Caught up in the groundswell of Soviet republics seeking greater autonomy, Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty as a republic within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in October 1990. Following the August 1991 aborted coup attempt in Moscow and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991. It was the last of the Soviet republics to declare independence.
The years following independence have been marked by significant reforms to the Soviet-style economy and political monopoly on power. Under Nursultan Nazarbayev, who initially came to power in 1989 as the head of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan and was eventually elected President in 1991, Kazakhstan has made significant progress toward developing a market economy.
The capital was moved in 1998 from Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, to Astana.
An agreement with NATO and Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia was signed on 31 January 2006—the Individual Partnership Action Plan. (Nations that have later joined, are Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.).
Dear compatriots!
Dear deputies and members of the Government!
Ladies and gentleman!
This
year is especially valuable for us. We have approached the 20th anniversary of
our independence. We have conquered significant tops along this way, which led
dependent people to independent days of present time. As you remember, in 1997,
in my first address to the people of Kazakhstan, I said: “By 2030, our next
generations will live in a country which would not be left in the wayside of
global events”. At that time, there were many people who were doubtful about
these words. However, we have achieved this desired goal not in 33, but in
twelve years! The Summit, recently held in Astana, convened the heads of the 56
states and governments and is an outstanding evidence of this. And even before
this major and glorious achievement, we have reached many goals. We have become
one of the three states in the world, which convened its compatriots, “scattered
as millet” in different times of history. In these years, more than 800,000
compatriots came back from foreign states and the number of population increased
by one and a half million. We have built a beautiful and prosperous Astana in
the wide steppe of Sary-Arka. We have established the capital, which became the
symbol of our dynamic development, on the banks of Yessil River.
Only the nation which lives in harmony and understanding will reach the fruitful future.
Today, Kazakhstan’s international reserves are about 60 billion USD.
Prosperity requires cooperation, and unity is the token of wealth.
In the years of independence, more than 120 billion USD in foreign investment were attracted in the economy of our country.
We also export more than 200 kinds of products to 126 countries of the world.
Today, one third of the national wealth is created by small and medium-sized businesses.
The agricultural sector is also developing.
In 2010, the GDP increased by 7 percent, industrial production – by 10 percent, while the growth in manufacturing industries reached 19 percent.
An average monthly salary increased from 53,000 in 2007 to 80,000 tenge (KZT) in 2010.
In terms of the national wellbeing, last year Kazakhstan made 26 steps forward and took the 50th place among 110 countries.
Overall, an average monthly salary increased by 5.5 times and the average pension increased fourfold.
We overcame the crisis, which shook the world, and bravely stepped onto a straight path of development.
We set ourselves ambitious goals, and we achieved them.
About 500 public health facilities were built during the years of independence.
The material and technical foundation of the medical institutions has significantly improved.
In developing education, our country takes leading positions among 129 countries.
Funds allocated to education increased tenfold during the last decade.
A total of 750 new schools were built in these years.
Also, 5,302 preschool facilities, 1,117 nursery schools and 4,185 centres were opened.
A new University, which in the new century will become the centre of science and knowledge, was opened in Astana.
In such a short period of time, we have become the country with many trophies and a strong nation.
All this was done to give our people opportunities to think globally.
