Kazakhstan is accelerating its economic transformation as it deepens cooperation with the World Bank, unlocking new opportunities for investment, infrastructure, and sustainable growth.

During high-level talks in Washington, D.C., Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin met with Antonella Bassani, Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia, to map out the next phase of strategic cooperation, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Since 1993, the partnership has delivered more than 50 projects worth over $8 billion, spanning transport, education, green technologies, and digital development. Now, both sides are preparing to scale up collaboration under a new 2026-2030 framework focused on connectivity, energy modernization, and climate resilience.

Kazakhstan’s recent fiscal and tax reforms are already showing results. In the first quarter of 2026, state budget revenues surged to 6.4 trillion tenge-up nearly 1 trillion year-on-year-signaling stronger economic discipline and growth potential.

Two flagship initiatives are already underway:

Reconstruction of the Karaganda-Zhezkazgan highway

The $84 million Digital Acceleration for an Inclusive Economy (DARE) project

Meanwhile, new plans are taking shape-from restoring the Northern Aral Sea to expanding transport corridors and modernizing railway networks.

A massive national program to modernize energy and utility systems-covering more than 200 entities-is emerging as a cornerstone of future growth. The World Bank is expected to support not only public funding but also attract private investment into these critical sectors.

Despite being landlocked, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional hub for trade, logistics, and innovation. The World Bank подчеркнул its readiness to back both infrastructure projects and structural reforms, helping the country adapt to global economic shifts and boost productivity.

With new agreements on the horizon and an infrastructure investment program planned for May, the partnership is entering a new phase-one that could redefine Kazakhstan’s economic trajectory in the years ahead.