WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan increases subsidies in agricultural sector, supports beef cattle breeding
On Monday, November 4, Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Assylzhan Mamytbekov told the government hour at the Majilis (Lower Chamber of the Kazakh Parliament) it is necessary to impose adequate market-based tariffs on irrigation water. Minister Mamytbekov stressed that low-priced irrigation water does not encourage agrarians to introduce water-efficient technologies and carry out the reconstruction of irrigation systems. He also announced it is planned to subsidize up to 50% of agrarians' expenses on the purchase of irrigation equipment.
On Tuesday, November 5, the Government session discussed the process of implementation of the President's instructions given on October 11, 2013. Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov expressed his dissatisfaction at slow pace of work of the ministries and warned the ministers of responsibility, in case the situation does not turn for the better.
The session adopted the Plan on implementation of the President's instructions consisting of 70 items. It envisages the development of a number of regulatory acts regarding the process of public procurements and budgetary procedures.
During the session the head of the Government reprimanded some vice ministers and other officials for unassimilated budgetary funds.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister gave a number of specific instructions on the implementation of the program on modernization of housing and public utilities and the development of a complex plan on agricultural processing industry.
On Wednesday, November 6, Minister of Agriculture Assylzhan Mamytbekov announced that Kazakhstan started exporting beef. The volumes of meat production have increased thanks to the state support of beef cattle breeding. In fact, it increased by more than 20% in 2012.
The same day Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov held a telephone conference dedicated to the prices on primary food products and oil lubricants. Mr. Akhmetov reminded that at the extended session of the Government on October 11 the Head of State criticized the price hikes on socially important food items.
Chairman of the Kazakhstani Agency of Statistics Alikhan Smailov admitted price surge on some of the food products despite low inflation rate in 2013. According to him, dairy products and grits have dramatically risen in price. One of the factors behind is the import of food products.
On Thursday, November 7, Serik Akhmetov participated in the 2nd International Transport and Logistics Business Forum "Kazakhstan - New Silk Road" in Astana where he noted it is necessary to form the principles of multilateral relations that would allow to consolidate all stakeholders of the Eurasian transport and logistics system.
The visiting session of the State Commission on preparation and conduction of the International specialized exhibition "EXPO-2017" chaired by Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov was held at the office of "National Company "Astana "EXPO-2017" JSC the same day. The session gave consideration and approved the draft Registration dossier. Prime Minister Akhmetov instructed "National Company "Astana "EXPO-2017" JSC in conjunction with the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan to send the dossier to the Bureau of International Exhibitions (BIE) within one week.
On Friday, November 8, Vice Prime Minister Erbol Orynbayev chaired a telephone conference that focused on the implementation of the State Program of Education Development in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2011-2020. According to the Ministry of Education, thanks to the program the number of children covered by preschool education in Kazakhstan has increased by 16.5%. The overall number of the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools has reached 15. The number of schools with three languages of instruction has nearly tripled.