Abstract
This article examines the role of Singapore as a point of reference in the formulation of Kazakhstan’s development strategy in the 1990s and early 2000s. Drawing on primary sources, including presidential addresses, diplomatic records, and policy documents, as well as secondary academic literature, the study analyzes the channels through which Singapore’s experience influenced policy-making and institutional reforms in Kazakhstan. The article demonstrates that, despite limited direct interaction between the two countries, Singapore acquired significance as an example of successful modernization. However, it did not function as a comprehensive model for replication; rather, it served as a source of selected governance practices and as a legitimizing narrative for reform. Key elements of this influence included meritocratic public administration, anti-corruption measures, investment promotion, and the prioritization of economic development.At the same time, substantial differences in scale, economic structure, and institutional context constrained the direct transfer of policies. As a result, Kazakhstan adopted a selective and adaptive approach, incorporating specific elements of external experience while adjusting them to domestic conditions. The findings suggest that external models can operate both as practical policy tools and as guiding references in shaping long-term development strategies.