ASTANA. July 23. KAZINFORM /Muratbek Makulbekov/ Bread price in Kazakhstan must remain at the same level independently on the grain prices at the foreign markets. Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov made it public at the session of the Government held on July 20 due to unreasonable increase in bread prices in some regions. As the Minister of

Agriculture explained, the cost of flour is up to 29-35% out of the bread price and increase in price is conditioned by the activity of intermediaries and dealers.

It is obvious that the housing and utilities infrastructure of Kazakhstan needs modernization. The President's Address to the Nation contains clear instructions on reformation of the sector. This issue was addressed at the Governmental session within the discussion of the process of realization of the Business Road Map 2010 as well. The Program of modernization and development of the housing and utilities infrastructure of Kazakhstan till 2020 worked out under the instruction of the President was presented by chairman of the Agency on construction and housing and utilities infrastructure Serik Nokin. The expenditures of the national budget on implementation of the first stage of the program in 2011-2015 will be up to KZT 173 bln. Enterprises of the public sector will be able to allocate KZT 369 bln due to introduction of new mechanisms of tariff regulation.

The total cost of the realization of the Program's first stage in 2011-2015 is up to KZT 580 bln. The Prime Minister charged to finalize the Program and coordinate it with the regional Governors.

According to S. Nokin, more than KZT 50bln has been allocated for reconstruction and repair of housing-utilities facilities. Out of this sum KZT 32.8bln was provided from the national budget while the rest of the sum was spent from the local budget. 39, 000 jobs have been created due to implementation of the projects in housing-utilities sector under Road Map program. Implementation of 653 projects in the field of housing and utilities infrastructure is planned in 2010 within the Program.

The Kazakh Government actively works on organization of humanitarian assistance to Kyrgyzstan. As First Vice Minister Umirzak Shukeyev informed at the session, Kazakhstan planned to supply construction materials and coal for thermal power plant to Kyrgyzstan.

The anti-crisis plan for Kyrgyzstan was discussed at the session with participation of representatives of the EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund and World Bank. The plan is developed together with the World Bank.

"We agreed with the World Bank to develop one Plan that would be financed from different sources - international financial organizations, Eurasian Fund, humanitarian aid", U.Shukeyev said.

At the session Kazakh Minister of Finance Bolat Zhamishev suggested Russia becoming a co-founder of Kyrgyzstan Assistance Fund that would be established under the aegis of Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev. According to him, a scheme looks like as follows: Russia and Kazakhstan are co-founders, Kyrgyzstan is a recipient, and the World Bank is a fund manager. Later in the day Karim Massimov signed resolutions on providing USD 11.6 million for humanitarian assistance to Kyrgyzstan.

A range of important decisions regarding empowerment of the Government of Afghanistan was made at the International Conference on Afghanistan held in Kabul Tuesday last week.

OSCE Chairman-in-office, Kazakh Secretary of State -Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev said at the Conference that the policy of the Afghan Government aimed at ending bloodshed in the country by reintegration into the peaceful life deserved appreciation and long-term support of the world community. He also complimented the plan of national reconciliation 'The Agreement between the Government and people of Afghanistan' presented by President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai. K.Saudabayev also noted that Kazakhstan as the OSCE chairman was purposefully working to consolidate efforts of the OSCE member states for rendering assistance to Afghanistan within the framework of the organization's three dimensions. Besides, Kazakhstan renders humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and intends to activate trade and economic cooperation with the country.

Prime Minister Massimov paid a working visit to Mangystau region on July 20-21 where he familiarized with the construction process of "Uzen - state border with Turkmenistan" railway line.

"This is the personal instruction of the Head of the State: the project must be completed by the 20^th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence", Karim Massimov said during the visit to Bastau point.

Later the Prime Minister visited a range of industrial facilities, got acquainted with the work of the Caspian State University of Technologies and Engineering named after Sh.Yesenov and Mangystau regional hospital where he discussed the draft program of healthcare development with the personnel. During the visit to #28 nursery school of Aktau K.Massimov discussed the issues of implementation of "Balapan" program in the region with the leadership of the pre-school institution. At the end of the day the Premier held a session in the Akimat on the issues of construction of "Beineu-Bozoi" gas pipeline and Beineu-Zhezkazgan railway as well as ecology and drinking water supply.

While visiting Aktau Sea port K.Massimov charged regional Governor Krymbek Kusherbayev to pay attention to the development of productions in the region.   

K.Massimov also held a session with participation of representatives of the Russian Federation in Aktau on July 22 within his working trip to the region. Issues of joint use and protection of Ural River were discussed at the session.

As Minister S.Kurishbayev informed, singing of a new intergovernmental agreement on joint use and protection of cross-border water facilities was scheduled for September this year. K.Massimov charged the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment Protection to prepare a letter with suggestions over my signature addressed to the Head of the Russian Government. The Ministry of Finance was charged to study opportunities of funds allocation for solution of ecologic problems of Ural River. 

During the working trip K.Massimov ordered to establish a working group on development of suggestions on elimination of consequences of the drought in regions affected by it.

The Premier also visited "Shagan" customs point at the border with Russia where the issues of establishment of the Customs Union were discussed. He assured that the national interests of Kazakh enterprises and people were the priority in the Customs Union development.

The Premier appreciated the development of the region.

At the briefing in Uralsk K.Massimov noted that the work on social and economic development of the region was conducted well. He expressed his opinion regarding the introduction of new oil export duties. According to him, the duties will not affect the investment image of Kazakhstan.

The Head of the Government visited Aktobe region on Friday, July 23. He got acquainted with the construction of a range of social and industrial facilities there. At the sitting with participation of the leadership of the region K.Massimov said that the Kazakh President charged to insert every effort in softening of consequences of the drought for agrarians of West Kazakhstan and Aktobe regions. He charged the Minister of Agriculture to work out an action plan on support of agrarians. Besides, he reminded that the resources allocated within "Business Road Map - 2020" program must be fully deployed.

Results of the work of the industrial sector during the first half of the year were summed up at the session of the board of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies on July 22. Within six months the sector produced goods to the amount of KZT 5.5 trln. This is 11% more compared to the last year.