Weekly Review: Kazakhstan streamlines housing and utilities modernization, introduces int'l statistics standards

On Monday, April 2, at the Governmental Hour head of the Kazakh Statistics Agency Alikhan Smailov told about innovations in statistics. A new plan on introduction of "System of national accounts 2008" international standard for 2011-2014 was elaborated. Besides, under e-statistics program respondents will be able since midyear to submit 65 report forms online.
Transport and Communications Ministry announced the launch of a transport control consultation service on the ground of 1414 call centre and 117 helpline.
At the Government meeting held on Tuesday in Astana Kazakh PM Karim Massimov charged to complete housing and public utilities modernization program 2020.Head of the construction, housing and public utilities agency Serik Nokin put forward the proposed amendments to the program.The PM gave a week for fine tuning of the program and approval with the governors of regions.
Interior Minister Kalmukhanbet Kassymov presented the draft counter-narcotics program for 2012-2016. The program is purposed to further improve illegal drug trafficking and drug abuse countermeasures. The program includes an action plan of 102 events. The program budget is KZT 6 bln 167 mln.
"The new program will let significantly restrict drug trafficking in the country, reduce its transit via Kazakhstan and stabilize drug abuse situation at large," the Minister added.
Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan Aset Issekeshev visited on Wed Zhambyl region to survey a number of industrial facilities of the region and get familiarized with realization of investment projects.
The Minister visited Super Pharm works launched in 2011 which produces special clothing and non-woven linen, Kazfosfat and Taraz ironworks, Zapchast JSC and TarazEnergoCentre JSC.
On Thursday he left for Karaganda region for a working visit. The Minister chaired there a republican meeting on the development of pharmaceutical industry.
Kazakhstan is taking measures to satisfy 50 percent of the country's pharmaceutical needs by 2014 by means of domestic production.
It is planned to build 20 pharmaceutical enterprises and modernize the existing productions within the Industrialization Map. 6 investment projects were implemented in 2010 and 6 - in 2011. 17 investment projects are planned to be carried out in the coming three years.
In addition, the work on introduction of the international standards of quality at enterprises of pharmaceutical industry 'Good Manufacturing Practice' (GMP) is carried out. GMP certificates were issued to two domestic pharmaceutical productions in 2011. These are JSC 'Nobel AFF', JSC 'Chimpharm'.
Besides, the conditions for replacing imported pharmaceuticals and medical products were created in the country. The Government measures will allow meeting 50 percent of the country's pharmaceutical needs by means of domestic production of the medications by 2014.
First Vice Premier Srtik Akhmetov held on Thursday a meeting on the development of Kazakh content.
On April 6 Astana played a host to the meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers. It focused on the current global and regional security issues able to affect the Organization's member states and additional measures to collective cooperation in their addressing. Kazakh Foreign Affairs Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov chaired the meeting with participation of CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha.