WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan to improve its business climate

The new package of measures aimed at attracting investments provides facilitating of foreign investment generation and foreign labour power intake. "E-commerce sales of Kazakhstan reached USD 600 mln so far," head of the Kazakh Communications and Information Agency Askar Zhumagaliyev told addressing the ASTEX 2014 information and communications technologies exhibition held on Monday. According to him, the next stage is an active promotion of e-commerce services. The United Nations E-Government Development Survey finds that Kazakhstan ranks 38th among 139 countries. Kazakhstan along with Singapore rank second for e-participation. It is noteworthy that Kazakhstan went up 16 positions in this ranking since 2010. On Tuesday Minister of Economy and Budget Planning of Kazakhstan (MEBP) Yerbolat Dossayev and, Managing Director for Turkey, Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Olivier Descamps, discussed issues of cooperation. The Minister noted that the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan "plans to expand cooperation with international financial institutions". "We are talking about strengthening the diversification and competitiveness of Kazakhstan's economy attracting investment in non-oil sectors, development of private enterprise and human capital to support small and medium-sized businesses and institutional foundation", said Dossayev. Kazakhstan makes steps to attract new investments, Prime Minister Karim Massimov said at the 5th International Investment Forum "Astana Invest-2014" in the Kazakh capital on May 21. The head of the Government believes that in order to achieve all the ambitious goals of the Kazakhstan-2050 Strategy, Kazakhstan needs more foreign investments. "In general, the country has achieved quite impressive results over the past five years by attracting nearly $160 billion," the Premier noted. "The Government has recently worked out a comprehensive program for attraction of investments. The corresponding bill will be submitted to the Parliament in the nearest future," Karim Massimov said. In his words, these measures are set to improve investment clime, preserve tax stability and reduce administrative burdens on business in the country. Kazakhstan reports significant threefold decrease in maternal death since 2007, one-half reduction in infant mortality starting from 2008," Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova said on Thursday at international women's forum "G-Global: Women's role in new economy" held on the margins of the Astana Economic Forum. "Strengthening of the family health is first of all, strengthening of maternal and children's health. It is the priority of the country's healthcare system. We have achieved success in reducing maternal and infant death rates. But we also have a lot of work to do," she added. The volume of exports of petrochemicals and gas derived chemicals in Kazakhstan will reach 2.5 billion U.S. dollars by 2019 after the second five-year plan of industrial-innovative development, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev stated the same day at a panel session at the VII Astana Economic Forum. "Oil and gas chemistry is a practically new industry. In 2019 we will have polypropylene, domestic polyethylene, plastic products, exports will amount to more than 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, and take a 5% share in the manufacturing industry of Kazakhstan," he said. In addition, according to the minister, the second five-year plan includes the task to complete modernization of all three refineries in Kazakhstan in 2016-2017, provide oil refining of at least 19 million tons per year, fully supply the domestic market with Euro-4 and Euro-5 fuel of domestic production, jet fuel and other fuels. On May 22, Defense Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov in the framework of the third international exhibition of arms and military equipment "KADEX - 2014" held several bilateral meetings. During the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin, the parties discussed further strengthening of cooperation in the military sphere. According to the parties, all necessary conditions have been created for the successful collaboration of Kazakhstan and Russia in the military and military-technical spheres. The meeting with the delegation of French Ministry of Defense, headed by General Jean-Christophe Nuro weapons noted the importance of cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries in the modernization of arms of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. Further partnership in the military-technical sphere was discussed at a round table with representatives of the Spanish side - President of "Grupo AGEM" Pedro Hermosillo and ex- Defense Minister Jose Bono Martynas.