The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) delegation, led by Ali Al-Eyd, Head of the IMF’s Central Asia Division and Mission Chief, visited Nazarbayev University (NU) to deliver a guest lecture.
The purpose of the visit was to introduce students to the IMF’s work, present key findings from the regional economic outlook for the Caucasus and Central Asia, and discuss current macroeconomic trends. The experts placed particular emphasis on Kazakhstan’s economic prospects in light of policy priorities and upcoming reforms.
“After analyzing government spending plans and medium-term economic measures, including consumer lending dynamics, fiscal expenditures, and other indicators, we project economic growth of around 4.5% next year. Kazakhstan is showing strong performance this year, so the growth rate may appear slightly lower in percentage terms. We see that the fiscal stand will remain loose, which means the government will continue to spend a bit more. That’s why we project that inflation next year might remain a bit elevated, although it will go down a bit,” pointed Dyna Heng, Senior Economist, Middle East and Central Asia Department.
The experts also forecast that inflation will remain elevated next year, though with a slight decrease. During the discussion with students, they addressed tools for strengthening the economy, highlighting the importance of tax reform, regional economic integration, where Kazakhstan can serve as a “regional anchor”, as well as the role of quasi-fiscal operations and subsidized lending mechanisms.
Founded in 1944 to help stabilize the global economy, the International Monetary Fund today brings together 191 member countries and works closely with international institutions to support global financial stability. The IMF advises governments on economic policy, provides short-term financial support, and helps strengthen institutional capacity. The Fund also offers career opportunities for students and PhD graduates, including summer internships, assistant positions, and roles for professionals with experience in international organizations.
