28 October 2026 President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his annual Address to the people of Kazakhstan. The Head of State touched upon issues of raising the population's incomes, developing the economy, building nuclear power plants and renewing the country's infrastructure.
ECONOMY AND SUPPORT FOR THE POPULATION
The Address, entitled "Urgent Tasks for Kazakhstan in a New Historical Cycle", was delivered at a meeting of the Kurultai in Astana.
One of the social initiatives was an increase in the minimum wage (MW) from 85,000 to 110,000 tenge from 1 January 2027. According to the figures announced, the change should affect around 1.8 million people.
The President devoted separate attention to entrepreneurship. He proposed discussing the introduction of a three-year moratorium on inspections of micro and small businesses from the start of 2027. At the same time, a final decision on introducing the restrictions has not yet been taken.
Tokayev also instructed the government to review certain provisions of the Tax Code. This concerns eliminating contradictions, reducing administrative requirements and lowering the burden on entrepreneurs.
LARGE-SCALE CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
The President announced the need to renew Kazakhstan's civilian infrastructure. By the end of 2029, around 6.5 trillion tenge from the National Fund is expected to be allocated to modernising social facilities, the transport system and utility networks.
At the same time, Tokayev stressed that state financing must be combined with private investment. The government has been instructed to find additional sources of long-term financing for construction projects.
The Head of State devoted particular attention to nuclear energy. He proposed starting construction of the Balhash nuclear power plant as early as 2027, and also accelerating preparations for the construction of a second plant, Moyynkum.
In addition, the President put forward an initiative to create a state strategic reserve of uranium. It is assumed that such a stock will make it possible to meet the needs of Kazakhstan's nuclear power plants for the next 100 years.
Tokayev also called for more active involvement of foreign partners in training Kazakh specialists and creating high-tech production facilities in the field of nuclear energy.
TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
The Head of State criticised the situation with the allocation of responsibility for roads. According to him, state bodies are passing problems on to one another, which hinders the timely repair and maintenance of the road network.
The President demanded that responsibility for roads be assigned to the Ministry of Transport. He also instructed that the reconstruction of road checkpoints be completed in 2027.
Tokayev separately drew attention to rising prices. He called inflation a serious threat to citizens' wellbeing and demanded coordinated work by the government and the National Bank to curb it.
DIGITAL EMPLOYMENT AND INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGES
The President instructed the government to prepare, by the end of 2026, a simplified legal regime for citizens who earn income through digital services. In his view, modern technologies should create additional opportunities for employment and earning.
Part of the speech was also devoted to the international situation. Tokayev stated that confrontation between states is intensifying, international institutions are experiencing a crisis, and the importance of international law is declining.
"There has not been such a complex and unpredictable situation even in the times of the Cold War," the President noted.
The Head of State stressed that in such conditions Kazakhstan needs to strengthen its independence, preserve public accord and continue economic transformation.
