WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan does its best to ensure further stable growth of its economy
On Monday (February 18) Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan Asset Issekeshev met with a number of Japanese companies and organizations. In the course of negotiations with the representatives of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, also known as NEDO, Minister Issekeshev touched upon the bilateral cooperation in such fields as green economy and energy saving technologies; production of new generation batteries; water purification technologies and so on.
Healthcare Minister of Kazakhstan Salidat Kairbekova reported on the results of implementation of the "Salamatty Kazakhstan" State Program at the governmental hour on Monday. According to Ms. Kairbekova, Kazakhstan has managed to achieve higher life expectancy in just one year. In addition, he said maternal mortality dropped more than threefold and child mortality fell for 25% over the last three years. 400 specialists for cancer service were trained in 2012; 88 specialists did their training abroad.
Spring floods situation in the regions was in the focus of the governmental session on Tuesday (February 19). Minister for Emergency Situations Vladimir Bozhko said the situation was 'not so positive'. In northern Kazakhstan snow bank was 20-50% higher than long-term annual average level. Situation in Almaty and East Kazakhstan regions turned out to be even more complicated. It is worth mentioning, Kazakhstan has more than doubled its anti-flood budget from 5.4 to 14.5 billion tenge this year.
Upon completion of the Tuesday session, Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov instructed to address the matter of construction of mini flood control compensating reservoir on major rivers of the republic in order to tackle the spring floods problem. "Particular attention should be paid to riverbeds, irrigation canals, dams fortification, and motorways infrastructure. Specific equipment and inert materials stock should to be concentrated on the territories subjected to flood risk," the head of the Government stressed.
239 thousand people took part in the "Employment" State Program. Serik Abdenov, the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, announced the figures at a roundtable at the Senate on Tuesday.
Head of State Nursultan Nazarbayev received Minister of Economy and Budget Planning Yerbolat Dossayev on Wednesday (February 20). Minister Dossayev briefed President Nazarbayev on results of work of the ministry in 2012 and presented key directions of work for the period ahead. "You've got to have a clear vision of how we can adjust effective budget planning taking into account the industrial-innovative development program, and support for small and medium businesses," Nursultan Nazarbayev said. The Kazakh President also stressed it was important to plan public expenses more rationally and effectively.
Y. Dossayev said his Ministry planned to push the development budgets and curb current expenses of the government agencies. To ensure stable growth of economy the share of development budget should make at least 30-40%.
Minister of Environmental Protection Nurlan Kapparov who was on a working trip to Zhambyl region on February 21 said its experience in environmental protection measures should be used across the country. The Minister surveyed the work and logistics situation of the environmental services in the region. Governor of the region Kanat Bozumbayev informed Mr. Kapparov of the specific units that had been created to fight poachers, prevent desertification and fires in the region. A complex for full-scale biological treatment of sewage water is planned to be constructed there.
A delegation headed by Culture and Information Minister Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed visited Mangystau region on Friday to raise people's awareness on the new "Kazakhstan-2050" Strategy. They made the first stop in Zhanaozen where the delegation met with the residents of the city. Addressing those present, Minister Kul-Mukhammed said the state of utility lines, construction of social objects, employment of population, support of SME were high on the agenda for all people of Kazakhstan. This year Kazakhstan authorities allocated 48 billion US dollars on the development of Zhanaozen.
On Friday (February 22) Minister Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed attended the meeting with the heads of Kazakh mass media in Astana. He briefed the audience on the changes to the information policy implemented in line with the instructions given by the Head of State. The Culture and Information Minister noted it was necessary to develop Internet journalism in Kazakhstan. Marat Tazhin, the Secretary of State, who was present at the meeting instructed to improve information and PR work of the national mass media.