Chair of Kazakhstan’s Senate Advocates for Population Growth to Drive National Progress
The chairman of the Senate, Maulen Ashimbayev, has called for an increase in Kazakhstan’s population to 30-40 million people in the next decade in order to drive the country’s development. During a recent government session, Ashimbayev stressed the challenges that would arise in developing the world’s ninth-largest territory without a population increase. He highlighted the need for social infrastructure, schools, preschool institutions, medical facilities, and jobs to accommodate a growing population.
Ashimbayev also emphasized the importance of human resources in achieving the demographic target, as it is crucial for ensuring economic growth, market capacity, and overall national progress. The Kazakh Minister of Culture and Information, Aida Balayeva, pointed out that there has been a record-high birth rate in the country, with 2021 witnessing the largest indicator in 34 years. However, she also noted that one-sixth of families in Kazakhstan are unable to have children, leading to a 20% divorce rate.
Additionally, Ashimbayev addressed the potential need for external migration to supplement Kazakhstan’s workforce in the medium to long term, emphasizing the importance of a meaningful government policy to support this migration. He highlighted the necessity of attracting specialists from abroad to support the establishment of industrial enterprises and innovative initiatives in various sectors. Although such migration may provoke some negative reactions, Ashimbayev stressed that it is essential to support the country’s development and foster innovation in different sectors.
