Regional Development Ministry unveils plans for Astana and Almaty agglomerations

ASTANA. KAZINFORM - Plans for the formation of Astana and Almaty agglomerations until 2030 will be developed with the purpose of implementation of the President's Address to the Nation, Minister of Regional Development Bolat Zhamishev has said today at a meeting of the staff of his ministry attended by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

According to him, in the territory of Almaty agglomeration it is necessary to develop a transport framework, create a world-class tourist center, and determine specialization for the existing satellite cities, Kazinform refers to the web-site of the Prime Minister.

"As part of the development of engineering infrastructure it is necessary to coordinate water disposal system in satellite cities," he added.

Regarding the development of Astana agglomeration, it is planned to create a center of innovation and high technology in the field of "green energy".

The capital city is to become an educational medical cluster of the international level. At the same time the Astana agglomeration formation will be connected with the development of Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort area and the cities of Karaganda and Temirtau. Zhamishev also talked about the programs on development of single-industry towns and development of small cities. According to his words they will be implemented in the framework of the Single Regional Development Program.

"This year we need to integrate the programs of single-industry towns and small towns into a single program for the development of regions," Zhamishev said.

According to the Regional Development Ministry, 14.8 billion tenge was allocated in 2013 for the solution of utilities sector problems under the program "Development of Single-Industry Towns". This is two times more than the year before.

As a result, about 195 engineering infrastructure development projects were carried out in the single-industry towns.