Its mission was to provide predictive research and analysis of strategic issues of external and internal nature for further development of Kazakhstan.

[2][3] In the first years of its functioning, the institute experienced a number of difficulties mostly due to the lack of material resources and qualified experts in international and domestic political affairs[1]].

[4] Initially, in terms of foreign policy analysis, the KazISS focused on the issues of national interest and security threats to Kazakhstan.

Umirserik Kassenov and his colleagues made considerable efforts to apply their potential and influence so that the nuclear issue would be solved positively for Kazakhstan.

[4] Umirserik Kassenov succeeded in gathering a team of professionals with expertise in nuclear physics, economics, Sinology, Islamic studies and other fields.

In turn, a number of young career diplomats joined the KazISS experts’ pool bringing their practical experience that immediately affected quite positively the overall performance of the institute.

More importantly, he introduced new research methods, strengthened the ties with the analytical staff within the Presidential Administration and launched the Kazakhstan-Spectrum journal.

Being an academician orientalist, a new director made the KazISS analysis receive more academic character, more attention was paid to the issues of Islam.

The shift of the analytical focus proved well-timed as the Islamic factor in the world politics and particularly in Central Asia grew in importance.

In 2000, the new management was appointed at the KazISS led by a young academic Maulen Ashimbayev who previously had supervised analytical work for the Presidential Administration.

Maulen Ashimbayev established steady communication with the Presidential Administration; the analytical materials prepared by the institute were directly conveyed to the recipients therein.