Central Asia does not fit comfortably in Europe or the Middle East and can present a challenge for Australian policymakers. However its largest and wealthiest state presents an interesting avenue for Canberra to engage more closely with the region. Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country and home to over seventeen million people, could well be a suitable avenue for closer engagement.
Kazakhstan has experienced a dramatic increase in GDP per capita, from around US$1,600 in 1991 to over US$13,000 in 2013: the main driver of this increase has been strong international demand for its plentiful energy and mineral reserves.
While this has …read more
Australia and Kazakhstan: a Steppe Forward for Bilateral Ties
