WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan continues to develop e-Government, keen to improve the quality of medical services
On Monday, March 18, in the course of the telephone conference Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov instructed the Ministry for Emergency Situations and akimats (administrations) of the regions to arrange round the clock monitoring of the flood situation in the country.
The same day another telephone conference focused on the problems of development of airports and flight safety improvement. Kazakh Minister of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliyev informed that as a result of joint work with ICAO specialists it was planned to make 40 amendments to the existing legislation, most of which would refer to the certification procedures and permanent supervision over flight safety. Following the meeting, Serik Akhmetov gave specific instructions on the development of civil aviation.
On Monday, "Samruk-Kazyna" National Welfare Fund announced the sale of "KEGOC" JSC, "KazTransGas" JSC and "Samruk-Energy" JSC shares within the "People's IPO" Program this year. Shares of "KEGOC" JSC will be offered in the second quarter of 2013.
Minister of Transport and Communication of Kazakhstan Askar Zhumagaliyev told the government session on Tuesday (March 19) that e-Government of Kazakhstan was ranked 38th in the world. Last year, the Public Service Centers provided 15 million services, which is by 31% more than in 2011. 10.7 million services were provided through the portal of e-Government. This is by 28% more than in 2011. The Premier ordered to specify the dates of launch of the specialized Public Service Centers in the regions.
In addition, Serik Akhmetov instructed the Ministry of Transport and Communication to transfer all socially-important government services into e-format by the end of 2013.
After that, Prime Minister Akhmetov urged to intensify work on the training of medical specialists. "There are a lot of complaints about the poor quality of treatment. So it is necessary to intensify efforts to improve professionalism of our specialists, especially narrow specialists". The Prime Minister pointed out insufficient number of physicians trained by foreign experts. "It is necessary to invite more foreign experts to Kazakhstan to conduct master classes," he added.
First Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Regional Development of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev paid a working trip to Karaganda region on Wednesday (March 20). First of all, Sagintayev and governor of the region Baurzhan Abdishev reviewed the progress of construction of Zhezkazgan-Beineu railroad. Afterwards, the First Vice Prime Minister visited LLP "Kaztechfilter" producing filters for mining equipment. The enterprise plans to sell filters not only in Kazakhstan, but also in Russia, Uzbekistan. Later, Mr. Sagintayev visited LLP "Kazakhmys Smelting", a sports complex and an engineering school of "Kazakhmys" Corporation.
On Thursday, March 21, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on the results of the official visit of Minister Erlan Idrissov to the Kingdom of Sweden. Key topic of the visit's agenda was attraction of the high technologies to Kazakhstan and fostering its green economy in the EXPO 2017 context. The head of Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry had official talks with his counterpart Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden. During their meeting the foreign ministers discussed the bilateral cooperation in political, trade and economic spheres, and interaction on relevant issues in the international arena. Erlan Idrissov informed his colleague that in order to further intensify the bilateral relations Kazakhstan is going to open its Embassy in Stockholm this year. The Ministers exchanged their views on the current international agenda, including the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues, developments in Afghanistan and Iran.
On Friday, March 22, Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov attended the square next to the Kazakh Yeli monument in Astana that hosted celebrations of Nowruz holiday. Afterwards, Mr. Akhmetov, head of the Presidential Administration Karim Massimov, mayor of Astana city Imangali Tasmagambetov, and Majilis Speaker Nurlan Nigmatulin surveyed yurts scattered around the square.