Government meeting considers 100 concrete steps towards implementation of key institutional reforms

The roundtable discussed practical aspects of 100 concrete steps towards implementation of the five institutional reforms. The Head of State outlined that the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Fighting Corruption has to become a recruiting center. During the meeting the President of Kazakhstan noted the need to establish a local police service accountable to the local community. Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed that it is time to start privatization of agricultural lands in Kazakhstan. "The privatization must be transparent and the owners should be those who can really cultivate the land," the President said. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed the Government to reduce the number of custom rates. "We have to initiate the large-scale reforms of the custom procedures and trade policy within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. We talked about the customs administration many times before, and we have not advanced regarding this issue yet. We have to ensure free movement of goods and services within the EEU. We cannot establish order even at the Kazakh-Chinese border, lines of freight trains waiting at the border are really long. When there are lines, there is corruption," said N. Nazarbayev. Head of State instructed to reduce the number of custom rates to 3. In his opinion, it will allow increasing transparency of the customs regulation, improving administration and preventing corruption. The Head of State also noted the necessity of introduction of the one-stop principle and integration of the customs and taxation systems. In addition, President Nursultan Nazarbayev has suggested launching a unique cultural project titled "Big Country - Big Family" in Kazakhstan. "It is needed to launch "Big Country - Big Family" project," President Nazarbayev said at the session in the Akorda presidential residence.

The project aims at making motion pictures, TV series and programs about Kazakhstan's history, culture and modern life. President Nazarbayev noted that it is crucial to build a new railway line crossing the territory of Kazakhstan and going straight to the Aktau sea port.

President informed that beginning from that time, heads of Kazakhstani ministries will report to people of Kazakhstan. At the same time, President Nazarbayev stressed that ministries are free to choose the format of report meetings.

"Special attention should be paid to introduction of innovations into production. Thus, I instruct the Government to develop a law on commercialization of science," the Head of State said at the extended session of the Government on Tuesday.

The President also suggested introducing Nazarbayev University's best practices into production. "It is crucial to attract the world's largest research centers, laboratories, foreign and national companies into university's research park Astana Business Campus," Nursultan Nazarbayev added. In conclusion, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed to set up an international council under the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The President also charged the Government to amend the Civil Procedural Code. Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, spoke at the sitting as well. He noted that reassignment of the Cabinet allows the Government to proceed to the implementation of the given instructions without delay."In accordance with your orders the relevant ministries and agencies are instructed to draft the action program in order to fulfill the certain tasks. Government will introduce for your consideration proposals for continuation of the reforms and fulfillment of the given orders," said the Prime Minister.

In addition, MPs, heads of state bodies and national companies shared their views on the practical implementation of the institutional reforms.