Kazakhstan: Geography, Resources, Economy and Strategic Importance

Category: International Relations → Central Asia → Geography & Geopolitics

Why in News?

Kazakhstan remains strategically important for India because of its location in Central Asia, energy resources, connectivity corridors and role in organisations such as the SCO.

Key Facts

  • Capital: Astana

  • Largest city: Almaty

  • Region: Central Asia

  • Borders: Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

  • Largest landlocked country in the world.

  • It also has coastline along the Caspian Sea.

  • Important rivers include the Irtysh, Ishim and Ural.

  • Major resources:

    • Uranium

    • Oil

    • Natural gas

    • Coal

    • Rare and strategic minerals

  • Kazakhstan is one of the world's major uranium producers.

India–Kazakhstan

  • India and Kazakhstan maintain cooperation in:

    • Energy

    • Defence

    • Space

    • Pharmaceuticals

    • Trade

    • Counter-terrorism

  • Both are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

UPSC Key Pointers

  • Kazakhstan → Central Asia

  • Capital → Astana

  • Largest landlocked country → Kazakhstan

  • Caspian Sea → Kazakhstan has a coastline.

  • Baikonur Cosmodrome → located in Kazakhstan and historically important to Russian space launches.