How Kazakhstan will benefit from establishment of UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals

On March 4, 2025, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev first proposed this idea in 2019 and the UN’s resolution marks an important milestone in its implementation, according to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry.   

The establishment of this center is indeed a crucial step forward, made at the right time to address a wide range of environmental, social and economic issues facing the region. The government, civil society and businesses have already done a lot to tackle these problems, but it is important to coordinate these efforts. As President Tokayev emphasized when he first proposed the initiative, as the region’s largest economy, Kazakhstan is interested in strengthening cooperation among Central Asian nations.

There are several key sectors that could benefit from joint efforts.

First and foremost, these are climate and environment. The region shares natural resources such as waterways, which require joint management. The Regional Center could help address challenges like drought, desertification and air pollution, as well as oversee the implementation of green technologies.

The second area of focus is the economy and infrastructure. Digitalization, the development of transport corridors and green energy require coordinated actions. Cooperation will help attract more investments and create solutions beneficial for everyone.

The third crucial field is education. Contemporary challenges such as rapid technological advancement and the need for new skills prove that high-quality education is becoming a key factor in sustainable development. Central Asia could significantly benefit from collaboration through the development of educational programs, the integration of digital technologies in classrooms and the expansion of educational access for all social groups, as this would significantly strengthen the region’s potential.

Healthcare should also be highlighted. The pandemic and other global crises have shown that countries address such challenges more efficiently when working together. Joint development of medical technologies, the strengthening of healthcare systems and the sharing of expertise will enable the region to become more resilient to future challenges.

Of course, we shouldn’t forget about the social sphere, which includes promoting equality and supporting vulnerable groups. To address these issues, the Regional Center could emerge as a platform for exchanging successful practices.

Freedom Holding Corp. (FRHC) is one of the leaders in promoting SDGs across Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Several years ago, the holding underwent a major transformation to align with the environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, having introduced the position of Chief Sustainability Officer, established a corporate fund and implemented numerous projects to achieve sustainable development goals. 

In 2023, FRHC joined the UN Global Compact, which urges companies worldwide to align their strategies and operations with 10 universal principles related to human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, as well as to take measures on achieving SDGs.

This is our deliberate step on the way to more responsible business management. We clearly understand that sustainable development is not a matter of form but a necessity for companies that want to keep up with the times and create lasting value.

First, we have adopted a Human Rights Policy along with an ESG Policy in order to implement the 10 UN Global Compact principles and embed them into the FRHC business processes.

Second, we enhance our personnel’s skills. The holding’s specialists have successfully completed the SDG Ambition Accelerator and Climate Ambition Accelerator programs to further integrate environmental and social principles into business processes. Currently, our coworkers are undergoing training through the Business and Human Rights Accelerator designed for Central Asian countries.

Third, we support projects that ensure real change. We financially support initiatives in the fields of ecology, education and sports through the Freedom Shapagat corporate fund, thus helping establish a more sustainable society.

However, this is not enough for us. We strive not only to implement sustainable practices within our company, but also to inspire other businesses to do so. That is why we have initiated the establishment of a regional Local Network of the UN Global Compact in Central Asia. We believe this move would allow governments and businesses to team up in addressing global challenges.

In the fall of 2023, Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Timur Turlov, along with other businessmen and representatives of the UN Global Compact, was among the founders of the Advisory Committee of the UN Global Compact in Central Asia. In May 2024, he was elected as its chairman, and later that fall, he participated in the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit.

The committee has achieved a lot during Turlov’s presidency, as the number of companies participating in the UN Global Compact from Kazakhstan alone increased by more than a quarter. The Advisory Committee emerged as the first milestone for us in establishing the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and we won’t stop here.  

We actively support projects promoting sustainable development goals in Kazakhstan through the holding’s subsidiaries. Since 2023, FRHC has allocated approximately $90.7 million in financial support for more than 120 initiatives important to the country. We align these initiatives with specific SDGs. Here are some examples:

• Cooperation with the Kazakhstan Chess Association (KazChess), football development in partnership with the QJ League and support for inclusive sports align with Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being;
• Sponsorship of the Teach for Qazaqstan program, focused on eliminating inequality in the education sector, and the International Biology Olympiad aligns with Goal 4: Quality Education;
• Financing the construction of a botanical garden and sports center in Uralsk and the reconstruction of the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Almaty is in line with Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure;
• Financing of the project to restore the Aral Sea ecosystem supports Goal 13: Climate Action.

Thanks to financial support from Freedom Holding Corp., new prospects and opportunities open up for young people in sports; state-of-the-art learning conditions are created and the gap in the distribution of academic resources between urban and rural areas narrows. The holding promotes talented students, develops modern sports and social infrastructure, organizes international tournaments, creates new jobs, attracts foreign professionals and restores the country’s ecosystem, among many other endeavors.

As a result, the living conditions of Kazakhstani citizens improve, the quality of education increases and new opportunities emerge for entrepreneurship and social engagement. Our efforts strengthen the country’s economy and social stability, ensuring a more sustainable future for all of Kazakhstan.