WEEKLY REVIEW. Learning from crisis we enter new level ensuring future competitiveness of Kazakhstan – Prime Minister Massimov
ASTANA. September 24. KAZINFORM /Murat Tolebekov/ The last governmental week was started from working sittings in Astana. The first one was dedicated to conducting law-enforcement reform, and the second - the issues of administrative reform and improvement of effectiveness of the ministries' and departments' activity. The same day Prime Minister Karim Massimov met with Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry of H.E. Mohamed Thani Murshed Ghannam Al Rumaithi.
The issues of further development of trade-economic and investment cooperation, including expansion of interaction in the field of agriculture and transport were discussed at the meeting.
On Tuesday, September 21, the Prime Minister took part in the 24th Conference of the Regional Commission for Europe of the International Office of Epizootics (OIE) in Astana. Addressing to the conference participants, he noted that Kazakhstan was open for cooperation in development of cattle breeding and other sectors of the agriculture industry.
The Government's visiting session on the issues of implementation of the 'e-government' was held on the same day. As Kazakh Minister of Communication and Information Askar Zhumagaliyev informed, KZT 44 billion had been spent for the establishment and development of electronic government since 2005. The Minister noted that the system databases of individuals, legal entities, and the real estate address register were already established.
A.Zhumagaliyev also informed that in the course of work on modernization of the e-government portal special attention was paid to rendering electronic services to citizens. The procedure of getting and putting an electronic digital signature has been simplified. It is planned to collect 850 thousand signatures, i.e. 11% of the economically active population, by 2012. Today 59 electronic services of the state bodies are available to the citizens of Kazakhstan on the e-government portal.
The most popular services are the services of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Customs Committee, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.
Kazakh Premier Karim Massimov charged the Ministry of Communication and Information to introduce the communication within the Government by means of Blackberry - a line of mobile e-mail and smart phone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research in Motion (RIM) since 1996.
'Every member of the Government should have e-mail on his blackberry. I will communicate with you through it and you can use it to directly address me', K. Massimov explained at the sitting. Minister of Communication and Information Askar Zhumagaliev said that the system meant the communication of all the ministers by means of e-mails where they could remotely solve problems.
The Kazakh Government approved a sectoral program on development of information and communication technologies in Kazakhstan for 2010-2014. Its realization provides for introduction of 3G-, 4G-, LTE-, NGN-, CDMA-, Wi-Max-, FTTX-, DWDM- standards and introduction of new prospective social projects, development of IP-TV and internet TV, projects on electronic commerce and electronic education, etc.
On Tuesday the Kazakh Prime Minister held a session of the Organizing Committee on preparation and holding of celebration of the 20th anniversary of independence of Kazakhstan in the city of Astana and all regions of the country.
The Committee members discussed draft Concept of celebration of the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence in the city of Astana and all regions of the country which was prepared with participation of NGO, youth organizations, parties, representatives of scientific and creative intelligentsia.
On Friday, September 24, Karim Massimov congratulated the staff of the first children's channel 'Balapan' on its start.
'Congratulations to all of on the start of a new TV channel 'Balapan'. It is the first time in history of our TV we launch such a project. It is a very important event for every parent. We hope this start will be successful. At the time of today modern technologies are implemented in many spheres of life. We learn the world from the internet, television, it is the source of our knowledge. Presently we pay great attention to children's education and health. In this regard this new channel is called on to carry heavy burden of responsibilities for our children', Chairman of the Prime Minister's Office Gabidulla Abdrakhimov read the text of congratulations.
The work on reducing the number of obstacles emerging during transporting cargo and goods within the Customs Union is held. Vice Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev noted that customs procedures had been significantly changed to ease the customs situation between three countries at the 12th meeting of the Customs Union Commission in Moscow on September 22. Besides, he said there were a lot problems still needed to be solved. 'We will hold video press conference in this regard with the representatives of our Border Service, Customs Union and business association to make the situation fully clear and remove all the obstacles left', U. Shukeyev added.
Within the framework of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York Kazakh Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev met with US President Barack Obama on September 23; Kazinform has learnt from the Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service.
K. Saudabayev extended an invitation from President Nursultan Nazarbayev to President Barack Obama to the OSCE Summit in Astana on December 1-2. Mr. Obama thanked for the invitation and coveyed good wishes to N. Nazarbayev. He confirmed the intention of the Unites States to continue strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan.