Each state has certain natural resources, financial capital and intellectual potential of the nation. However, the level of its socio-economic development is determined by the effectiveness of the public administration system. In Kazakhstan, State governance is based on the principles of the presidential republic, which is enshrined in the Constitution.

The organization of governance as a key factor of social progress includes the state structure, the system of functioning social institutions regulated by legal acts, as well as the structure of state authorities and local self-government, formed depending on the priority tasks of socio-economic development of the country.

The main goal of public administration is to create favorable conditions for the sustainable development of society and the state in accordance with long-term strategic guidelines. In Kazakhstan, the formation of public administration goals is determined by the logic of the country's evolutionary development and its political course. Each new goal follows organically from the previous one, ensuring continuity of reforms and modernization processes.

Public administration objectives can be classified as follows:

Socio-political goals:

- ensuring political stability, i.e. preventing socio-political crises, balancing the interests of various social groups;

- development of democratic institutions, which implies strengthening the system of representative government, improving the work of elected bodies (parliament, maslikhats, local self-government institutions);

- building an effective civil society, i.e. supporting NGOs, developing a dialogue between the authorities and the population, and mechanisms of public control;

- legal protection of citizens and ensuring the rule of law, including the fight against corruption, judicial reform, protection of human rights and freedoms;

- development of political culture and civic responsibility, i.e. involvement of the population in the decision-making process, political education, increasing electoral activity.

Social goals:

- raising the standard of living of the population, ensuring social justice, reducing the gap between rich and poor;

- development of the education system, including modernization of schools, universities and vocational training systems in accordance with the needs of the labor market;

- improving healthcare, improving the availability and quality of medical services, and developing insurance medicine;

- support for vulnerable groups of the population, social assistance to low-income families, children, and people with disabilities;

- development of housing policy, namely, construction of affordable housing, development of urban and rural infrastructure;

- creating a favorable environment for young people, including programs to support young professionals, and developing youth entrepreneurship.

Spiritual and cultural goals:

- protection and development of national identity, including support of the Kazakh language, national traditions, and historical heritage;

- promotion of the principles of tolerance and interethnic harmony, strengthening social harmony in the multinational society of Kazakhstan;

- development of the country's cultural potential, support for art, literature, and national cinema;

- information security and media literacy, namely the fight against disinformation, the development of independent and responsible journalism.

Economic goals:

- ensuring sustainable economic growth, namely, the implementation of long-term economic programs, economic diversification;

- development of industry and innovation, support for high-tech industries, digitalization, transition to a «green economy»;

- development of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), reduction of administrative barriers, access to finance for entrepreneurs;

- attracting investment, i.e. creating a favorable investment climate, protecting the rights of investors;

- efficient use of natural resources, environmental safety, development of renewable energy sources;

- agricultural development and food security, modernization of the agricultural sector, support to farms.

Organizational goals:

- reform of the state apparatus, including reducing bureaucracy, increasing transparency and efficiency of public administration;

- development of local self-government, expansion of powers of maslikhats and akimats, support of local initiatives;

- digitalization of public services, transition to electronic formats of interaction with the population (Egov, Smart City);

- improvement of strategic planning mechanisms, implementation of national projects taking into account global trends.

Informational and explanatory purposes:

- transparency and accountability of the authorities, including regular coverage of the work of state bodies, open reports on the implementation of programs;

- development of feedback mechanisms with the population, implementation of the concept of a «Listening State», public reception rooms, platforms for discussing draft laws;

- explanatory work on reforms and changes, raising public awareness of ongoing initiatives;

- promotion of the principles of good governance, anti-corruption campaigns, involvement of citizens in governance processes.

The National Development Plan of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2029 sets two key tasks for the regions – avoiding critical gaps in the provision of social goods and services in accordance with the System of Regional Standards (SRS) and promoting twofold economic growth^[74].

In the Concept and regional policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for2025-2030, the following regional development objectives can be identified:

- provision of basic goods and infrastructure, resulting in the availability of education, health, social protection, culture, sports, engineering and transport infrastructure to 96% in urban areas and 71% in rural areas;

- creating a comfortable urban environment, including the arrangement of public spaces, landscaping, improving security and improving the accessibility of social infrastructure;

- development of urban planning, namely development of master plans and detailed development projects for sustainable development of human settlements;

- deepening of processing in key industries, which implies the development of processing in the oil and gas sector, the mining industry and the agro-industrial complex with the formation of a network of SMEs around large enterprises;

- regulation of production with high added value, namely development of production chains and localization of processing of domestic raw materials;

- development of transport and logistics potential, improvement of transport connectivity, creation of transit hubs and service infrastructure;

- development of tourism, forming regional points of attraction for tourists;

- strengthening interagency cooperation and establishing the Office of Regional Initiatives under the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

- fiscal decentralization, i.e. increasing the fiscal independence of regions and expanding the tax base through investment projects;

- development of human resources potential, through the introduction of rotation of personnel on the principle of «region-center-region» with career development programs;

- optimization of data management, creation of a national data ecosystem and digitalization of public administration;

- development of specialized infrastructure, as well as investments in the agro-industrial complex, industry, tourism and other sectors for the economic transformation of regions;

- consolidation of five urban agglomerations, namely the development of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktobe and Karaganda agglomerations as growth drivers;

- balanced development of agglomerations, development of transport, engineering and social infrastructure;

- creation of new economic centers and development of regional centers for an even distribution of growth;

- increasing the transport accessibility of small and single-industry towns, improving communication with the centers of economic growth;

- diversification of the economy of single-industry towns, infrastructure development and implementation of large industrial projects;

- modernization of rural infrastructure, including achieving an urban standard of living for more than 90% of the rural population;

- improving demographics in rural areas and border areas, improving the quality of life to curb the outflow of population;

- increase income and reduce rural poverty, and ensure access to financial, land and material resources.

It is worth noting that the state does not seek to prescribe the specialization of regions or manage the allocation of productive forces, but creates conditions for their free development. The main policy instruments are territorial development programs, mechanisms of inter-budget regulation, investment promotion and infrastructure development.

Thus, the regional policy of Kazakhstan is aimed at achieving territorial equality, stimulating economic activity and ensuring the social sustainability of regions, while maintaining flexibility in market conditions.

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^[74] The Concept of Regional Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2025–2030
https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy/documents/details/814351. Accessed on March 29, 2025.