Kazakhstan's Independence Day celebration

Happy Independence Day of Kazakhstan, from Ambassador Idrissov and Baroness Nicholson!

On 16 December 1991, the modern Republic of Kazakhstan was founded, driven by the values of openness and ambition which continue to guide the country today. This milestone was swiftly followed with several other key moments in the timeline of Kazakh development; it became a member of the United Nations, a member of the International Monetary Fund, drafted its Constitution, and established its bicameral Parliament. All of this happened within just the first five years of independence, and was only the beginning of an ongoing legacy.

From the launch of its independence, Kazakhstan made clear that it was committed to forging close relationships with both its regional neighbours and global partners. Economic growth, political development, cultural preservation, environmental protection; these can either be achieved through mutual cooperation on a global scale, or eluded through a lack of collaboration.

The country has been at the heart of bolstering Central Asian relations, encouraging its neighbours to work together to increase the global profile and impact of this promising region. This ambition was realised in the founding of the Astana International Financial Centre in 2018, marking a new hub on the financial world map; the AIFC court is the first in Central Asia to operate under English common law, as has been adopted by the world’s leading financial centres.

Kazakhstan has also worked hard to increase its diplomatic ties with countries across the world, and has been recognised as a key player in the establishment of constructive international relations. This culminated in Kazakhstan being selected as the first Central Asian country to serve on the UN Security Council, where it focused on security, counter-terrorism, and nuclear non-proliferation. Among Kazakhstan’s close international allies is the United Kingdom; relations between the two countries were formally established on 19 January 1992, just one month after the dawn of Kazakh independence.

This bilateral relationship has significantly deepened since this time, with the two countries working together to support their shared aims and values. The UK is among both Kazakhstan’s top trading partners and largest investors, and there are more than 500 British entities currently active in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh-British Technical University has been operating in Almaty since 2001, and there are currently more than 2,000 Kazakh students at UK universities and colleges. The Kazakh-British Intergovernmental Commission and the Kazakh-British Business Council are among the entities which see the two countries regularly come together to discuss their ongoing and potential cooperation.

The Kazakh-British relationship has achieved great things over the past 29 years, and as the two countries celebrate Kazakh Independence Day, we greatly welcome what the next three decades will bring.