Construction and Housing-Utilities Agency: Important to centralize licensing of design and building activity

"We will likely submit a proposition to centralize the licensing of the design and building operations. As is known, today this work is carried out by local executive bodies", he informed.

According to him, there are two approaches to the problem at present - to centralize the licensing activity or leave the things as they are. "No doubt, the licences will be granted in three categories henceforth. The first category covers tech-low projects like storages, pavilions and boutiques. The projects like 10-floor buildings will be included in the second category. And the third category provides for skyscrapers, bridges and complex strategic projects", N. Tikhonyuk says.

As he added, 10-15 companies only would likely work within the third category in Kazakhstan, "because competition in construction sector would not bring positive results". Construction sector is peoples' safety first of all, Tikhonyuk stressed.

As the reality shows, over 2.5 years the executive bodies issued licences for design and construction work three times more than it was necessary.

"Earlier we had 6000 contractor companies, while to date their number is 17 000. As a result, there is one design company per one building organization. It's an absurd", he said.

Design companies of the west employ no less than 50 people, while in our companies there work as many as ten people. All underway projects experience changes in the course of their construction. "Ministries of Educational and Healthcare have already faced this problem. In fact, it's impossible to carry out construction work by the documents developed by design organizations. Our program gives special attention to this issue", N. Tikhonyuk resumed.