This document is a product of Kazakhstan’s Sector Competitiveness Strategy project (co-financed by the European Union), and falls under the confines of the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme. The Kazakhstani Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector represents approximately 6% of the value added in the business sector and is overwhelmingly dominated by telecommunications, which represents 83% of the total, compared to only 57% in OECD economies. Developing ICT in Kazakhstan would however require a further development of skills, notably by upgrading the country’s secondary vocational education and its tertiary education, building on reforms already carried out since its independence.

This handbook was produced in consultation with the government of Kazakhstan and with private sector participation. It aims to present solutions for the development of human capital through partnerships between the public and private sectors in Kazakhstan. As an illustration of this approach, it recommends the initiation of a public-private partnership via the creation of a business linkage programme for skills development in the Information Technology (IT) sector. The proposed programme is aimed at developing business linkages between local IT companies and international IT firms through skills development activities, peer learning, matchmaking and promotional activities that would help participating companies exchange experiences and information. Based on the literature, international case studies and the specificities of the Kazakhstani IT sector, a tailored proposal was designed.