WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan drafts a package plan to improve its positions in Doing Business rankings
On Monday, February 24, 1st Vice Minister of Industry and New Technologies Albert Rau said that Kazakhstan would start production of Toyota Fortuner SUV in Kazakhstan on April 2014. he also said that Belarus shows great interest in importing Hyundai buses made in Kazakhstan. Besides, the East Kazakhstan region started construction of Auto-Vaz assembly plant to produce also Renault and Nissan car models. On Monday President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev received head of the Natural Monopolies Regulation Agency of Kazakhstan Murat Ospanov.The latter reported to the President on the results of the agency's work in 2013 and prospects for 2014. In a meeting the sides focused on the key measures for refining the country's pricing policy, issues concerning ensuring the tariff setting transparency, upgrading the quality of regulated services and strengthening control over natural monopoly entities. Following the results of the meeting the President gave certain instructions. On Tuesday Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov charged to examine in details issues concerning the improvement of Kazakhstan's positions in Doing Business rankings. The PM suggested to approve a draft package plan for 2014. At the board meeting of KazMunayGas JSC held the same day Serik Akhmetov commissioned the responsible departments to put forward proposals on how to raise investment attractiveness of the country's geological prospecting. Besides, the PM charged to complete construction of the Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent gas pipeline by the end of the year. On Wednesday the 7th session of the Kazakh-Chinese subcommitee for trade and economic cooperation took place in Beijing. Kazakh Vice Minister of Economy and Budget Planning Timur Zhaksylykov hedl talks with Deputy Minister of Commerce of China Zhong Shan. Zhaksylykov said the sales between Kazakhstan and China reached USD 22,53 bln in 2013, export exceeded USD 14 bln 334 mln, import made USD 8 bln 193 mln. "As you know, the President of Kazakhstan repeatedly urged to start the construction of the Balkhash thermal power plant. The decision on the commencement of construction has been delayed for no good reason," Premier Akhmetov told the enlarged session of the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund. He also charged to start construction of the Green District in Astana. Realization of this project will set a precedence of eco-freindly and energy-efficient construction up to the world standards in Astana. On Thursday, February 27, First Vice Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev chaired conference call on the issues of provision of housing for the population. The telephone conference brought together members of parliament, heads of central government bodies, governors of regions, and mayors of Astana and Almaty cities. Vice Minister of Regional Development Serik Nokin noted a decision had been made to construct economy class compact housing for the population as part of the 2020 Affordable Housing State Program. MP Dariga Nazarbayev stressed the need to encourage and stimulate investors to build social housing and map out the uniform projects of social facilities. In conclusion, Mr. Sagintayev gave an instruction to ensure effective and timely implementation of the state program and stressed 'such issues should be debated together with the population. "The ministry takes steps to improve the rating system of in-patient facilities and make medical services more transparent. In order to get higher in the ranking, the facilities should provide better and more transparent services and focus on patients," Minister Kairbekova said at the Friday session on the issues of implementation of the State-of-the-Nation Address by President Nazarbayev at the Republican Diagnostic Center in Astana. The Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning of Kazakhstan is expected to submit to the Parliament a bill with amendments to the Tax Code in September, head of the ministry Yerbolat Dossayev announced Friday. "First of all, the ministry will work on the amendments and, then, submit the corresponding bill to the Parliament this September," Mr. Dossayev said at the meeting of the ministry's board. The minister did not reveal any specific details about the future amendments to be made to the Tax Code.
