CTAD, UNESCO, UPU
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Alim S. DJAMBOURCHINE
chancery:
3421 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 333-4504
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
embassy:
Furumanova 99/97, Almaty
mailing address:
US Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521-7030
telephone:
(3272) 63-24-26
Flag:
sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays
soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a
"national ornamentation" in yellow

*Kazakhstan, Economy

Overview:
The second-largest in area of the 15 former Soviet republics, Kazakhstan has
vast oil, coal, and agricultural resources. Kazakhstan is highly dependent
on trade with Russia, exchanging its natural resources for finished consumer
and industrial goods. Kazakhstan now finds itself with serious pollution
problems, backward technology, and little experience in foreign markets. The
government in 1992 continued to push privatization of the economy and freed
many prices. Output in 1992 dropped because of problems common to the
ex-Soviet Central Asian republics, especially the cumulative effects of the
disruption of old supply channels and the slow process of creating new
economic institutions. Kazakhstan lacks the funds, technology, and
managerial skills for a quick recovery of output. US firms have been
enlisted to increase oil output but face formidable obstacles; for example,
oil can now reach Western markets only through pipelines that run across
independent former Soviet republics. Finally, the end of monolithic
Communist control has brought ethnic grievances into the open. The 6 million
Russians in the republic, formerly the favored class, now face the hostility
of a society dominated by Muslims. Ethnic rivalry will be just one of the
formidable obstacles to the prioritization of national objectives and the
creation of a productive, technologically advancing society.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
-15% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
28% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
0.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital e