Kazakh president piles pressure on central bank to boost growth

The president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has demanded the central bank does more to boost growth, in a sign the government is seeking to influence efforts to control inflation.

On January 30, President Nazarbayev held a combative televised meeting with ministers and central bankers, Reuters reported. He demanded the central bank and government ministries aim for 5% growth this year, a target that looks optimistic relative to the International Monetary Fund’s 2019 projection of 3.1%.