GOVERNMENT. Weekly review. Business sector will receive support next month - PM Massimov
ASTANA. February 19. KAZINFORM. /Muratbek Makulbekov/ State Program of Forced Industrial and Innovative Development of Kazakhstan should be implemented as clearly as Road Map-2009. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev noted the importance of well coordinated management of the process of creation of new industrial basis for the development of Kazakhstan. He said it in his annual address to the nation "New Decade - New Economic Growth - New Opportunities of Kazakhstan" and urged to establish a single national management center for forced industrial-innovative development headed by the Prime Minister.
The first sitting of the national management center was held this Monday. The Center includes the representatives of the key ministries, national holdings "Samruk-Kazyna", "KazAgro" and National Economic Chamber "Atameken" Union". During the sitting Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral resources informed that all issues regarding financing of the construction of the third power unit at Ekibastuz Hydro Power Plant-2 would be resolved in the first quarter of the year.
Minister of Transport and Communications Abelgazy Kussainov reported on the progress of preparation for realization of the project of Kazakhstan's section of "Western Europe - Western China" transit corridor. It is planned to disburse KZT 125 billion on this project. 495 units of road-building equipment was mobilized to carry out road construction works.
Minister of Industry and Trade Asset Issekeshev reported on the opportunity of construction of Kumkol-Kyzylorda high-voltage line in order to solve the problem of energy deficiency in southern regions.
Summing up the results of the sitting Prime Minister Massimov charged his deputy Yerbol Orynbayev to organize a session for the discussion of a draft program "Business Road Map-2020" on February 18.
On Tuesday, February 16, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov met with Business Group Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for South Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia Olivier Descamps. The parties discussed the issues of cooperation between Kazakhstan and EBRD including the opportunities of the bank's participation in implementation of the country's industrialization, diversification and innovation programs.
The same day Kazakh Minister of Industry and Trade Asset Issekeshev visited Karaganda region. The visit was held in accordance with the President's instruction to control over implementation of projects in the regions. A special task force was created for it. Last week the task force headed by First Vice Premier U. Shukeyev visited Aktobe, Kyzylorda, South Kazakhstan and Zhambyl regions.
So, during the visit to Karaganda region the Minister of Industry surveyed a number of industrial enterprises and held session in the regional Akimat. 16 projects of Karaganda region are included into the Industrialization Map.
Besides, the delegation headed by A. Issekeshev visited Pavlodar region. 42 projects amounting to KZT 875 bln are implemented in Pavlodar oblast. 12 projects are included into the Industrialization Map.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the Kazakhstan Government's economic diversification program. The Bank aims to invest up to around USD 1 billion in projects to be identified in collaboration with the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Kazakh National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna". A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed on February 17 in Astana between the three parties.
February 18 Prime Minister Karim Massimov held a conference on further development of social-entrepreneurial corporations (SEC). Minister of Finance Bolat Zhamishev presented an Action Plan on transferring the assets of the social-entrepreneurial corporations to the local executive bodies. Following the discussion the Prime Minister charged the Ministry to accelerate the process of reorganization of the SECs into regional corporations for development of business.
The same day Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov held consultations with the heads of Kazakhstan Financiers Association (S. Akhanov), Kazakhstan Entrepreneurs' Forum (R. Batalov), "Atameken" National Economic Chamber (A. Peruashev), regional business structures, socio-entrepreneurial corporations, National Bank, Financial Supervision Agency, central and local executive bodies. The issues of development and approaches to realization of Business Road Map-2020 Program were discussed. As Vice Prime Minister Yerbol Orynbayev informed, the program is aimed at developing business in the regions, creating new jobs. It will be implemented in four directions: subsidizing interest rates on loans; loan guarantees; development of industrial infrastructure; service support of business.
Upon the results of the discussion Premier Massimov urged to complete the draft program and prepare the document for the Government's consideration.
A regular session of the Economic Policy Council under the Kazakhstan Government was held yesterday as well. The sitting focused on the approaches to realization of Export-2020, Productivity - 2020 and Investments-2020 programs. The programs are developed for the support of the exporters of non-primary sector, promotion of productivity of industrial enterprises as well as for creation of favorable conditions in order to attract direct investments in high-technological productions.
On Friday, February 19, the Kazakh Government held its regular session on the issues of implementation of Business Road Map-2020 and reduction of administrative barriers for business.
The Prime Minister urged Mr. Orynbayev to complete work on the draft program Business Road Map and start implementing it. The Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning was charged to submit in a month a draft national program Industrialization Map for the Government's consideration. Mr. Massimov urged the Ministry jointly with the local executive bodies to make proposals on reduction of administrative barriers for business at the local level as well.