President Tokayev urges stronger workplace safety after Kazakhmys mine collapse
Images | Akorda
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pointed to the ‘unacceptable situation’ in terms of safety at work after the shaft of Zhomart mine operated by Kazakhmys Corporation collapsed on February 17 in Ulytau region, killing seven miners, Kazinform reports.
Violations of the rules set, a lack of safety equipment, inadequate funding in projects aimed at ensuring safe work conditions lead to man-made accidents, deaths and injuries among workers, the Kazakh President warned.
Tokayev called on the government to take measures to ensure the safety of citizens involved in hazardous activities. They include examining facilities for their compliance with the industrial safety standards; developing and implementing the latest safety systems at the facilities, including gas alarms, seismic sensors, positioning systems and so on; ensuring application of digital technologies at the facilities, especially implementing automated forecasting and alert systems; ensuring increase in investments in the latest industrial safety systems by adjusting subsoil users’ work programs following the examination; tighten oversight and control mechanisms in the industrial safety area.
The instructions above are under special control of the Administration of the President.
As earlier reported, seven workers were trapped inside an underground shaft at Zhomart mine in Ulytau region, Kazakhstan.
The incident occurred at around 4:50 pm local time 150km away from Zhezkazgan town.
The bodies of all seven workers were retrieved, the Emergency Situations Ministry said. Names of miners killed at the Zhomart mine were revealed.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extended condolences to the families of the miners killed in the Kazakhmys Corporation’s mine collapse in Ulytau region.
To note, Kazakhmys Corporation will give necessary assistance provided for by collective agreement to the families of the miners killed at the Zhomart mine in Ulytau region.
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Kazakhstan names new First Vice Minister of National Economy
Images | primeminister.kz
By governmental order, Azamat Amrin has been appointed to the post of the First Vice Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Kazinform reports.
Born in 1973 in North Kazakhstan region, Amrin graduated from the Akmola Agricultural Institute, Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University.
Until 2008, Amrin took up different positions in the Tax Committee in North Kazakhstan region.
From 2008 to 2011, he acted as the governor of Shal akyn district, North Kazakhstan region.
In 2013, he served as the deputy director, director of the Tax and Customs Policy Department of the Kazakh National Economy Ministry.
In 2020, Amrin was appointed as the Vice Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan.
Earlier it was reported that Berik Uali had been named the governor of Abai region.
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27 audits at 214 facilities up to 11 trillion tenge conducted in Kazakhstan in 2024
Images | Akorda
The Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, received chairman of the Supreme Audit Chamber of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, Kazinform News Agency learnt from the Akorda press service.
Smailov reported on the results of the Supreme Audit Chamber’s activities in 2024 and plans for the current period. He said 27 audits were conducted at 214 facilities up to 11 trillion tenge, and violations worth 862 billion tenge were revealed. As a result, 135 billion tenge were recovered to the budget that is fivefold more compared to the amount reimbursed in 2023.
He also drew attention to system weaknesses in pricing at construction sites, project finance, the processing industry, and agriculture subsidizing.
The Supreme Audit Chamber sent recommendations to the Government and concerned state bodies to eliminate violations.
He announced over 40 audits will be carried out this year. Utilization of budgets of the cities of Astana and Almaty as well as North Kazakhstan, Kostanay and Zhambyl regions, Samruk Kazyna Fund, Kazatomprom National Company, KEGOC, National Bank and Emergencies Ministry will be audited in 2025 in line with the President’s task. Besides, audits will be conducted in the science, defence, sports, social welfare and forestry sectors this year.
Earlier the Kazakh President received Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan Berik Assylov.
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Kazakhstan unveils logo for 80th anniversary of Great Victory
Images | The Kazakh Ministry of Defense
The official logo for the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War was presented at the Kazakh Ministry of Defense, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Earlier, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Great Victory would hold a prominent place in the government's agenda this year in an interview with Ana Tili (Mother Tongue) newspaper.
People of Kazakhstan made a significant contribution to the defeat of Nazism. Our fathers and grandfathers fought heroically on all fronts, and Kazakhstan also became a reliable rear, playing a crucial role in supplying the army with weapons, industrial goods, and food," said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The celebration plan for the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory is packed with events. The centerpiece will be a military parade in Astana, accompanied by concerts, exhibitions, and the release of documentaries and TV programs. Historical books and photo albums will also be published, and research efforts to honor the memory of our soldiers will also continue.
The celebration calendar will also include events dedicated to the upcoming 115th anniversary of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, the 110th anniversary of Malik Gabdullin, and the 100th anniversary of Aliya Moldagulova.
As reported earlier, a logo was unveiled for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the legendary Kazakh sniper Aliya Moldagulova.
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Olzhas Bektenov: Attracting investments as top priority for akims and ministers
Images | primeminister.kz
Prime Minister held a meeting to review the implementation of the Head of State's instructions on attracting investment in the country's economy, primeminister.kz reports.
The main goal is to accelerate the implementation of large investment projects and solution of systemic problems that hinder the improvement of investment climate in the country, as well as consideration of possible measures to improve the effectiveness of investment policy, creation of favourable conditions for investors and intensification of work on attracting capital.
The information of the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kazakh Invest on the pace of work and analysing the factors that affected the dynamics of investment activity was heard. In 2024 in Kazakhstan put into operation 230 investment projects for 1.85 trillion tenge. The work of the Investment Headquarters for the year allowed to eliminate 115 problematic issues of investors on projects totalling over $50 billion.
An approach of targeting investors in priority niches where Kazakhstan has a competitive advantage with the potential for higher conversion and export opportunities is being implemented. TOP-10 companies have been identified as industry leaders for negotiations on specific prospects for co-operation and transition to the stage of active investment. Thus, the work is being restructured through the principle of order for investment taking into account the needs of the economy, competitive advantages of the regions and other factors.
For example, productive work has been carried out with major Chinese agro-industrial companies. Fufeng Group in the near future plans to start construction of a $350 million plant for the production of sodium glutomate through deep processing of corn in Zhambyl region. Dalian Hesheng Holding Group will start construction and assembly works within the complex on deep processing of wheat in Akmola region for $650 mn this summer. Active work on ‘landing’ of projects, i.e. creation of favourable conditions, including accessible infrastructure and operative solution of administrative issues, continues with all companies.
In addition, 20 strategic projects with a total investment volume of $12bn have been identified covering key sectors of the economy, including agro-industrial complex, energy, industry, production of construction materials and others.
Among the presented projects, it is planned to conclude Investment Agreements on 14 projects this year, to start construction and installation works on 13 projects, and to start development of design and estimate documentation on 16 projects.
Attention was also paid to the projects, agreements on the implementation of which were concluded within working visits, meetings and other events. Prime Minister dwelt in detail on investment projects, where the terms of their implementation had been disrupted. Akims of Almaty, Aktobe, Atyrau, Zhambyl regions, cities of Astana, Shymkent and ministers of health, trade were heard.
To date, the measures taken to attract investment from the akimats do not reveal the opportunities of the regions, the economic potential is not sufficiently utilised. Work in this direction should be carried out at all levels of the vertical of local government, including regional akims," Head of the Government instructed.
The Government approved approaches to the introduction of planned indicators of the work of regional akimats, ministries.
A new National Digital Investment Platform will become an effective mechanism for monitoring and strengthening control over the implementation of projects, where today there is already data on 1159 projects. The data will be filled in jointly with Atameken NCE and verified on the ground by akimats.
At the same time, during the meeting a number of problematic issues affecting the efficiency of work of government agencies and requiring action were noted.
Among them are deficit and lack of prompt supply of infrastructure, complicated administrative procedures and delays in issuing permits, long terms of granting land plots. Necessary decisions have been taken on all issues.
The President noted at the enlarged meeting that attracting investment is a critical issue that requires more prompt work without excessive bureaucracy. State bodies and especially akimats need to manually control the implementation of projects. Akims and ministers should deal with this issue on a daily basis. This is the main task for today - it is necessary to promptly resolve the issues of investors," Olzhas Bektenov emphasised.
The work in this direction is under special control of the Prime Minister.
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