GOVERNMENT WEEK: Budget funds should be directed to infrastructure development

socio-economic development over 2009 turned to be much better than in the other CIS states. This week the ministries and departments of Kazakhstan summed up the results of last year's work.

At an enlarged session of the Agriculture Ministry's Board on January 18 Minister Akhylbek Kurishbayev informed that the volume of gross production in the sphere of agriculture increased by 13.8 per cent last year. The Minister considers the increase of the volume of processed products in the structure of agricultural products export as a positive aspect. Thus, Kazakhstan confirmed its position as the world's flavor exporting leader. Utilization of funds allocated for the support of the agro-industrial complex made 99.4 per cent.

Despite the situation in the world grain markets hindering sale of Kazakhstan's wheat Kazakhstan plans to resume grain supply to Egypt. About 1.5 million tons of grain will be delivered to the country. Besides, Kazakhstan will start to export grain in direction of China and Pacific countries.

Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to ensure timely supplies of petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) for sowing campaign.

K. Massimov also charged the Ministry of Agriculture and KazAgro Holding to attract second tier banks to financing of agricultural projects.

Concerning the agricultural production, according to the Premier, one of the main issues here is development of labor productivity. The measures of state support of the sector must promote the development of the labor productivity and introduction of new technologies. However, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of work positions' release within the development of the labor productivity and introduction of new technologies.

The Prime Minister attracted attention of the leadership of the Ministry to the drinking water supply to the rural areas. Minister A.Kurishbayev said that it is necessary to continue implementation of the State program on development of the rural areas of the country that was designed for 2004-2010. According to him, it is necessary to keep on realization of such programs as "Zhasyl El" and "Drinking Water".

At the meeting of the collegium of the Kazakh Ministry of Environmental Protection held on January 20 Minister Nurgali Ashimov said that wastes continue accumulating in the country - their volume is up to 22 bln tons. Annually industrial wastes make about 70 mln tons, 25 mln tons out of them are toxic. In this regard, the interdepartmental working group on the issues of wastes management in different sectors was established. Current regulatory acts were revised as well. Suggestions on amendments to the current legislation in the part of waste management were prepared. Besides, the Ministry worked out a draft state program "Zhasyl Damu" for 2010-2014.

The Premier charged the Ministry to control over the environmental aspects of the Program of Forced Industrial-Innovative Development of the country.

As for the current environmental problems K.Massimov charged to develop an action plan on their solution for 2010.

The environment control in Kazakhstan will be tightened. As N.Ashimov noted, the Ministry will control over the implementation of environmental protection measures by users of natural resources. The Ministry of Environmental Protection intends to set about restring dry lands in Kyzylorda region. Kazakhstan already has a positive experience in realization of such projects.

At the collegium of the Agency of Land Resources Management held on January 20, the Prime Minister informed on the official position of the Government on the issue of agricultural lands use. He said that all rumors on cession of lands to China or anybody else are pure speculations.

Chairman of the Agency Umurzak Uzbekov informed on lack of inspectors and complication of conduction of state control over land-utilization. Besides, he informed on draft amendments to the legislation tightening control over allocation of agricultural lands to foreigners, developed by the Agency. In accordance with the amendments, this issue will be under the jurisdiction of the regional akimats.

The issue of establishment of an authority on competition policy in the Customs Union structure was discussed on January 21 at the meeting of the board of the Agency for Protection of the Competition.

The Prime Minister charged the Agency to prepare for entry to the Single Economic Space at the territory of the customs union. In particular, it is necessary to execute work on coordination of antimonopoly activity with other countries on the basis of Kazakhstan's legislation, which is recognized as the best one among the post-soviet countries by the Russian experts.

Later on the same day, there was held a session of the Board of the Kazakh Agency for Natural Monopolies Regulation. The Prime Minister set a task to keep balance between tariffs raising and the opportunity of major resources renewal.

"The attention of all citizens is paid to the activity of the Agency and departments controlled by you. Every month we pay for gas, water and electricity", K.Massimov said.

The AREM was set a task on unification of the legislation on natural monopolies regulation in connection with accession to the Customs Union. K.Massimov reminded that President Nursultan Nazarbayev gave instruction to prepare documents for creation of the Single Economic Space from January 1, 2012 in two years.

The Government reported on the results of the country's social-economic development in 2009 to the Head of the State on Friday, January 22.

President N.Nazarbayev gave to the Government a number of instructions, which touch upon elimination of some shortcomings in the work of the ministries and departments and solution of issues on preparation for implementation of the plans on forced industrial and innovation development.