We are pleased to present you the Kazakhstan edition of the 22nd Annual Global CEO Survey 2019, conducted with editorial support from Forbes Kazakhstan. This time, more 1445 CEOs from 91 countries took part in the survey, including 67 CEOs working in Kazakhstan.
We named the Kazakhstani CEO Survey “Ambiguous Stability” which reflects the respondents' views on key business processes: growth of global economy and private business in Kazakhstan; talent pool and artificial intelligence epoch; data as a basis for decision making (Big Data); cooperation with the government. In order to gain a complete country picture, we chose CEOs from various industries: metallurgy, oil and gas, financial, energy, telecommunications, automotive, consumer goods, construction materials, transport and logistics, information technology, hospitality, retail and pharmaceuticals.
Most executives in Kazakhstan predict declining growth for the global economy, nevertheless, CEOs are quite confident about the prospects for revenue growth of their own companies in both the short and long run. Chief executives in Kazakhstan similarly to their global peers point to an ‘increase in operational efficiencies’ and ‘organic growth’ as the main activities to drive their business development and increase profitability.
Exchange rate volatility remains to be seen as a top threat by CEOs in Kazakhstan. The top business threats continue to include availability of key skills, which impairs standards and quality and means organisations spend more than expected, and this in turn affects their ability to innovate effectively. In Kazakhstan and globally, CEOs see ‘significant retraining and upskilling’ as the best answer to closing the skills gaps.
Kazakhstani CEOs and their peers around the world are keeping a close eye on digital development, including development of artificial intelligence (AI). Regardless of generally positive feedback, there are still a range of concerns about implementation, application and regulation of new AI-based solutions.
Traditionally, the survey has a special part of CEOs’ opinion on government cooperation. Respondents see the following as development priorities: anti-corruption and anti-bribery, improving investment attractiveness of the country and ensuring the rule of law across government activities. Just over half of CEOs (51%) are willing to cooperate with the government to improve the investment attractiveness of the country; 49% of respondents are ready to assist in training and developing of highly-skilled adaptable personnel.
Mikhail Lomtadze, the CEO of Kaspi.kz, and Umut Shayakhmetova, the CEO of the Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan have been recognised as the best leaders in Kazakhstan.
Please contact Yuliya Yerlykina for any questions, yuliya.yerlykina@pwc.com Tel: +7(727) 33 03201
