Maximizing Kazakhstan’s Potential: Insights from Honorary Consul Hallman
Kazakhstan’s Potential Beyond Oil and Gas: A Focus on Education, Agriculture, and Human Capital
In a recent interview with The Astana Times, Hugh Hallman, Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan, emphasized the need for Kazakhstan to shift its focus away from oil and gas towards industries such as education, agriculture, and human capital in order to unlock the country’s full potential. Hallman, who has had a distinguished career in law, education, politics, and business, highlighted the importance of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s forward-thinking vision for the country.
According to Hallman, industries like education, agriculture, and human capital have the potential to drive new growth points for Kazakhstan. He pointed out that these industries are not hindered by transportation disadvantages, making them ideal for a landlocked country like Kazakhstan. Hallman emphasized the importance of intellectual property investments in industries that do not require extensive transportation infrastructure, noting that Kazakhstan has the potential to excel in areas such as agriculture and technology.
“Agriculture is another gold mine in Kazakhstan, as it has abundant land and water resources,” Hallman said. “There is absolutely no reason that Kazakhstan cannot be one of the global superpowers in agriculture.”
Despite its challenging neighborhood between China and Russia, Kazakhstan has built a stable and dynamic economy, according to Hallman. He believes that Kazakhstan’s diverse population and collaborative spirit will enable the country to find unique solutions to its economic challenges.
Hallman also praised Kazakhstan’s diplomatic efforts, highlighting the expertise of its embassy team in the U.S. and Ambassador Yerzhan Ashikbayev in Washington, D.C. He emphasized the importance of Kazakhstan achieving permanent normalized trade relations to further enhance its trading position on the global stage.
Overall, Hallman is optimistic about Kazakhstan’s future and believes that the country is poised for exponential growth. By focusing on industries like education, agriculture, and human capital, Kazakhstan can unlock its full potential and become a major player on the world stage.
