WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan adopts new long-term development strategy, plans to join the world's 30 most developed countries' club
On Monday, December 10, at a roundtable in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Alexey Volkov declared over the years of independence Kazakhstan had made tangible steps to formalize international standards in the field of human rights in its national legislation. "Such documents as the National Action Plan in the sphere of human rights for 2009-2012 and the Concept of legal policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2010-2020 are being successfully implemented in association with governmental bodies, NGOs and international structures. In general, Kazakhstan looks up to European standards in protection and development of human rights," he added.
On Tuesday, December 11, a session of the Government took place where the Cabinet focused on the results and prospects of the implementation of the "Employment-2020" State Program and approved the draft law "On public services".
Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Serik Abdenov delivered a report on the process of implementation of the "Employment-2020" Program. "The number of people willing to take part in the Program increased by 66% this year. The number of signed social contracts increased by 70% as well. The number of law-income rural population participating in the Program has increased twofold," S.Abdenov said. According to the Minister, employment indicators of the first direction of the Program (training and employment assistance for self-employed, unemployed and low-income people) were essentially increased as well. Over 63 thousand people were embraced with professional training. If only a half of the people who underwent training were employed last year, this year the number of employed population reached 20 thousand people or 82%. 52 thousand people were employed at government financed jobs and sent to youth practice. Thereat, the number of employers creating government financed jobs increased four times.
Summing up the Minister's report, S.Akhmetov gave a number of specific instructions.
On Wednesday, December 12, within the working trip to Kostanay region Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov visited the corporate training center of Sokolovsko-Sarbaysky Ore Mining and Processing Industrial Enterprise and other facilties.
Prime Minister Akhmetov chaired a session in Kostanay that summed up results of his working trip to the region. The session focused on the economic development of the region, including tariffs on gas. The Premier positively assessed the socioeconomic development of Kostanay region, but reminded it was necessary to attract investments.
"It is high time to attract more investments into the region. We need to amend the regional Industrialization Map taking into account the large-scale preparations for the international specialized exhibition EXPO-2017," Serik Akhmetov said.
A regional seminar of the International Epizootic Bureau kicked off in Astana on Wednesday. The theme of the event was "Voluntary associations in the veterinary field (statutory bodies) in the context of Eastern Europe." "In accordance with the Kazakh President's instruction, we are at the start of a larger program in agriculture. It is expected that more than USD 20 billion will be allocated on its development in the next seven years," Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Krymbek Kusherbayev stated. The seminar was attended by representatives of veterinary services from more than 15 countries, the OIE Regional Commission, the European Commission, the World Bank and other international organizations.
On Thursday, December 13, Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov received CEO of Chevron Corporation John S. Watson. During the meeting the sides discussed prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation. J. Watson also informed of projects for the development of Kazakh fields and prospects of Chevron's operation in the country. "We are closely following the Chevron Corporation activities in Kazakhstan. The Government, through the Ministry of Oil and Gas, supports your activity in our country," S. Akhmetov said.
Vice Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Krymbek Kusherbayev chaired a Thursday session at JSC "NC "Kazakhstan Engineering". The session concentrated on the current state and prospects for the development of Kazakhstan's military-industrial complex. CEO of JSC "NC "Kazakhstan Engineering" Bolat Dmagulov reported on the main directions of the company's activities and made a presentation of the large investment projects with the leading transnational corporations (EADS, Thales, Aselsan, Indra, etc.) that are either being implemented or just in plans. Following the results of the session the Deputy Premier gave a number of specific instructions related to the development of military-industrial complex.
On Friday, December 14, President Nursultan Nazarbayev presented the state-of-the-nation address revealing Kazakhstan's new development strategy until 2050.
The Head of State noted that some the tasks mentioned in the Strategy-2030 had been fulfilled ahead of time, others were to be implemented.
"Today we face another challenge. We should fortify vector of further development of our country in the long run," Nursultan Nazarbayev declared.
The President suggested the draft of the new political course until 2050 and said Kazakhstan should join the club of the world's 30 most developed countries by 2050.
