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The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, signed a decree aimed at developing human capital, strengthening the intellectual and cultural potential of society, promoting a reading culture as a key element of education and enlightenment, forming an intellectual nation, and creating conditions for the development of creative, constructive, and competitive individuals.

The decree identifies the development of reading culture and the formation of an intellectual nation, as well as the development of modern infrastructure for readers, as priority areas of state policy in the fields of culture, education, and innovation. These include: creating new-format libraries and public spaces through the wide use of digital tools; supporting domestic writers and poets whose works contribute to educating the younger generation in the spirit of respect for the fundamental principles and provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan; encouraging socially beneficial activities of publishers and book distributors; and promoting the national literary heritage both within the country and abroad.

The President also instructed the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan to ensure the implementation of a set of measures aimed at developing a reading culture and forming sustainable reading habits among various groups of the population, including children and youth; modernizing reading infrastructure, including the creation of new-format libraries, multifunctional public spaces, and the introduction of modern information systems and services; and promoting the national literary heritage domestically and internationally through high-quality translation, publishing, and distribution of literary works to a wide audience of readers.

In addition, in the context of the development of artificial intelligence, it was поручено to approve by the end of 2026 the “Intellectual Nation” Concept for 2027–2031 on the promotion of reading culture and the book industry; to develop by January 1, 2027 a draft of the new Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Library and Publishing Activities”; to establish a National Award for achievements in the development of reading culture; to create a unified and accessible National Digital Library Platform; and to annually report to the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the implementation progress of the “Intellectual Nation” Concept.

Baimuratova I.A., Assistant Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Philology, 91��ý Kazakh National University.