WEEKLY REVIEW. Kazakh Government increases expense side of budget
On Monday, February 27, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov spoke at the extended meeting of the parliamentary faction of Nur Otan People's Democratic Party on the amendments to the Law of Kazakhstan "On the national budget for 2012-2014". "During the economic upturn the budget spending spree will be held back and in the recessionary period expenditures will rise," Massimov said. "We will pursue counter-cyclical economic policy aimed at reducing negative third party effect," he added.
During the meeting the Prime Minister announced the country's economic forecast for 2012. "According to forecast, the real GDP of Kazakhstan will make 6% in 2012. The economic growth will be accompanied by the people's welfare gain. Per capita GDP will reach USD 12, 500," Massimov said.
The Kazakh Government draws up the single-industry town development program aimed at diversification of the economies of towns through the development of entrepreneurship and raising mobility of labor resources, Karim Massimov said on Monday. "There are 27 monotowns in Kazakhstan so far with the population up to 1, 5 mln people, that is 16% of urban population of Kazakhstan," the Premier noted.
On Tuesday at the Government's meeting Kazakh Minister of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliyev told about the plans to reach 50% computer literacy rates in Kazakhstan in 2012. "Today the literacy rates stand at 43.7%.To achieve this goal it is planned to attract the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Education and other local executive bodies, public service centers."
Representative of the Kazakh Ministry for Agriculture Ayna Kusainova informed that Kazakhstan plans to raise its production of sugar beets to an annual 960,000 metric tons from 200,000 metric tons by 2020 to help shrink the dependence on imported sugar. The increase will be achieved by increasing the land under cultivation as well as making production more efficient.
On February 29 First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov visited Zhanaozen town of Mangystau region. During the meeting in Zhanaozen Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Kazakhstan Birzhan Nurymbetov said that 7,500 workplaces were created in Zhanaozen in 2011, including 5,000 permanent jobs." "The Road Map provided 617 workplaces, 1,649 social work positions and 217 under the youth practice program. In 2012 it is planned to allocate KZT 1.5 bln for the region under the Employment Program 2020, including KZT 200 mln for Zhanaozen. It will let embrace about 3,500 people, including 640 in Zhanaozen," he noted. "Besides, realization of the regional map will be continued this year. KZT 1 bln has already been allotted. The region's development plan for 2012-2015 foresees construction of 26 social facilities in Zhanaozen and creation of 900 permanent jobs for teachers and doctors," Nurymbetov added. "16 promising investment projects worth KZT 520 bln will be implemented there."
On Thursday, March 1, at a meeting of the Coordinating Council on the implementation of the industrial program, which took place in Almaty, Minister of Industry and Trade Asset Isekeshev said that the modernization of the economy remains an important focus of the Government and local executive bodies, the implementation of programs of industrialization is a major landmark.
On Friday Kazakh Minister of Labor and Social Security Gulshara Abdykalikova paid a working visit to Akmola region. The Minister visited the Atbasar repair and engineering works and Kamkor Locomotive LLP electrics repair works. She also surveyed residential houses, put into operation under the labor mobility raising direction of the Employment 2020 Program.
First Vice Prime Minister S. Akhmetov visited South Kazakhstan region, which has been affected by flooding. He informed that about 7 thousand people work to prevent emergency situations. He believes the situation will stabilize in a week.