Kazakhstan and the OECD

Latest news: 21 November 2018

On the final day of Eurasia Week 2018, the OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría and Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy, Mr. Timur Suleimenov, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding between the OECD and Kazakhstan, which will provide a framework for co-operation over the years to come. 

In January 2015, the OECD and Kazakhstan embarked on a two-year programme of structured co-operation, the OECD Kazakhstan Country Programme, which supported Kazakhstan’s reform efforts across a wide range of policy domains. The Country Programme was extended until the end of 2018. It has provided the framework for carrying out several dozen OECD projects with the country and has provided an opportunity for Kazakhstan to increase its participation in a number of OECD committees and their subsidiary bodies. Kazakhstan has also adhered to a growing number of OECD instruments under the Programme.

The new agreement, which runs until end-2022, provides a framework for further co-operation and reflects the commitment of both the OECD and Kazakhstan to build on the success of the Country Programme.

The Regulation of Goods and Services Markets in Kazakhstan: An International Comparison 2018

This report presents the first-ever results from the application of the OECD’s economy-wide product market regulation (PMR) indicators to Kazakhstan. It finds that that regulations in Kazakhstan are less conducive to competition than the OECD average, although Kazakhstan’s overall ranking is similar to, or even slightly better than, those of such emerging-market economies as Argentina, Brazil and South Africa. The report also explores important differences across sectors of economic activity, identifying the principal barriers and bottlenecks that must be addressed in order to create a competition-friendly economic environment. Extensive direct state control over enterprises presents significant challenges, particularly in view of evidence of weak public governance of state-owned enterprises. Trade facilitation and differential treatment of foreign suppliers are also problems, and there is considerable room for improvement in the regulation of infrastructure sectors like electronic communications, air and water transport and electricity. By contrast, Kazakhstan scores fairly well with respect to administrative burdens on start-ups and in the regulation of retail distribution, natural gas, road and rail transport, and most professional services. The report highlights the scope for sectoral regulatory reforms that could strengthen competition, thereby stimulating innovation and productivity growth, as well as bringing benefits to consumers.

Kazakhstan: Monitoring Skills Development through Occupational Standards  (2019)

This Policy Insights report reviews Kazakhstan’s progress in developing and implementing OS since the recommendations made in the 2015 OECD peer review note. It assesses Kazakhstan’s achievements in improving the institutional setting and capacity for the development of OS.It also looks at work to implement OS in VET curricula, and the initiatives to promote their use. The report makes recommendations to increase institutional expertise concerning OS, and to create more effective implementation and monitoring mechanisms.

Russian version

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Monitoring the Development of Agricultural Co-operatives in Kazakhstan (2019) 

This report monitors progress in implementing the three main policy recommendations from the OECD policy handbook Strengthening Agricultural Co-operatives in Kazakhstan (2015). It covers the legal frameworks for agricultural co-operatives, education and information services, and financial support programmes, and concludes with a series of targeted recommendations for future activities. The report was developed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, KazAgro Holding, subnational authorities, farmers, farmers’ associations, research institutes and a team of international experts.

Russian version