On January 9, 2026, the Committee for Monitoring the Achievement of the SDGs held an online meeting. The event was moderated by Nurgul Zhannazarova, Director of the Department for Social Development, Law Enforcement and Special Bodies of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
During
the meeting, participants analyzed the results of 2025 and approved
strategic priorities for the upcoming period.
As
the first part of the agenda, Sayat Keneev, Deputy Director
of the Department for Social Development, Law Enforcement and Special
Bodies of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of
Kazakhstan,
presented the report on the results of SDG implementation for 2025.
Next, the Director of the Secretariat for Sustainable Development
Goals of Economic Research Institute JSC, presented the draft Action
Plan for 2026 to the members of the SDG Committee for consideration.
This plan aims to strengthen interagency coordination and monitoring,
prepare analytics and reporting, and involve businesses, NGOs,
universities, and regions in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The draft document pays particular attention to digitalization: it
provides for the creation of databases of NGOs and companies that
disclose ESG information.
The
issue of implementing ESG principles was discussed in detail by Maxim
Podberezkin, Manager of the UN Global Compact in Central Asia. He
emphasized the close relationship between ESG criteria and the global
SDGs achievement, noting that this approach allows businesses to
effectively manage financial and reputational risks.
In
Kazakhstan, ESG practices are developing steadily: companies are
introducing non-financial reporting and sustainable development
strategies, assessment risks, forming specialized departments, and
investing in staff training. In 2023, Kazakhstan ranked 52nd
among 183 countries in the ESG Index (Risk Watch Initiative).
The
UN Global Compact plays an important role in promoting ESG
principles. It is the key international platform for responsible
business, based on 10 universal principles in the areas of human
rights, labor relations, environmental protection, and
anti-corruption. In Central Asia, the network brings together 146
participants, including 107 companies from Kazakhstan.
The
speaker noted the involvement of Kazakhstan's business community in
the global sustainable development agenda was reflected in its
participation in the Central Asia's New Silk Road to Sustainability
forum, held in September 2025 in New York on the sidelines of the UN
General Assembly.
