When my Korean economics lecturer told us that during the 25-odd years he was living in South Korea, he experienced a rise in living standards comparable to 100 years of economic development in Western Europe before the First World War. Which I found a great way of putting the East Asian Miracle into context.

Now, we know that the East Asian development model is revered in Kazakhstan, and President Nazarbayev wants his country to become the “Central Asian snow leopard”, akin to the East Asian Tigers South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. And Kazakhstan is actually outpacing their experience in only 15 years of independence:

These 15 years can be compared to 150 years of calm history of humankind, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said today at a special press conference following the results of a meeting of the Government members with city and oblast akims of Kazakhstan.

(…)

The world has not seen this kind of experience, and our country is the first to have such tremendous reforms. We have carried them out in our unique Kazakhstan way. It could be compared to great revolutions.

While one can only hope that this revolution is not over yet, it is probably fair to say that Kazakhstan has achieved a lot in its relatively short span of independence. Nevertheless, there are still major construction sites that could, conservatively speaking, take another 15-50 years to finish.

But let we just speak Nazarbayev’s beautiful words for themselves and not further speak ill of these tremendous reforms. In the extended entry, you can find some of his own words on the Snow Leopard Development Theorem, taken from his late-nineties “Kazakhstan 2030″ strategy. This man should become a poet once he retires in 2013.

I, for my part, am sure that by the year of 2030 Kazakhstan would have become a Central-Asian Snow Leopard and would serve a fine example to be followed by other developing countries.

Tigers are not found in Kazakhstan while the Show Leopard inhabiting our mountains is but a stranger in the wold community.

Though a relation to the Tiger in the animal kingdom, Snow Leopard bears some substantial distinctions therefrom.

It will be virtually a Kazakhstani Snow Leopard with inherent elitarianism, sense of independence, intelligence, courage and nobleness, bravery and cunning.

It will never be the first to attack anyone, ever prone to avoiding direct clashes. However, any time when his freedom, habitation or descendants come to be threatened, the animal would defend them with all its might.

The animal must be wiry and springy, it must not suffer from obesity and laziness for otherwise it would hardly survive in severe environment.

He will be persistent and stubborn in mastering ever new peaks, in its indefatigable search for secret but sure paths that lead to the goal.

He will neither be frightened by severe cold of threats nor made soft in intolerable heat of opportunities.

He will exercise fine wisdom in bringing up its descendants: he would protect them against unwelcome visitor, he would share most tasty morcels with them attending to their health, education and world outlook thus preparing them for an early life of their own in conditions of ruthless competition in any environment.

He would keep vigilant watch so that the water he drinks be pure and the environment he inhabits and the air he breathes be clear and healthy.

Kazakhstani Snow Leopard would also possess western elegance multiplied by the advanced level of development, oriental wisdom and endurance.

He will be all at one in his strivings, victories and failures with his brothers brought up by a single mother, i. e. by Uzbek, Kyrghyz and other Central Asian Snow Leopards. He will be ever proud of their progress and achievements.