Kazakhstan

Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused many of these newcomers to emigrate. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states combined largely due to the country's vast natural resources and a recent history of political stability. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; achieving a sustainable economic growth; diversifying the economy outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's competitiveness; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.

Economical characteristics

 * Currency: Tenge (ISO code: KZT)
 * Central bank discount rate: 7% (31 December 2009)
 * Commercial banks lending rate: NA%
 * Stock of money (M1): $16.12 billion (31 December 2008)
 * Quasi money (with M1 makes M2): $35.76 billion (31 December 2008)

Links

 * Kazakhstan on Wikipedia
 * Central bank of Kazakhstan
 * Country profile (pdf) from the Enterprise Studies page (part of the The World Bank Group)
 * BBC country profile