Nurly Zhol (Kazakh: Нұрлы жол, lit. 'Bright Path')[1] is a US$9 billion domestic economic stimulus plan to develop and modernize roads, railways, ports, IT infrastructure, and education and civil services in the Republic of Kazakhstan.[2] The Nurly Zhol plan was announced by Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev in November 2014.[3]

Background

On 11 November 2014, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev delivered an unexpected state-of-the-nation address in Astana at an extended session of the Political Council of the Nur Otan party, introducing a "Nurly Jol" (Bright Path), a new economic policy that implies massive state investment in infrastructure over the next several years.[4] The "Nurly Zhol" policy is accepted as preventive measures needed to help steer the economy towards sustainable growth in the context of the modern global economic and geopolitical challenges, such as the 25 percent-reduction in the oil price, reciprocal sanctions between the West and Russia over Ukraine, etc.[4] The policy embraces all aspects of economic growth, including finances, industry and social welfare, but especially emphasises investments into the development of infrastructure and construction works.[4] Given recent[when?] decreases in revenues from the export of raw materials, funds will be used from Kazakhstan's National Fund.[4]

Areas of infrastructure development

Nurly Zhol targets seven areas of infrastructure development:[5]

  1. transportation and logistics infrastructure
  2. industrial infrastructure
  3. energy infrastructure
  4. public utilities infrastructure
  5. housing infrastructure
  6. social infrastructure
  7. small and medium-sized enterprises

Goals

Nurly Zhol is intended to turn Kazakhstan into a key Eurasian transport and logistics hub by modernizing roads, railways and ports, among others projects.[6] Over $40 billion of projects are to be implemented within the Nurly Zhol framework by 2020.[7] 1.4 million square meters of rental housing is expected to be constructed in 2015-2019.[8] The New Economic Policy "Nurly Zhol" is expected to create over 200,000 new jobs.[9]

Results

Development of education infrastructure is an important component of Nurly Zhol. For example, within the Nurly Zhol program Karaganda region built four new education facilities.[10]

Implementation of the Nurly Zhol program helped create 105,000 jobs and provided for a 1% GDP growth in 2016. Also, 611 km of roads were commissioned in 2016 as part of Nurly Zhol.[11] In his State of the Nation address, President Nazarbayev said that, due to Nurly Zhol, Kazakhstan is in the beginning of a "complex global transformation."[12]

Approximately US$2.2 billion has been allocated under Nurly Zhol to improve highway quality. 426 km of roads were commissioned in 2018.[13]

As of October 2020, access to clean public water supply was 92.6% (urban — 97.2%, rural — 86.4%). Prime Minister Askar Mamin promised 100% access to high-quality drinking water by 2025 under the program.[14]

Nurly Zhol 2020–2025

The Nurly Zhol state infrastructure development programme for 2020-2025 focuses on developing road infrastructure. The programme aims to repair 27,000 kilometres of local roads, reconstruct 10,000 kilometres and repair 11,000 kilometres of national roads. The Kazakh Government estimated that the 2020-2025 programme would cost the country US$16.91 billion.[15] It also plans to electrify approximately 1,033 km of railway tracks over the time period. As of 2019, only about 40% of the country's 16,000 km railway tracks are electrified.[16]

As part of Kazakhstan’s Nurly Zhol infrastructure program, the country has a goal of improving up to 95% of local roads by the year 2025. 75% of local roads were improved by 2020. [17]

References

  1. ^ Kassenova, Nargis (July 2017). "China's Silk Road and Kazakhstan's Bright Path: Linking Dreams of Prosperity". Asia Policy (24). National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR): 110. doi:10.2307/26403209. ISSN 1559-0968 – via JSTOR.
  2. ^ "Kazakhstan runs economic risks with its hyperactivity". Financial Times.
  3. ^ "State of the Nation Address". Ak Orda.
  4. ^ a b c d "In Surprise State of the Nation Address, Kazakh President Unveils Massive Infrastructure Investments". Astana Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Nurly Zhol: the $9 billion path to the future" (PDF). Newsdesk Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  6. ^ "Kazakhstan poised to become nerve center for East-West trade, Vassilenko says". Agencia EFE.
  7. ^ "Kazakhstan's Nurly Zhol and China's Economic Belt of the Silk Road: Confluence of Goals". The Astana Times.
  8. ^ "State program of the infrastructure development "Nurly Zhol" for 2015 - 2019". baiterek.gov.kz. Baiterek Holdings.
  9. ^ "NURLY ZHOL, BRIGHT PATH TO THE FUTURE". www.thebusinessyear.com.
  10. ^ "Karaganda region builds four new education facilities under Nurly Zhol program". inform.kz.
  11. ^ "105,000 jobs created as part of Nurly Zhol program in Kazakhstan in 2016". inform.kz.
  12. ^ "The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev's Address to the Nation of Kazakhstan. January 31, 2017". Akorda.
  13. ^ "Nurly Zhol systematically developing infrastructure in key areas, say ministers". astanatimes.com.
  14. ^ "Public water supply in Kazakhstan reaches 92.6%". Kazakh TV. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  15. ^ "Kazakh government estimates Nurly Zhol programme will cost $16.91 billion over next five years". astanatimes.com.
  16. ^ Zasiadko, Mykola (2019-08-30). "Kazakhstan will electrify over 1,000 kilometres of tracks". RailTech.com. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  17. ^ October 2021, Saniya Bulatkulova in Nation on 28 (2021-10-28). "Nurly Zhol Infrastructure Project Pledges 95 Percent of Local Roads to Be Improved By 2025". The Astana Times. Retrieved 2021-12-10.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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