Asa Qyrmetti Olga Valentinovna,

Parlament Deputattary, Ministrler,  

Khanymdar men Myrzalar,

Bugingi is-ıs-şharağa kosh keldinizder.  (Welcome to today’s event)

Let me first take this opportunity to thank the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan for hosting this event and showing their interest in seeking a human-centered, sustainable development pathway of the country.  

It is my pleasure to also congratulate you on the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan's accession to the United Nations. UNDP has been a proud partner of Kazakhstan and has supported the country's development progress since the early years of independence.

We have gathered today to discuss the three decades of Kazakhstan's progress in human development. In this relatively short period of time, the country has managed to overcome the turmoil of the 1990s and achieved many breakthroughs in various areas of development. For example, important market reforms were carried out, the poverty rate was significantly reduced, a modern civil service was established and the provision of public services to the population was rapidly improved.

Last year also marked the 30th anniversary of the first Human Development Report, centered on the Human Development Index. The HDI was developed to steer discussions about development progress away from GDP and toward a measure that really "matters" to people's lives.

From this perspective, the numbers tell us a great success story about Kazakhstan's progress over the past 30 years. Today, Kazakhstan belongs to the group of countries with a very high level of human development and can be proud of this achievement.

Nevertheless, in the future it is also important to preserve what has brought the country here. Today, after more than two decades of growth and steady socio-economic progress, Kazakhstan is also at a turning point, in the midst of a fragile and unpredictable environment with new global, regional and national challenges.

These include planetary pressures, the need to restore citizen confidence, the existing mismatch between human capabilities and emerging knowledge- and technology-intensive industries, the COVID -19 pandemic with its devastating impact on people, institutions, and businesses that threatens to undo the development successes of the past.

So the question is: How can human progress be sustained? What strategies can we adapt? What tools will take us to the next level?

We need nothing less than a comprehensive transformation to thrive at the next frontier of human progress. We already see a bold reform vision and political will, as well as the key building blocks for Kazakhstan's green, institutional, social, and digital transformation.

Of course, the government is leading this process, but no government in the world can do it alone. Partnerships and alliances should be built to bring about and sustain the desired changes, and we at UNDP stand ready at any time to support the country and its people on this development journey.

Thank you.