State Counselor Erlan Karin attended the extended meeting of the Academic Council of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS).
In his address, the Chair of the Academic Council and KazISS Director, Yerkin Tukumov, noted that in 2024 the Institute had prepared analytical materials on various research areas, including domestic politics, international relations, and economics.
In the field of sociological research, for the first time, questions were tested to determine the value orientations and identity of Kazakhstani citizens, as well as their vision of Kazakhstan’s future.
In 2024, KazISS significantly strengthened its cooperation with foreign think tanks, with a particular focus on Asian partnerships. During the year, KazISS signed memorandums with countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In November 2024, the first Kazakhstan-China Think Tank Forum was held in Beijing, with KazISS representing Kazakhstan as the organizer.
KazISS also hosted several major international events in 2024, co-organizing the Astana Think Tank Forum 2024, which included the participation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The theme of this inaugural international forum was the role of middle powers in a changing global order.
The meeting also outlined the main areas of analytical work and key activities for 2025. KazISS will focus on studying domestic political processes, economic development trends in Kazakhstan, and the contours of foreign policy dynamics. Additionally, the Institute plans to develop new areas, such as building databases and expanding its network of regional offices.
In his speech, Erlan Karin emphasized that the overarching agenda for state policy in the current year was set by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his now traditional January interview.
The State Counselor highlighted KazISS’s leading role in providing expert-analytical support for state policy implementation. This includes preparing proposals on regional development, exploring further economic reforms, analyzing global geopolitical trends, and addressing other relevant and critical areas. He also stressed the importance of KazISS experts in explaining the goals and objectives of Kazakhstan’s foreign and domestic policies to both the expert community and the general public.
Erlan Karin underscored that KazISS, as the country’s primary “think tank,” plays a pivotal role in establishing international partnerships with foreign analytical institutions.
