova’s experience underscores the pressure and perseverance required to build a career abroad.
As Central Asians become more globally engaged, their presence in international spaces is evolving. Rather than waiting to be accepted, a new generation is actively reshaping its role in the global workforce, redefining success on its own terms.
Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Coming Sunday
As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. This week, the team will be discussing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway with special guest, Almaty-based journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Chris Rickleton.
Rubio Meeting Highlights Kazakhstan’s Growing U.S. Agenda
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s April 15 meeting with senior Kazakh officials in Washington gave fresh visibility to a relationship that both sides increasingly frame in economic as well as diplomatic terms. At a time when Washington is trying to give its Central Asia policy more practical shape, Kazakhstan is a key U.S. partner in the region.
Rubio met President Tokayev’s Special Representative for Negotiations with the United States, Erzhan Kazykhan, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin. The talks covered ways to expand economic ties between the United States and Kazakhstan, as well as Kazakhstan’s role in peacemaking and regional initiatives. Rubio also welcomed Kazakhstan’s participation in the C5+1 platform and reaffirmed U.S. support for the country’s “sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”
In a post on X, Rubio said the talks focused on strengthening commercial ties and advancing regional cooperation. That language put trade, investment, and regional economic coordination at the center of the meeting.
Launched in 2015, the C5+1 began as a diplomatic framework linking the United States and the five Central Asian states. It later broadened into a more structured platform, with working groups on trade, energy, and the environment, and with growing emphasis on logistics, diversification, supply chains, and investment. The rise of the B5+1 reinforced that shift by giving business a more formal place in the relationship. By late 2025, the format placed more emphasis on deliverables, including infrastructure, funding mechanisms, and cooperation on mineral processing and research.
That shift has also been visible in Kazakhstan’s own dealings with Washington. During President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to the United States in November 2025, the Kazakh delegation signed 29 bilateral agreements worth about $17 billion, including a memorandum on critical minerals cooperation and major commercial deals in aviation, agriculture, and mining. The same visit underlined how closely economic diplomacy and strategic supply concerns are now tied together. Kazakhstan has attracted roughly $100 billion in cumulative U.S. investment since independence, and critical minerals have moved closer to the center of the relationship as Washington looks for secure supply chains beyond China and Russia.
Kazakhstan has attracted over $151 billion in net foreign direct investment since independence.
Rubio’s talks with Zhumangarin and Kazykhan came after months of stronger U.S.-Kazakhstan economic contact. Kazakhstan has a larger economic profile than any other Central Asian state, and its role in energy, critical minerals, investment, and transit gives it a prominent place in Washington’s regional thinking. That makes Astana a natural focus for any U.S. push to deepen commercial ties in Central Asia.
The sovereignty language in the U.S. readout was also not incidental. For Kazakhstan, public backing from Washington on sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity carries political weight in a region where questions of borders, pressure, and strategic dependence remain sensitive. Astana’s multi-vector foreign policy is built on preserving room for maneuver among larger powers. High-level engagement in Washington supports that strategy and signals that closer U.S. ties can sit alongside Kazakhstan’s broader balancing act.
The Washington visit also included a gesture toward one of Kazakhstan’s strongest supporters in Congress. During a ceremony at the Kazakh Embassy, Senator Steve Daines received the Order of Dostyk, First Class, on behalf of President Tokayev. The award recognized his “significant contribution to strengthening friendship and advancing cooperation between the two countries.”
[caption id="attachment_47204" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
Special Representative for Negotiations with the United States, Erzhan Kazykhan, presents Senator Steve Daines with the Order of Dostyk (Friendship); image: gov.kz[/caption]
Kazykhan also met with Representative Bill Huizenga, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee covering South and Central Asia, in another sign that the visit was aimed at strengthening ties not only with the administration but with Congress as well.
Kazykhan described relations between Kazakhstan and the U.S. as being at their “highest point in the history of bilateral engagement.” The Kazakh side also highlighted Daines’ role in interparliamentary cooperation, including his support for the Central Asia Caucus in Congress, backing for efforts to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, and support for Senate recognition of the strategic importance of the C5+1 platform. In February, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry also said Daines had emphasized the need for favorable legislative conditions in Congress to expand bilateral business ties, including through Permanent Normal Trade Relations, and said work toward repealing Jackson-Vanik was underway.
This was a visit with layers, not solely about one meeting with the Secretary of State. It also showed Astana tending to its ties on Capitol Hill as trade status, congressional caucus work, and the wider direction of U.S.-Central Asia relations remain in play. Kazakhstan is trying to keep its Washington ties broad, with support in diplomacy, business, and Congress rather than relying on a single channel.
For the United States, the message is equally clear. Kazakhstan remains an important Central Asian partner in a region that has become increasingly important because of transit routes, energy, critical minerals, and its place in a changing Eurasian landscape. For Kazakhstan, the Rubio meeting offered another chance to show that its relationship with Washington is not merely formal. It is part of a larger effort to turn political contact into practical economic cooperation.
Kazakhstan on Europe’s Oil Podium, but for How Long?
Kazakhstan has strengthened its position as one of the key suppliers of oil to the European Union, capitalizing on the redistribution of energy flows following the reduction of Russian crude imports. However, declining production and vulnerabilities in export infrastructure cast doubt on the country’s ability to maintain this position in the medium term. According to official EU data, the EU remains one of the world’s largest oil importers, meeting about 97% of its demand through external supplies. In 2025, EU countries imported approximately 435 million tonnes of crude oil worth more than €212 billion. The reduction in Russia’s share from 25.8% in 2021 to 2.2% in 2025 led to a significant redistribution of flows in favour of alternative suppliers, including the United States (14.6%), Norway (12.8%), and Kazakhstan (12.8%) by crude-oil import volume. Kazakhstan has been among the main beneficiaries of these changes. According to an Econovis Economic Research Laboratory report, the share of Kazakh supplies in European imports has increased for several consecutive years. This growth has been driven by strong demand from European refineries for light, low-sulfur CPC Blend crude. Alongside Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan has also strengthened its position, benefiting from Europe’s diversification efforts. A notable example is the Czech Republic, where, following the cessation of deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, Azerbaijan accounted for more than 42% of oil imports in 2025, according to Czech import data. Kazakhstan ranked third in the Czech market with a share of around 18%, indicating the emergence of a new energy balance in the Caspian region. Despite this favorable external environment, Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector has faced a significant downturn. According to government data, in the first quarter of 2026, oil and gas condensate production amounted to 19.7 million tonnes, 20% less than in the same period of 2025. Oil exports declined by approximately 22% to 15.3 million tonnes, while the annual export forecast stands at about 76 million tonnes. By mid-April, however, CPC exports had risen from February levels as Tengiz resumed production, suggesting that some of the early-year disruption had eased. The decline is linked to disruptions in the operations of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) and temporary shutdowns at major fields, including Tengiz. The CPC remains the key export route for Kazakh oil to Europe, transporting most of the crude through the terminal in Novorossiysk. Economic analyst Olzhas Baidildinov said the consequences of attacks on the consortium’s infrastructure could have long-term implications. “Oil and gas condensate production in Kazakhstan fell by 20% in the first quarter compared to January-March 2025, 19.7 million tonnes versus 24.6 million tonnes. Oil exports decreased by approximately 22% to 15.3 million tonnes. The export forecast for this year is 76 million tonnes,” he wrote on his Telegram channel. According to his estimates, the country will once again fail to surpass the psychologically significant threshold of 100 million tonnes of annual production. “As a result of the attacks on the CPC, at least 6 million tonnes of oil worth no less than $3.4 billion were not produced over four months. Taking into account associated costs, the total damage and lost revenue easily exceed $4 billion,” Baidildinov said. These figures are Baidildinov’s estimates and have not been independently confirmed by the authorities or the CPC. Disruptions in the supply of Kazakh oil have increased tensions in the European market for light crude grades. At the beginning of the year, a shortage of CPC Blend forced traders to increase purchases of North Sea grades, temporarily lifting premiums relative to the Brent benchmark. In January, Kazakh oil briefly traded at a premium to Dated Brent for the first time in a year, reflecting strong demand from European refiners, although the premium did not last, and pricing later moved back into discount. Additional volatility was driven by geopolitical risks, including the conflict in the Middle East. Against this backdrop, Kazakhstan is seeking to expand exports to Asian markets. South Korea has agreed to purchase 273 million barrels of oil from Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries by the end of 2026. Kazakhstan’s share amounts to about 18 million barrels, or 6.5% of the total, indicating the continued dominance of Middle Eastern suppliers. Japan is also considering the possibility of increasing oil imports from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan through projects involving the national company INPEX. However, such plans remain at an early stage, and alternative supply routes would extend delivery times to 25-55 days and increase transportation costs, limiting the competitiveness of Kazakh crude in Asian markets. The decline in oil production is already affecting the broader economy. Kazakhstan’s GDP growth slowed from 6.5% in 2025 to 3% in the first quarter of 2026. In the short term, demand for Kazakh oil in the EU is likely to remain high, particularly given the shortage of light crude grades. Nevertheless, any further disruptions in production or transportation could shift the balance of the market, intensifying competition from other suppliers.
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