WEEKLY REVIEW. Kazakhstan boosting agriculture, labor productivity

On Monday, October 10, Kazakh Minister for Agriculture Assylzhan Mamytbekov told about the country's grain output. 90% of the areas under crops have been gathered. This year average grain yield makes 16.5 centners/ha. 20.2 mln tons of grain was harvested. About KZT 94 billion was allocated from the national budget for sowing and harvesting.

On the same day, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev held a meeting on "Productivity 2020" program implementation in Aktobe. The main goal of the program is to increase the level of productivity in Kazakhstan's manufacturing industry, thus helping domestic producers be competitive in the Customs Union today and later, upon accession to the World Trade Organization. There are two possible ways: to modernize existing capacities and to establish new high-performance enterprises. In this regard, Issekeshev urged regional akimats to intensify activities on filing of applications for participation in this program, and accelerate the execution of documents of applicants. In addition, Aktobe region was instructed to update its development program.

On Tuesday, October 11, Kazakh Ministry of Communication and Information presented Kazakhstan's 'electronic government' at the international exhibition GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2011 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This was the first presentation of the Kazakh 'e-government' at the international level. Presently, the 'e-government' provides more than 70 services to the Kazakhstanis.

At the Tuesday meeting with Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Turbjern Yagland Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov handed him over Kazakhstan's application for full membership in the Venice Commission.

Also, on this day Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov held a session of the Council for Sustainable Development, where Minister of Environmental Protection Nurgali Ashim told on the preparation for Rio+20, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

Later that day Karim Massimov met with US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman. The sides discussed the issues of nuclear security cooperation within the framework of joint Kazakh-American Commission on Energy Partnership, as well as the development of bilateral relations in the oil and gas sector, energy efficiency and developing alternative energy sources.

On Wednesday, October 12, the premier took part in the International Forum For a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World and in presentation of an exhibition of achievements of the three regions dedicated to the 20^th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Kazykhanov held meetings with guests of the Forum For a Nuclear Weapons Free World. At the meeting with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano the Kazakh Foreign Minister told about Kazakhstan's steps in the international arena in the field of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, in particular, last initiatives of Astana made at the 66^th session of the UN General Assembly in September, 2011. At the meeting with Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, head of the UN Regional Centre, Ambassador Miroslav Jenca there were discussed promising directions of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UN, modern tendencies in the Central Asian region, including the current situation in Afghanistan, the issues regarding combating organized cross-border crime, terrorism and extremism. The prospects of improvement fight against distribution of drugs, solution water and energy tasks. The topic of interaction was debated at the meeting with Director of OSCE Conflict Prevention Center Adam Koberatski. He noted significant role of our country in its activity, emphasizing successful chairmanship of Astana in this authoritative international organization.

On Thursday, October 13, during consideration of the bill "On the national budget for 2012-2014" in the Kazakh Majilis K.Massimov warned the deputies of the possibility of a new recession in the global economy. The Premier also informed that he will put forward joint coordination of action in case of global recession at the meeting of the heads of government of CIS and Customs Union member countries in Saint Petersburg. The Prime Minister also reminded that the Kazakh Government developed an alternative plan of economic development of the country in case of deterioration of the situation in world markets of hydrocarbons, which will be submitted to the Parliament if necessary.

"We all remember 2008, when one of the American banks bankrupted, and what consequences were for the world, including our country as well. Unfortunately, the fall, 2011, is not so stable in the global economy, and on the President's instruction, the Government elaborated an alternative scenario in case of negative development of the economic situation in the world," K.Massimov said.

Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov met with economy ministers of Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States.

The issue of preparation for the 1st Summit of Heads of State of the Turkic Council planned for 20-21 October 2011 in Almaty was discussed. They also discussed the matters of financial-economic development of the Turkic-speaking countries, strengthening cooperation within the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States as well as interaction in the energy and transit-transport sphere.

On Friday, October 14, a national forum of participants of the Business Road Map-2020 program was held in Pavlodar. Vice Prime Minister Yerbol Orynbayev noted that entrepreneurs' participation in this program came en masse. Results of the program implementation were presented at an exhibition, which was opened before the forum.135 enterprises from 16 regions presented their production.