An article in the RFE/RL Research Report states that although Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbaev has indicated that he wishes to proceed with privatization and transition to a market economy in the republic, "critics complain that he has so far done little to break the traditional grip of bureaucrats at the oblast [region] and raion [district] levels and that his reluctance to allow private ownership of land undermines the whole program" (17 Jan. 1992, 32). Another issue of this publication reports that Nazarbaev issued a decree in January 1992 "permitting individuals and enterprises to engage in foreign trade without having to seek government permission" (7 Feb. 1992, 45). However, there are restrictions on the export of goods of "national interest" (Ibid.) Please see the attached article for details.

There is no further information currently available to the IRBDC on this topic.

Radio Free Europe. 7 February 1992. Vol. 1, No. 6. RFE/RL Research Report. "Economic and Business Notes."

_____. 17 January 1992. Vol. 1, No. 3 RFE/RL Research Report. Critchlow, James. "Kazakhstan and Nazarbaev: Political Prospects."

Radio Free Europe. 7 February 1992. Vol. 1, No. 6. RFE/RL Research Report. "Economic and Business Notes."