Kazakhstan Strengthens Cooperation with Leading U.S. Companies in Technology, Energy, and Healthcare
Kazakhstan Strengthens Cooperation with Leading U.S. Companies in Technology, Energy, and HealthcareMinistry of Trade and Integration: Monitoring shows no negative impact of single time zone on people's livelihoods
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The Government session paid attention to the issue of time zone. Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev reported on the results of monitoring the practical impact of the transition to a single time zone on public health, energy consumption and labour productivity. Comprehensive monitoring was conducted with the involvement of the expert community, research institutes in the field of medicine, neuroscience, biophysics, genetics, astrophysics, physiology, deputies of maslikhats of all levels and stakeholders, primeminister.kz reports.
The results of the analysis showed that the transition to a single time zone does not have a negative impact on key indicators of the population's life activity. More than 40 metrics were studied, including the impact on health, energy consumption, labour efficiency, student performance, road traffic accidents and crime rates. The comprehensive approach included data analyses, surveys and comparisons of pre- and post-transition metrics.
Additionally, the Minister said that in a number of districts of East Kazakhstan region (Katon-Karagai, Markakol, Ulken Naryn, Zaisan, Tarbagatai, Samara, Kurchum) deputies of maslikhats supported the initiative to adjust the working schedule. Now it is from 8:00 to 17:30, which was positively assessed by the residents.
It is noted that the results of monitoring in early March this year submitted to the party faction in the Majilis.
As you know, the Head of State instructed the Government and Parliament to constructively consider this issue and jointly make a balanced decision. As noted in the report of the Minister, monitoring showed the absence of negative effects from the decision to introduce a single time zone," Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted and instructed to organise relevant work together with the Majilis of the Parliament.
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Olzhas Bektenov instructs Ministry for Emergency Situations to ensure full preparedness for floods and coordination of work of central and local government agencies
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan
At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov considered the issue of preparation for the beginning of the flood period in Kazakhstan. On the updated weather forecast data reported the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev. As of 11 March, the area of the country covered with snow is 71%, which is 15% less than last week. Snow melting has begun in the south of the country in Kyzylorda, Turkestan and Zhambyl regions, and in the west in West Kazakhstan, Atyrau and Mangystau regions, primeminister.kz reports.
In the case of rising temperatures and heavy precipitation in the form of rain in March, high talo-rain floods are possible along mountain rivers. In the central, northern and eastern parts of the country snow accumulation continues, two or more monthly norm of precipitation is expected in March. For example, in Astana in the first ten-day period has already fallen a monthly norm of precipitation," Yerlan Nyssanbayev emphasised.
The Minister also announced the regions where the risk of floods is the highest such as Aktobe region, Kostanay region, Karaganda region, Akmola region, North Kazakhstan region, East Kazakhstan region and Ulytau and Abay regions. Regions with medium risks include Almaty, Zhetisu, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan and Atyrau regions. With low risk are Pavlodar, Mangystau, Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions.
This year for the first time Kazhydromet has issued detailed information on each region. They specify maximum water levels and discharges, the volume of runoff by hydrological stations and the expected dates of the onset with the indication of specific settlements that are in the risk zone. Also, since last week Kazhydromet started issuing weekly hydrological forecasts. In case of sudden changes in hydrometeorological conditions Kazhydromet will notify about them by storm warnings 2-3 days in advance.
The head of the Government noted that while in the north of the country there are storms, snowmelt has begun in a number of regions.
We are approaching the active phase of the flood period. Akims to take flood issues under special control. To ensure flawless operation of all public warning systems. We need to intensify information and explanatory work in social networks and mass media. Ministry for Emergency Situations to ensure full preparedness for floods and coordination of work of central and local government agencies," Olzhas Bektenov stressed and instructed to prepare a meeting of the republican operational headquarters in the near future.
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President tasks to enhance diversification of East Kazakhstan region’s economy
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Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has received today the governor of the East Kazakhstan region, Nurymbet Saktaganov, Kazinform News Agency learned from the Akorda press service.
According to the governor, over 400,000 square meters of housing were commissioned in the region and 46 new productions facilities were opened.
18 healthcare facilities were opened and another six were overhauled under the "Rural Healthcare Modernization" national project.
Five schools were commissioned under the Comfortable School national project, with seven more to be built to address the shortage of school places.
Together with the Otbasy Bank a regional preferential mortgage program has been launched to support the representatives of working professions.
By the end of 2026, the region plans to completely solve the problem of drinking water. Eight water supply projects worth 14 billion tenge will be implemented for this purpose.
In the nearest two years, local authorities plan to attract at least 1.5 trillion tenge of investment, to build 700 thousand square meters of housing, 28 social facilities and repair more than 600 kilometers of roads.
The President set a task to enhance the work in diversification of the region’s economy, expand the export of processed products and attract investment.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted that priority attention should be given to tackling ecological problems and improvement of transport infrastructure.
Earlier, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set a number of tasks to Ulytau region's governor Dastan Ryspekov, regarding transport and logistics capacity expansion, infrastructure modernization, quality provision of medical services, ensuring the safety of people's drinking water and addressing environmental issues.
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Construction of 13 thousand km of motorways planned in Kazakhstan
During the Government session, Transport Minister Marat Karabayev made a report on plans for the development of the road sector, primeminister.kz reports.
He noted that last year 12 thousand km of motorways were covered by repair works.
This year construction works are planned above the level of last year, it is 13 thousand kilometres. Of these, projects on 9.5 thousand kilometres are fully funded," Karabayev reported.
It was noted that for the remaining 3.6 thousand kilometres the issue of financing is being worked out with international financial institutions. These are new projects Zhezkazgan - Karaganda, Aktobe - Ulgaisyn, Atyrau - Dossor, bypasses of the cities of Saryagash, Rudny and Kyzylorda, as well as repair work on roads with a total length of 3.6 thousand km.
Currently, an agreement has been reached with IFIs to finance these projects. By the decision of the Coordinating Council for each project sources of financing have been identified, feasibility studies have been developed, tender procedures are being conducted to identify contractors under the terms of IFIs.
According to the Minister, in order to attract domestic companies to carry out construction works, the IFIs have revised the competitive conditions with the provision of preferences to our companies when participating in tenders. The measures taken allowed to increase the number of domestic companies participating in tenders. For example, for the project ‘Karaganda-Zhezkazgan’ the number of participating companies has reached 10, while before the change of conditions this number was no more than two. Contracting organisations will be identified for all the above projects in the second quarter of this year.
The second direction is infrastructure projects in the railway industry. Construction and repair works are planned for 5,000 kilometres of roads this year, of which 2.4,000 kilometres are financed. The remaining 2.6 thousand kilometres are planned as part of the implementation of the Head of State's instruction to develop the Trans-Kazakhstan railway corridor, given at an extended Government session.
In this regard, the following new projects will be implemented:
- Construction of a new line Kyzylzhar - Moyinty;
- Modernisation of the Altynkol - Zhetygen section with construction of double-track inserts and Beineu - Mangystau section with construction and extension of receiving and delivery tracks;
- Introduction of modern autoblocking systems on the Kyzylzhar - Saksaulskaya, Shalkar - Beineu, Kandyagash - Tobol, Alimbet - Nickeltau and Aksu - Degelen - Zhana-Semey sections;
- As well as the reconstruction of 53 railway stations.
Currently, the minister said, negotiations with international financial institutions are being held to secure financing for these projects.
In general, the implementation of these projects will achieve a total multiplier effect over 20 years in the form of tax revenues and other payments at the level of 11 trillion tenge. Implementation of the projects will provide contribution to GDP growth at the level of about 0.4%-1% in the period of 2025-2029," Karabayev said.
For all projects in April this year it is planned to start construction and installation work. The Minister dwelt separately on the reconstruction of railway stations. According to him, 5 railway stations have been reconstructed to date. By the end of the current year will be carried out repair of 53 more railway stations, including those for tourist destinations. Repair of the railway station area will be provided by local executive bodies in parallel.
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Early financing of spring field work: more than 1.8 thousand agricultural enterprises receive funds for 206 billion tenge
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Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov reported at the Government session on the results of new approaches to financing the agro-industrial complex and plans to work in this direction, primeminister.kz reports.
He noted that in 2024, the introduction of favourable credit products at 5% per annum allowed farmers for the first time to get the opportunity to purchase in full the necessary inventory, as well as to lease a sufficient amount of agricultural machinery.
As a result, the area covered was 5.8 million hectares or 25 per cent of the total sown area, and 4.3 thousand units of Kazakhstan-made agricultural machinery were purchased.
By guaranteeing 85 per cent of the loan amount for IDA, access to concessional lending for small and medium-sized farmers with insufficient collateral was expanded. The launch of a programme of preferential lending to processing plants to replenish working capital for a total of 35 billion tenge was carried out.
This year the work in all these areas will be strengthened. Thus, the volume of preferential lending to the WPR will amount to 700 billion tenge. Taking into account the early financing of the sowing season of the current year, which started in November last year, today more than 1.8 thousand agricultural enterprises have already been financed for 206 billion tenge. This year it is planned to provide coverage of at least 8 million hectares of sown areas," Aidarbek Saparov said.
The Minister added that the organisation of preferential leasing to the amount of 200 billion tenge will allow to purchase 6 thousand units of agricultural machinery of domestic production.
It was also noted that an important factor in the availability of credit was the connection in 2024 SPK to the financing of the WPR.
Last year, 7 SPK attended this programme. Today, only 4 SPKs are actively participating in the programme. In this regard, we ask to instruct regional akimats to strengthen the work on financing of agrarians through SPKs," Aidarbek Saparov emphasised.
According to the department, direct subsidising of financial institutions will be introduced to expand the financing of the agro-industrial complex: 48 billion tenge will be allocated this year through ACC to support processing enterprises for the purchase of working capital.
It is also planned to launch a preferential product in the amount of 50 billion tenge to replenish working capital for livestock breeding, similar to the UDP.
In conclusion, the Minister of Agriculture stressed that a multiple increase in concessional financing of WPR allowed to exclude subsidising interest rates. This will allow a phased transition from subsidies to concessional lending and reduce the burden on the local budget.
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