WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus are embarking on joint development of the documents needed for the full operation of the EEU
On Monday, July 14 at a briefing in Central Communications Service under the President Aslan Sarinzhipov, Minister of Education, said that the 45th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) kicked off at the Palace of Peace in Astana. 700 young mathematical talents from 88 countries have come to Astana to partake in the contest. The guests were greeted by Aslan Sarinzhipov. "President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev pays utmost attention to the development of education in our country and support of talented youngsters," said Minister Sarinzhipov in his opening remarks. He also expressed hope that IPhO participants will like Kazakhstan's capital - Astana. Total, according to the MES, for 17 years of Kazakhstan's participation in international competitions, our students have won 45 medals, including 8 gold, 20 silver and 17 bronze. On Tuesday, 15 July, the Vice Prime Minister Bakytzshan Sagintayev, speaking at joint 49th meeting of the Council of heads of Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (RCC) and 20th Coordinating Council of the CIS member states on informatization attached to RCC reported that the share of industry in GDP of Kazakhstan is about 2.5%. He also informed that in 2013 the volume of services increased due to USD 4.7 billion. In turn, the head of the Agency for Communications and Information Askar Zhumagaliyev said that by 2015 it is planned to sign an agreement between mobile operators in the CIS, which will allow reducing the cost of roaming. On the same day, the Minister of Labour and Social Protection Tamara Duisenova at a briefing in Central Communications Service reported that since July 1, 2017 the basic pensions will be recalculated for more than 2 million pensioners. "We are changing the principle: the basic pension will be paid based on the number of qualifying years. From then on, the individuals who have 10 qualifying years will receive 50 percent of the subsistence minimum. Those with 20 years will receive 70 percent of the subsistence minimum and those with 35 years or more will receive 100 percent of the subsistence minimum as their basic pension. The basic pension will then be summed up with the other two components that make up the monthly pension", said the Minister.
On Wednesday, July 16, First Deputy Prime Minister Bakhytzhan Sagintayev following the meeting of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission on the level of deputy heads of governments in Moscow said that the EEU countries including Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus are embarking on joint development of the documents needed for the full operation of the Eurasian Economic Union on 1 January 2015. Thursday, 17 July, Kazakh Culture Minister Arystanbek Mukhamediuly told a briefing at the Central Communications Service that the first interregional meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO, co-organized by UNESCO Secretariat and the Kazakhstan National Commission for UNESCO, will take place from 22 to 24 July 2014 in Astana. The same day, at a briefing in Central Communications Service, Health Minister Salidat Kairbekova informed that the consumption of medicines per capita increased by 4 times from 21 to 81 dollars in the past 10 years.
"97 batches of drugs - more than 1 million 300 thousand packages, about 11 thousand kg of substances - have not passed the evaluation of safety and quality. This proves that the market of imported drugs is controlled," the Minister explained.
According to Kairbekova, the Ministry represented proposals to the Criminal Code on criminalization of distribution of counterfeit medical products. Health Ministry does not recommend purchase drugs without prescription, and purchase drugs being motivated by television commercials and print advertisements. The number of victims of disasters is growing in Kazakhstan, this has been announced at a briefing in Central Communications Service by the Minister of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan Vladimir Bozhko. "According to statistics, 8254 natural and man-made disasters including major traffic accidents have been registered in Kazakhstan in 2014. 1829 people were affected which is 5.2% more than in the corresponding period of 2013. 598 people were killed which is 5.7% less than in the same period of the last year", he informed.
According to V.Bozhko, real damage, according to preliminary data, was slightly more than KZT 2 billion. On Friday, July 18 Kazakh Education and Science Minister Aslan Sarinzhipov attended a grand opening ceremony of the Nazarbayev University Tech Park in Astana. The technopark stretches over 2,000 sq km. A testing site of renewable energy sources integrated into the electric main of the Nazarbayev University, photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, wind-powered generators and heat pump units were built there to do research in the sphere of renewable energy. The opening of the Tech Park is the third stage of the university's work. The first was focused on launching educational and academic programs, the second on the development of scientific potential.