Development of Green Economy via Commercialization of Green Technologies: Experience of Kazakhstan

Green technologies are essential tools to ensure sustainable development of the economy. In this regard, the article deals with analysis of the development tendency of green economy in Kazakhstan emphasizing commercialization of green technologies. In the first part of the study, authors investigated more than 50 official sources of information, including laws, concepts, programs, events and reviews of major international organizations. The study's methodological basis included Kazakhstan's legislative and regulatory Acts, state programs and Concept for transition to Green economy, and data about innovations in the field of green technologies. Six experts were interviewed in order to determine factors which interfere to commercialization of green technologies. Urgent problems and trends of development, challenges and obstacles to gain green economy have also been identified in the result of expert interviewing. The research shows that despite Kazakhstan's intentions to update and develop much of its infrastructure over the coming 20 years, inefficient use of resources is currently observed in every sector. It is necessary to encourage scientists and entrepreneurs to invent and commercialize new green technologies. That would be basis for successful implementation of transition from "brown" to green economy.