Republic Of Kazakhstan Staff Report For The Article Iv Consultation

The global financial crisis led to an abrupt halt in credit growth, exposed underlying vulnerabilities in the banking sector, and impaired GDP growth in Kazakhstan. Executive Directors commended the authorities for their prudent macroeconomic policies and swift response to the financial crisis. They stressed the urgency of implementing the bank resolution strategy accompanied by full assessment of recapitalization needs and improvements in the regulatory and supervisory frameworks. Directors highlighted the need for a well-capitalized and well-regulated financial system in facilitating economic diversification, and urged sustained efforts to improve governance and the business environment.

Inflation has surged to 18 percent while growth is projected to slow to 2.7 percent this year. High oil prices have strengthened fiscal and external buffers, while the revised budget increased public spending by 21⁄2 percentage points of GDP to support activity. Subsidiaries of sanctioned Russian banks have exited the domestic market and regulatory compliance is being enhanced to avoid secondary sanctions. Risks to the outlook remain tilted to the downside, as adverse global conditions could lower oil prices and raise borrowing costs, while oil exports through Russian territory remain a major source of vulnerability. Accelerated economic diversification and private sector development are needed to attain sustainable and inclusive growth.

Growth is estimated to have reached 4.8 percent in 2023 and is projected to slow to 3.1 percent in 2024. Inflation declined to 9.8 percent in 2023, still well above the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK)’s target of 5 percent. Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside. The state’s footprint in the economy remains large and structural reform implementation has been slow in recent years. Despite strong buffers, the economy needs to be better prepared for future shocks in both the short term (e.g., from war spillovers, inflation, and global economic and financial conditions) and the medium term (e.g., from geo-economic fragmentation, climate events, and global decarbonization).

This 2018 Article IV Consultation highlights that growth has strengthened in Kazakhstan supported by higher oil production and increased activity in trade and manufacturing. Robust exports have contributed to an improvement of the external current account. Inflation has declined and remained within the target band of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK). This, along with anchoring of inflationary expectations, has allowed the NBK to undertake several interest rate cuts. Growth is expected to remain solid, although there are risks. Overall growth will likely slow as the increase of oil production moderates, but non-oil growth should increase further over the medium term, reflecting structural reforms and financial repair and deepening.

This 2015 Article IV Consultation highlights that against the backdrop of external shocks, economic growth and inflation in Kazakhstan have decelerated. Financial conditions have tightened, and external imbalances are emerging. Real GDP growth slowed to an annualized 2 percent during the first quarter of 2015, down from about 4 percent in 2014 and 6 percent in 2013. In addition to weaker external demand, slower growth was driven by the impact of lower income and profitability and confidence effects on private consumption and domestic investment. Real GDP growth is projected to decelerate to 2 percent in 2015, owing to weaker demand from Russia and China, lower oil prices, confidence effects, and continuing delays in the Kashagan oil field.

The staff report for the 2005 Article IV Consultation on the Republic of Kazakhstan highlights the economic outlook and fiscal policy. Inflation moderated to single-digit levels and confidence in the banking system strengthened, leading to rapid remonetization and significant dedollarization. The conduct of monetary policy has been complicated by the inflows of private capital, surging oil earnings, and buoyant demand conditions. Although Kazakhstan has made considerable progress in the structural area, the pace of reform implementation has slowed. Rapid growth has translated into lower poverty, but social indicators remain weak.