The purpose of this research is to identify and assess the geopolitical significance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) for the Republic of Kazakhstan. Special attention is given to analyzing the corridor’s potential to foster stable strategic and economic partnerships, as well as its capacity to reduce dependence on traditional transit routes. The object of the study is the transport corridor itself as an infrastructural and logistical system, while the subject is the role this route can play in strengthening Kazakhstan’s foreign policy positioning.

The methodological framework of the research is based on a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative, quantitative and comparative analysis. This allowed for the examination of the Trans-Caspian Route not only as a component of the transportation network but also as an instrument of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy strategy. Content analysis was used to review academic literature, expert publications and official documents of the route’s participants. This enabled the identification of prevailing perspectives on the TITR’s role and the key themes within academic discourse.

The originality / value of the research lies in its analysis of the geopolitical importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route for Kazakhstan in the context of diversifying its external economic ties. This study contributes to scholarly discourse on Kazakhstan’s role in the emerging architecture of Eurasian logistics and evaluates the TITR’s potential as a tool for enhancing regional resilience and transportation security.

The study’s findings highlight that the development of this corridor could serve as a catalyst for building new economic linkages that support sustainable growth and expand international cooperation. It was revealed that the independent development of the TITR has the potential to transform existing logistics patterns, thereby reducing dependence on traditional transit routes and promoting integration among Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East. The novelty of this work lies in its systemic analysis of the corridor as a multilateral institutional entity capable of reshaping global trade and logistics processes offering a meaningful contribution to the development of both theoretical and practical aspects of international transport systems.

Purpose – The paper aims to explore the application of Grounded Theory (GT) in public policy research, demonstrating how this qualitative methodology can generate explanatory models and uncover hidden dynamics of governance and policymaking.

Methodology – The study employs a theoretical and comparative analysis of the historical development, epistemological diversity, and methodological innovations of GT. It synthesizes insights from classical, Straussian, constructivist, and situational approaches, highlighting their relevance for governance and policy contexts.

Originality / Value – The research contributes by positioning GT as a valuable framework for bridging academic inquiry with practical policymaking. It emphasizes the importance of GT in capturing lived experiences, addressing social justice issues, and constructing inclusive governance models, areas often overlooked in mainstream policy studies.

Findings – The results indicate that GT, through its inductive and flexible orientation, offers significant potential for policy research. It allows the development of context-sensitive theories that reveal institutional practices, discursive patterns, and power relations. The paper concludes that GT not only advances theory-building but also provides tools for responsive and participatory governance.

Research Objective is to comprehensively assess the state of food independence in Kazakhstan and to develop an adapted methodology for calculating the level of food independence, taking into account actual exports and rational consumption norms.

Research Methodology: includes a systematic review of the literature; general scientific methods: comparative and graphical analysis, statistical analysis, cause-and-effect analysis, generalization. The core analytical approach is a comparative calculation of indicators using two alternative formulas, the official and proposed by authors food-independence indicator, in combination with a dynamic analysis for 2020–2024. The comparison is conducted for aggregated product groups (мeat products, мilk and dairy products, еggs, fruit and berries, vegetables, potatoes, and sunflower oil).

Originality and Practical Value of the Study.  Based on the justification of the need to distinguish between the concepts of “food self-sufficiency” and “food independence,” the authors developed a methodology for calculating the level of food independence, taking into account actual exports and physiological consumption standards. The approaches and calculations proposed in the work can be used in public administration practice when forming strategies to increase food independence.

Research Findings: as part of the study, the country's level of food independence was calculated using official and author's methods for the main product groups, and the results were compared. The identified discrepancies between the approaches demonstrate the need to revise the current methodological recommendations. According to the authors' methodology, the greatest shortages are observed for dairy products, certain types of meat (lamb), fruits and berries, and sunflower oil. In qualitative terms, the level of supply for these groups is characterized as below critical (cheese and cottage cheese, fruit) and below the low threshold level (dairy products, sunflower oil, lamb), which indicates the existence of a persistent domestic deficit. An imbalance has been identified, whereby the growth in exports of certain products (sunflower oil, lamb) is accompanied by continued import dependence and a deficit in the domestic market, which requires a review of export and import policy.

Purpose of the research – to review regulatory legal acts in the field of electric power industry of Kazakhstan and the Kyzylorda region to identify gaps in the state's ensuring of energy security (ES) at the national and regional levels in the context of technological progress and energy transition.

Methodology – this study used the content analysis of the form and content of text arrays for the purpose of subsequent meaningful interpretation of the identified patterns, facts and trends reflected in the documents. Content analysis of the legislation of the Kazakhstan was conducted in order to study the legal regulation of the energy sector and identify key areas of state policy. The analysis was carried out using MAXQDA program.

Originality / value of the research – the relevance lies in the exceptional importance of ES as a key element of the socio-economic development of Kazakhstan. Kyzylorda region has enormous potential for the development of renewable energy due to geographical features. The state implements energy policy through laws, programs, strategies and concepts. Energy policy in conditions of uncertainty plays a main role in ensuring ES, which implies resistance to external and internal threats to the energy system. The novelty of the study lies in the systematization of state support measures for the electric power industry of Kazakhstan and the identification of their compliance with modern challenges at the national and regional levels, using content analysis.

Findings – the absence of a comprehensive definition of regional ES that includes the territorial characteristics of Kazakhstan is revealed. It’s noted that the legislation doesn’t contain definitions of the concepts of “microgeneration”, “smart grids”, “Internet of things”. In the Kyzylorda region there are no regional programs or strategies aimed at developing the electric power sector.

In the context of the need to transition to sustainable models of production and consumption, the development of a circular economy becomes a key factor in the sustainable growth of small businesses in Kazakhstan.

The purpose of the study is to substantiate the conceptual framework and develop proposals for the implementation of circular economy principles in small business management.

The methodology is based on the analysis of regulatory and analytical sources, international experience, as well as the use of system and comparative approaches. The research identifies key elements of the circular economy model adapted to the conditions of small businesses in Kazakhstan, reveals barriers and drivers for the implementation of circular practices, and proposes recommendations for their integration into business models.

The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the proposed approaches in developing state policy to support small businesses and in implementing corporate strategies for sustainable development.

Purpose of the study. This article analyzes the impact of external migration on the Almaty labor market in the context of increasing geopolitical instability and the transformation of regional migration flows.

Research methodology. The research methodology is based on an integrated approach, employing quantitative statistical analysis methods. The empirical base includes statistics from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2000–2024 and international studies, which made it possible to empirically test theoretical assumptions about the impact of external migration on Almaty’s labor market through comparative, structural, and correlation analysis.

Originality / value of the study. The originality of the article lies in analyzing the impact of external migration on the labor market of Almaty as a regional megapolis and a center of migrant attraction, taking into account current geopolitical changes, which has been poorly covered in the scientific literature. Its value is determined by its relevance, economic-geographical focus, and the potential practical application of the results for developing effective migration and labor policies at the regional level.

Research results. The findings indicate that since 2022 external migration has influenced Almaty’s labor market through a reduction in brain drain and an increased inflow of skilled specialists. At the same time, an analysis of the educational structure of migration flows reveals a persistent qualitative imbalance. Despite the increase in the influx of specialists after 2022, the share of individuals with higher education among those leaving the country remains higher than among those arriving. From 2022 to 2024, this figure was, on average, approximately 1.5 times higher than the corresponding share among immigrants. Thus, migration processes are simultaneously showing signs of stabilization and persistent risks of intellectual resource drain. The obtained results confirm the need to develop mechanisms for the integration of skilled migrants into the city’s economy.

This paper examines the key balance-of-payments components influencing the dynamics of Kazakhstan’s national exchange rate during 2023–2025. The analysis relies on official macroeconomic statistics provided by the National Bank of Kazakhstan as well as data from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Particular attention is devoted to the interaction between the trade balance, the current account position, capital movements, foreign exchange market interventions, and the dynamics of international reserves. To assess the influence of these factors on exchange rate fluctuations, the study applies multivariate regression analysis combined with seasonal ARIMA time-series modelling, which makes it possible to capture both structural relationships between macroeconomic indicators and short-term cyclical dynamics.

The empirical results indicate that the relative stability of the Kazakhstani tenge during the analysed period was largely maintained through transfers from the National Fund and active reserve management conducted by the National Bank. At the same time, the analysis demonstrates that the structural concentration of exports in a limited range of commodity products continues to represent a significant source of vulnerability for the national currency in the medium and long term. On the basis of the obtained results, the article formulates policy recommendations aimed at strengthening exchange-rate resilience through the diversification of export structure, the expansion of non-resource sectors, and the development of more balanced mechanisms of external economic adjustment.

The purpose of this study is to examine and elucidate the role of managerial accounting as an informational foundation for investment analysis in an ESG environment.

The methodology is based on analytical and deductive methods, integrating relevant scientific papers’ review results and addressing the research objectives. A review of research and professional business reviews served as the basis for substantiating the identified factors that influenced the transformation of managerial accounting systems toward ESG integration. The method of data visualization through tables and charts was used.

The study's uniqueness lies in the fact that investment analysis is typically viewed as a financial analysis tool exclusively based on fundamental and technical analysis methods for portfolio investment purposes. The proposed approach, however, takes into account the impact of current business trends, namely the implementation of ESG principles in management. Managerial accounting is being transformed from an internal control tool into a basis for investment analysis, integrating financial and non-financial information.

The study provides evidence for the main factors driving the transition to ESG-integrated managerial accounting. These include geopolitical and macro risks, AI, ML, Big Data, digital finance, online platforms, and others. The role of the relationship between managerial accounting, managerial analysis, and investment analysis in investment decision-making is presented and substantiated. It is noted that managerial analysis is complemented by ESG assessments and risk-adapted metrics. Investment analysis actively utilizes artificial intelligence and fintech tools for forecasting and stress testing of sustainability. In this context, investment analysis integrated into business management acts not as an external analytical tool, but as an integral part of managerial accounting.

The concept of “New Kazakhstan” (2022) emerged amid intensified logistics disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions in 2022–2023. Imports account for more than 60% of Kazakhstan’s consumption of manufactured goods, posing risks to the country’s economic resilience. The aim of this study is to analyze import substitution policy. Two aspects are examined: the prioritization of budgetary allocations and the mechanisms for controlling public expenditures in the formation of “New Kazakhstan.” Global instability and external economic challenges have reinforced interest in import substitution. The chronological scope of the study covers 2022–2025 (projections), corresponding to the implementation period of the “New Kazakhstan” policy course.

The mechanism contributes to strengthening economic sovereignty while simultaneously stimulating the development of domestic production. The methodological framework includes comparative and structuralfunctional analysis, calculation of growth rates of budget allocations (base and chain), and correlation coefficients between the volume of public investment and the growth of domestic output. In addition, digital tools for expenditure control are assessed. The study examines the theoretical foundations and global practices of import substitution, with a focus on budget financing and its effectiveness under Kazakhstan’s conditions.

The results indicate the highest economic impact in two sectors: pharmaceuticals and information technology. The paper presents three types of forecast indicators: GDP growth, reduction of import dependence, and employment growth. Barriers to the implementation of the strategy are identified, and three directions for overcoming them are proposed: infrastructure development, stimulation of research and development, and attraction of investment. Scientific novelty lies in the development of an original methodology for calculating the Import Substitution Budget Return Coefficient (ISBRC), tested on data from the Accounts Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022–2024 across four priority sectors. The effectiveness of import substitution policy is assessed from the perspective of the state budget. The practical value of the study is addressed to public authorities, analysts, and the academic community. Targeted recommendations are formulated for Kazakhstan’s pharmaceutical industry and IT sector to optimize the structure of budget financing.

The article examines the challenges of ensuring the cybersecurity of state infrastructure amid increasing digital risks and the growing sophistication of cyber threats.

Purpose: The study aims to develop an integrated cybersecurity architecture based on international standards — ISO/IEC 27001, NIST SP 800-53, FAIR, CMMI, and MITRE ATT&CK — adapted to the national context of Kazakhstan.

Methodology: The research employs a systemic and comparative analysis of existing cybersecurity assessment models, threat modeling in ICS/SCADA environments, and an examination of relevant regulatory frameworks and guidelines.

Originality/Value: The originality of the study lies in the development of a conceptual cybersecurity architecture that integrates technological, organizational, and analytical components. The proposed model facilitates a shift from fragmented protective measures to a holistic risk management system, thereby enhancing the cyber resilience of state infrastructure.

Findings: The findings demonstrate that integrating international frameworks significantly improves the cybersecurity and resilience of governmental systems and contributes to establishing an effective model for incident monitoring and response.