Kazakhstan to ban oil products export
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The ministries of energy, finance, internal affairs and the National Security Committee drafted a joint order "On some issues of export of oil products from the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan," Kazinform News Agency reports.
The document imposes a 6-month ban on oil products export from the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including to the Eurasian Economic Union member states.
Currently, the Ministry of Energy observes an unusual increase in the domestic consumption of the popular AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel.
According to the law-enforcement agencies, monthly volumes of grey export and cross-border fuel flows range from 10,000 to 45,000 tons. This is explained by the price discrepancies - in Kazakhstan, fuel prices are 17% to 166% lower than in neighbor countries. Moreover, under the Oil and Oil Products Supply Agreement, Kazakhstan has to import oil products on duty-free terms and take into account the Russian side’s requirements on prohibition of fuel re-export outside the EAEU territory. Thus, we need to enhance control over the export of oil products which are disguised as goods belonging to other export categories, including outside the territory of the EAEU," the Ministry of Energy says.
The document was published on legalacts.egov.kz and is available for discussion until March 14.
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AI assistant to be integrated into National Digital Investment Platform
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Deputy Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Aksubayev revealed that the process of digitizing investment agreement signing is planned in 2025 during a Feb. 27 roundtable of the Central Communications Service, Kazinform News Agency reports.
The National Digital Investment Platform, like other similar projects, continues to be adjusted and developed after its launch. In 2025, we will continue our active work to further improve and expand the platform," Arman Aksubayev noted.
Additionally, the following plans are in place for this year:
- Development of a CRM system for task assignment to ambassadors and foreign representatives of Kazakh Invest;
- Digitization of services in terms of making amendments and cancellations of investment contracts;
- Digitization of the process of signing investment agreements.
Currently, the process of approving and including projects in the Unified Industrialization Map is not automated. To improve cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development in supporting and assisting investors, automation and further integration will be developed," the Deputy Chairman of the Investment Committee added.
As reported earlier, Kazakhstan is to develop educational programs and courses on AI.
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New Deputy Chairman of Kazakhstan Agency for Civil Service Affairs named
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By a decree of the President, Alibek Akhmedyar has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Prior to this, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Agency, Kazinform News Agency reports.
He graduated from the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and completed a master’s degree in law at the University of Southern California under the Bolashak program. He is a member of the Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve of 2019.
He began his career at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, working as a legal department expert.
Akhmedyar held various positions in the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, the Ministry of Investments and Development, the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and served as the Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As reported earlier, Arman Kyrykbayev has been appointed as the Assistant to the Kazakh President for domestic policy and communications.
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Olzhas Bektenov discussed with EDB head Nikolay Podguzov joint implementation of infrastructure projects
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Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with the Chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank Nikolai Podguzov, primeminister.kz reports.
The issues of further cooperation in the implementation of joint projects were considered.
At the end of 2024, the Bank has allocated almost $1.4 billion for projects in the country, in general, over the past three years, the volume of investment of the bank in the country amounted to $3.6 billion. Thus, the share of projects in Kazakhstan continues to occupy an important place in the bank's portfolio.
Nikolay Podguzov noted that in 2025 the Bank intends to continue financing key strategic projects in the areas of energy, transport and industry, focusing on the introduction of digital technologies and innovative solutions.
This year, EDB plans to invest in such socially important projects as the expansion and modernisation of CHP in the Central and Eastern region of Kazakhstan, construction of a plant for the production of polyethylene, construction of a solar power plant with a capacity of 545 MW Altyn Dala.
The Prime Minister noted that Kazakhstan is interested in further expansion of co-operation, especially in the areas of energy, engineering and municipal infrastructure.
Eurasian Development Bank is an important partner of Kazakhstan. Last year, the volume of investment in our economy increased by almost 40%. The Bank's loan portfolio for Kazakhstan increased to 63.4 per cent of the total. We are interested in further expanding co-operation with the Bank on mutually beneficial terms. We also intend to unlock the potential of both traditional and new areas of cooperation," Olzhas Bektenov emphasised.
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President Tokayev holds meeting of Security Council
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Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has chaired today a meeting of the Security Council, Kazinform News Agency learned from the Akorda press service.
The participants focused on the issues of modernization of the army and improvement of military infrastructure.
The President set a number of certain tasks on further development of Kazakhstan's Armed Forces.
On February 25, President Tokayev held a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who had arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit.
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Fighting corruption one message at a time: Kazakhstan introduces WhatsApp hotline
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Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency has launched a WhatsApp chatbot, Antikor 1424, allowing citizens to report corruption and receive consultations, Kazinform News Agency reports, citing the department.
Users of the chatbot can report violations and ask questions on anti-corruption policies. Verified reports could be eligible for a reward of up to 15.7 million tenge (about $31,000).
All messages will be reviewed, and if violations are identified, measures will be taken in accordance with current legislation," the department stated.
The agency continues to employ contemporary anti-corruption policies like public participation and openness projects. Recently, Chairman Askhat Zhumagali met with singer Dimash Qudaibergen to go over cultural initiatives aiming to raise moral consciousness and legal knowledge.
During the meeting, Zhumagali underlined that public opinions about justice and honesty are greatly shaped by art. Qudaibergen in turn committed himself to help initiatives against corruption.
The chatbot is accessible via WhatsApp at +7-777-000-14-24.
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Government considers development of justice bodies
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At the Government session under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov considered the issues of development and digitalisation of justice bodies, taking into account the tasks set by the President on debureaucratisation of the system of state administration for accelerated socio-economic development of the country, primeminister.kz reports.
Minister of Justice Yerlan Sarsembayev made a report on the plans to modernise the system, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiev reported on the digitalisation of justice bodies. The floor was also given to the Chairman of the Republican Collegium of Legal Consultants Serik Akylbay, Chairman of the Republican Chamber of Private Bailiffs Aidos Imanbayev, Head of the Kazakhstan Society for Reprographic Rights and Works of Fine Art Rinat Abdukhalikov, heads of Kazakhstani IT-companies.
Today, the Ministry of Justice provides 94 types of public services, 35 of which are fully automated. Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiev informed the Prime Minister that over the past year the population received more than 14 million public services, 87.7 per cent of them - in electronic format.
Prime Minister emphasised the importance of simplification of bureaucratic procedures and introduction of digital solutions in the justice system.
At an extended meeting of the Government, Head of State noted the need to build a holistic system of digitalisation in all sectors. This work is being carried out everywhere. The development and digitalisation of the justice system is the most important process aimed at protecting the legitimate interests of the state, citizens and businesses. A fundamental factor in this process is the development of artificial intelligence. This is one of the main methods of debureaucratisation. Therefore, it is necessary to use the full potential of digital technologies to improve the efficiency, accessibility and quality of services," Olzhas Bektenov noted.
On the example of the launch of the project "Robot - bailiff" the results of the use of innovation are considered. Thus, since August 2024 more than 125 thousand documents have been executed, the savings for citizens during the procedures amounted to 600 million tenge. The Head of the Government instructed the Ministry of Justice to expand the list of enforcement documents processed in a simplified procedure, which will increase the efficiency of execution of judicial acts.
Olzhas Bektenov emphasised the need to reduce unnecessary costs in the activities of the Ministry of Justice. It was noted that cost optimisation should be carried out through the introduction of digital technologies.
It is necessary to reduce excessive costs, unnecessary structures through digitalisation. As a result, the efficiency of the state apparatus as a whole will increase. This applies to all state bodies," Head of the Government emphasised.
Prime Minister noted that systemic changes were needed in the field of notary public, in particular, to improve the mechanism of executive inscription to increase the degree of protection of the rights of individuals and legal entities. The Ministry of Justice has been instructed to ensure the implementation of new approaches through amendments to the legislation. Head of the Government has also set the task to strengthen monitoring and coordination of rule-making activities. Digitalisation and de-bureaucratisation remain important areas, the approaches of which should be applied in other state bodies. The importance of involving professional communities, IT-companies and experts in this work was noted.
Olzhas Bektenov instructed to accelerate the revision of regulatory policy in the field of legal counselling, including requirements for qualifications, citizenship and uniform standards of work. Agreed proposals should be submitted to the Government by the end of the first half of the year.
Prime Minister also noted the importance of developing legal education and providing citizens with accessible legal information. For this purpose, it is instructed to modernise digital services Adilet, Reference Check Bank, E-ZanKomegi and eOtinish, as well as to speed up the introduction of chat-bots for automated consultation. In general, the Ministry of Justice together with interested state bodies should continue digitalisation and introduction of artificial intelligence elements with the involvement of experts in IT, business process re-engineering and debureaucratisation.
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Kanat Bozumbayev checks measures to protect metropolitan area from floods
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Deputy Prime Minister visited Zhibek-Zholy village in Arshalyn district, Taitobe and Talapker villages in Tselinograd district and Kosshy town in Akmola region, primeminister.kz reports.
During the working trip Kanat Bozumbayev together with the Akim of the region Marat Akhmetzhanov checked the condition of dams, culverts, hydroelectric facilities at the mouth of the Esil and Nura rivers. He also inspected the construction of a 6.5 km long barrier dam along the Astana counter-regulator and Zhibek Zholy village 500 metres from the capital.
In Taitoba, near the town of Kosshy, the Deputy Prime Minister inspected the protective dike. In fact, 7 thousand people live in the village. The bund serves as a protection of the settlement from melt steppe waters.
In addition, Kanat Bozumbayev familiarised himself with the state of the Preobrazhensky hydroelectric complex on the Nura-Esil rivers and works on raising the banks of the drainage channel passing through Talapker village.
In total, there are 144 flood-prone settlements in Akmola region. According to the Akimat, preventive measures have been completed in all of them.
Thus, in Tselinogradsky district, bank reinforcement and channel widening of critical sections of the Esil and Nura rivers were carried out. Dredging of the Kylshakty river basin in the city of Kokshetau has been carried out.
The region's leadership reported that today 107.4 km of drainage channels have been constructed in the region, 38 km of river beds have been cleaned, bank reinforcement and dredging of flood-prone areas of rivers over 35 km long have been carried out. 131 kilometres of dams have been strengthened, over 21 kilometres of new embankments have been built and 336 culverts have been constructed.
Following the results of the working visit Kanat Bozumbayev instructed to prepare the necessary amount of equipment and personnel to pass the flood period.
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