Speakers of the Parliament’s Senate and Majilis of Kazakhstan, Prime Minister, State Secretary, Head of the Presidential Administration, the Cabinet members, akims of Astana, Almaty and regions, heads of central state bodies directly accountable to the President of Kazakhstan have taken part in the meeting.
Opening the meeting, Nursultan Nazarbayev focused on the achieved results of the national development for the year and stressed the importance of implementing state and sectoral programs.
During the meeting, Prime Minister B. Sagintayev, Minister of Finance B. Sultanov, Chairman of the National Bank D. Akishev, Deputy Prime Minister A. Zhumagaliyev, Chairman of Atameken Chamber’s Board A.Myrzakhmetov, akim of Karaganda region E.Koshanov and akim of Kyzylorda region K. Kusherbayev.
Noting the results of the accomplished tasks, the Head of State drew attention of speakers on the problems of the banking sector, clarification of the digitalization program objectives, control of budget funds, and reduction of inspections of small and medium-sized businesses by the controlling state bodies.
Having heard the reports, the Head of State as a whole positively assessed the work of the Government, National Bank and regional akims in achieving sustainable development indicators of the country under conditions of instability of external factors.
At the same time, the President of Kazakhstan pointed to the need to improve the effectiveness of the implementing previously adopted policy documents and the use of allocated budget funds.
- To join the 30 developed countries in the world, we need an active work. All program documents and corresponding amendments to the legislation have been adopted. Institutional reforms are being implemented. Having announced the Third Modernization, we have begun to digitize the economy. It is necessary to accelerate development, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Industrial Development
The Head of State, noting the growth of the manufacturing sector during the years of industrialization, instructed to take measures to increase its share in the economy.
In addition, the President of Kazakhstan dwelled on the issues of introducing advanced technologies into production and increasing export-oriented enterprises.
- First, the state support should be provided to those who implement advanced technologies and will produce export products. More active measures are needed to ensure faster growth of the manufacturing industry, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The Head of State instructed to study the effectiveness of the existing special economic zones and temporarily prohibited the creation of new similar structures.
During the meeting, issues of processing in the oil and gas sector and transformation of Samruk Kazyna National Welfare Fund were also discussed.
- Oil and gas processing is an important direction. Moreover, the question of the country's supply of fuel is regularly raised. Even after modernization of the three plants, the fuel deficit in Kazakhstan is covered only for three to four years. Back in 2009, I was informed about plans for the construction of an integrated gas chemical complex. Since then, the project’s cost project has grown from 6 to 9 billion dollars. Since 2016 the deadlines have been postponed to 2024, the President of Kazakhstan said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed the Fund’s amended strategy and transformation program to be submitted to the Council for Management of Samruk Kazyna National Welfare Fund.
Nurly Zhol State Program
The Head of State pointed to the need to monitor the efficiency and transparency of using the funds for construction of highways.
The President of Kazakhstan drew attention to the importance of building interregional and inter-district roads by redirecting the expenses envisaged for non-priority national roads.
Nur Zher State Program
Nursultan Nazarbayev noted the results of housing construction in the regions and instructed to revise the mechanisms for the state program’s further implementation.
- Over the past two years, the state allocated KZT 550 billion for housing construction. And all that went to the direct financing of construction, which the akims are engaged in. During the years of crisis that was justified. However, at present we need to switch to the use of market mechanisms. The banks should finance the construction, and the Government, the National Bank and akims should create conditions for cheapening the cost of housing, the Head of State said.
100 Specific Steps Nation’s Plan Implementation
The President of Kazakhstan instructed the Government to take control of the issues of introducing electronic declaration on import and downsizing inspecting and regulatory bodies.
In addition, Nursultan Nazarbayev dwelled on actualizing the Single Purchaser model and consolidating regional electric grid companies in order to reduce the electricity cost.
The Head of State also instructed the Prime Minister to take the control over the issue of attracting transnational companies to the processing sector, while noting the significant role of Kazakh Invest and Kazakh Export. During the meeting, issues of attracting investors for actualizing projects in the agro-industrial sector and forthcoming work on launching the Astana International Financial Centre. At the same time, the President of Kazakhstan pointed to the problem of the self-employed population and its participation in the compulsory social health insurance program. Another reason for the slowdown in the healthcare reform is the issue of information support. To date, there are no electronic health passports; doctors are maintaining documents in black and white. Medical organizations on the ground are poorly supplied with computers and Internet access. This is the zone of responsibility of akims, the Head of the State said.
Public Consciousness Improvement
Nursultan Nazarbayev noted formalistic and non-systematic approach of some regional leaders to the Program’s implementation. There are regions that do not use all their capabilities to carry out the tasks set. Public consciousness improvement is not limited to one year. This is a multiyear work requiring systematic and constant search for new ways, the President of Kazakhstan said. In addition, the meeting discussed the issue of further transition of the Kazakh language to the Latin script.
Guaranteeing Supremacy of Law and Corruption Fighting
The State Head instructed the interested state bodies to continue the course on reducing excessive repressiveness of the criminal process and its humanization. Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that the corruption fighting priority should be the adoption of institutional preventive measures.
More than two thousand officers were arraigned on a criminal charge. Among them are ministers and akims of all levels, heads of departments. In particular, the court is considering criminal cases against the ex-Minister of National Economy, General Director of Kazahavtodor.
At the end of the meeting, the Head of State pointed to the importance of implementing all the priorities of this year’s Address and stressed the responsibility of each of the leaders for their actualization.
The Address includes ten specific tasks under the conditions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The President’s Administration, the Government, the Parliament, akims, Atameken Chamber of Entrepreneurs and national holdings need to launch appropriate work. Today I have outlined a number of other challenging issues that need to be considered. In the context of conducted constitutional reforms and the complicated geopolitical situation, everyone should become active and work together, Nursultan Nazarbayev has concluded.
