President Nazarbayev criticizes idle enterprises in S Kazakhstan

"There are idle enterprises in the region, for example, a ceramics plant. Why are those not functioning? The plant has been built, the financing has been allotted. Problems like these should be solved. Do we really need businessmen who cannot solve such problems?" the Head of State said. Nursultan Nazarbayev also encouraged local entrepreneurs to open small and medium businessmen. "Use the opportunities," the Kazakh leader urged. "There are favorable conditions in southern Kazakhstan to grow vegetables, don't focus on one or two crops." As reported earlier, while in Shymkent the President visited Bal Tekstil Ltd. - a manufactory producing carpets and tapestries. Director Talgat Iskhakhov said the manufactory boasts unique equipment from Belgium. "Our carpets are high quality and quite affordable. We have already sold 1 billion tenge worth of carpets," Mr. Iskhakhov added proudly. In his words, the next step for the manufactory is to export their products. Bal Tekstil manufactory is located in the territory of the Special economic zone "Ontustyk".