This analytical report has been prepared within the framework of the agreement on the provision of expert and analytical support for the construction of an integrated national financing system in the Republic of Kazakhstan between the United Nations Development Programme (hereinafter – UNDP) and Economic Research Institute JSC (hereinafter - the Institute).

The purpose of the work is to analyze the basic socio-economic development agenda of the newly created regions (Abai, Zhetysu, Ulytau) and identify the prospects for the development of the Abai, Ulytau, and Zhetysu regions.

This study was led by the Director of the Secretariat for the SDGs of the Economic Research Institute JSC, B. Khambar. The report was compiled under the general coordination of B. Mukan, the managing director of the Institute, as well as a project expert of the UN Development Program in Kazakhstan, Z. Ibrahimov.

The analytical report was compiled by the project team of the JSC «Institute of Economic Research», Director of the ESG Expertise Center Bakdolotov A.A., Deputy Director of the Secretariat for Sustainable Development Goals Karimov E.S. and Utebayeva A.B., Deputy Director of the Center for Trade Policy Development Abdualieva M., Deputy Director of the Center for Regional Studies Kurmetuly N., leading researcher of the Center for Regional Studies Mataev G.M., leading experts of the Secretariat on Sustainable Development Goals Okusheva A.A., Novokshanova N.A., Nurzhanova M.B., senior expert of the Secretariat on Sustainable Development Goals Abuov A.A., consultant Chebotarev A.S., project analyst Zholamanova A., as well as assistants on projects of Alimova A. and Sakhova T.