Government-by-Government Assessments: Kazakhstan
During the review period, the government published its executive budget proposal and enacted budget, but not its end-of-year report, in a reasonable period. Information on debt obligations was widely and easily accessible to the public, including online, but did not include comprehensive information on state-owned enterprise debt. The budget was substantially complete and generally reliable. The supreme audit institution reviewed the government’s accounts and made its reports publicly available but did not meet international standards of independence. The government specified in law or regulation and appeared to follow in practice the criteria and procedures for awarding natural resource extraction contracts and licenses. Basic information on natural resource extraction awards was publicly available. Sovereign wealth funds had sound legal frameworks and disclosed sources of funding and general approaches to withdrawals.
Kazakhstan’s fiscal transparency would be improved by:
* Disclosing state-owned enterprise debt in the budget;
* Publishing an end-of-year report within a reasonable period; and
* Ensuring the supreme audit institution meets international standards of independence.
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
