Location:
Central Asia, north of Uzbekistan.
Capital :
Astana (formerly called Akmola). Population: 600,000 (2004).
Area:
2,717,300 sq km (1,049,150 sq miles).
Description:
Five times the size of France and half the size of the USA, Kazakhstan is
the second largest state in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and is
bordered by the Russian Federation to the north and west, the Caspian Sea,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the southwest, Kyrgyzstan to the south and
China to the southeast. 90% of the country is made up of steppe, the sand
massives of the Kara Kum and the vast desert of Kizilkum, while in the
southeast of the country the mountains of the Tian Shan and the Altai form
a great natural frontier with tens of thousands of lakes and rivers. The
Aral Sea and Lake Balkhash are the country’s largest expanses of water.
Population :
15.4 million (UN estimate 2005).
language:
The official language is Kazakh, a Turkic language closely related to
Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Turkmen and Turkish. The government has begun to replace
the Russian Cyrillic alphabet with the Turkish version of the Roman
alphabet. Meanwhile, the Cyrillic alphabet is in general use and most
people in the cities can speak Russian, whereas country people tend to
only speak Kazakh. English is usually spoken by those involved in tourism.
Uygur and other regional languages and dialects are also spoken.
Climate:
Continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. Although Kazakhstan
has some of the highest peaks in the CIS, the climate is fairly dry. The
hottest month is July (August in mountain regions).
Economy - overview:
Kazakhstan has enormous natural deposits: iron, nickel, zinc, manganese,
coal, chromium, copper, lead, gold and silver are presently being mined.
The coalfields of the Karaganda are some of the largest in Asia. There are
substantial oil and gas deposits, many of which have only recently been
located and the Kazakh government has signed joint production deals with
US and European consortia. New pipeline projects agreed with the Russian
Federation and Oman will offer further outlets for Kazakh oil and boost
national revenues.
The rapid increase in the size of the sector mainly accounts for the
country’s recent healthy growth, which has seen GDP increase by around 10%
annually since 2000 (9.4% in 2005). Inflation in the same year was 7.6%.
The government’s economic policy has limited the involvement of foreign
investors (the oil and gas industry apart). A privatisation programme has
seen the bulk of the country’s commercial enterprises transferred to the
domestic private sector. The government has established a strong financial
position, albeit at the expense of much-needed investment in Kazakhstan’s
decaying infrastructure.
Other than oil and gas, stone, such as marble and granite, is produced in
large quantities. The country’s industries are predominantly concerned
with processing these raw materials. Domestic production also fulfils
Kazakhstan’s own energy needs.
Agriculture still accounts for half of economic output. The main
commodities are wheat, meat products, wool and a variety of crops: sugar
beet, potatoes, cereals, cotton, fruit and vegetables. Livestock rearing
is also important in this very arid region. However, one of the
consequences of extensive cultivation has been heavy demand on water
supplies, most particularly the rivers of Kazakhstan and its neighbour
Uzbekistan: this was the major cause of one of the greatest ecological
disasters of recent times – the shrinking of the Aral Sea.
Since independence, Kazakhstan has joined the IMF, World Bank and the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and has signed a
partnership and co-operation agreement with the EU. It also belongs to the
main regional economic co-operation venture, the Central Asian Economic
Union (ECO). Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Kazakhs have
sought economic independence from the Russian Federation but find that
they are still affected by developments in their larger neighbour.
Economy:
Kazakhstan has enormous natural deposits: iron, nickel, zinc, manganese,
coal, chromium, copper, lead, gold and silver are presently being mined.
The coalfields of the Karaganda are some of the largest in Asia. There are
substantial oil and gas deposits, many of which have only recently been
located and the Kazakh government has signed joint production deals with
US and European consortia. New pipeline projects agreed with the Russian
Federation and Oman will offer further outlets for Kazakh oil and boost
national revenues.
The rapid increase in the size of the sector mainly accounts for the
country’s recent healthy growth, which has seen GDP increase by around 10%
annually since 2000 (9.4% in 2005). Inflation in the same year was 7.6%.
The government’s economic policy has limited the involvement of foreign
investors (the oil and gas industry apart). A privatisation programme has
seen the bulk of the country’s commercial enterprises transferred to the
domestic private sector. The government has established a strong financial
position, albeit at the expense of much-needed investment in Kazakhstan’s
decaying infrastructure.
Other than oil and gas, stone, such as marble and granite, is produced in
large quantities. The country’s industries are predominantly concerned
with processing these raw materials. Domestic production also fulfils
Kazakhstan’s own energy needs.
Agriculture still accounts for half of economic output. The main
commodities are wheat, meat products, wool and a variety of crops: sugar
beet, potatoes, cereals, cotton, fruit and vegetables. Livestock rearing
is also important in this very arid region. However, one of the
consequences of extensive cultivation has been heavy demand on water
supplies, most particularly the rivers of Kazakhstan and its neighbour
Uzbekistan: this was the major cause of one of the greatest ecological
disasters of recent times – the shrinking of the Aral Sea.
Since independence, Kazakhstan has joined the IMF, World Bank and the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and has signed a
partnership and co-operation agreement with the EU. It also belongs to the
main regional economic co-operation venture, the Central Asian Economic
Union (ECO). Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Kazakhs have
sought economic independence from the Russian Federation but find that
they are still affected by developments in their larger neighbour.
Exports:
Oil, ferrous and non ferrous metals, machinery, chemicals, grain, wool,
meat and coal.
Imports:
Machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas, and vehicles. •
Main trade partners: USA, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, The
Netherlands, China (PR), Uzbekistan, Korea (Rep), Turkey and Ukraine.
Exchange rates:
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/135/climate/Central-Asia/Kazakhstan.html
GDP :
US$56.1 billion (2005).
