Kazakhstan aims for tricky economic reboot after cabinet shuffle

President Tokayev tasks new PM with spurring growth and trimming budget

20240209 astana

Downtown Astana as seen from the official residence of Kazakhstan's president. The government aims to spur growth toward a goal of doubling GDP. © Reuters

PAUL BARTLETT, Contributing writer

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hopes to close the book on a challenging period and reboot his economic reform plans after a cabinet reshuffle, though this is likely to involve measures that have met resistance in the past.

Olzhas Bektenov, a relative unknown, was installed this week as the new prime minister, responsible for managing the government's day-to-day operations. The 43-year-old holds a law degree and has a background in Kazakhstan's law enforcement and anti-corruption bodies. Since last April, he had been in President Tokayev's inner circle as the head of the presidential administration.

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