WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan to assist developing countries together with Asian Development Bank
On Monday, October 21, 2013 First Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Regional Development Bakytzhan Sagintayev met with Ms Grace Fu, the 2nd Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Prime Minister's Office of Singapore. During the meeting the sides expressed interest in mutually profitable investment and technological cooperation as well as creation of ecologically friendly manufactures within the "Green Bridge" Partnership Program suggested by Kazakhstan and the forthcoming International specialized exhibition "EXPO-2017".
On Tuesday, October 22, at the session of the Government Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov held a Government telephone conference to discuss the implementation of "Affordable Housing 2020" Program.
Akhmetov emphasized the importance of the program and noted that one of the key tasks of social modernization, which is under the President's special control, was to provide population with quality and available housing.
On Wednesday, October 23, Prime Minister Akhmetov took part in the plenary session of Majilis (Lower Chamber of the Kazakh Parliament) that focused on the draft republican budget for 2014-2016. In his speech he noted that the draft republican budget was formed in line with the Concept of the new budget policy, approved by the Head of State.
On Thursday, October 24, Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov attended the opening of the 12th Ministerial Conference of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC). Addressing the participants of the forum, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of the CAREC Program "aimed at finding strategies and solutions to challenges in the field of trade, trade policy, and energy." The Prime Minister emphasized the role of the CAREC Secretariat - Asian Development Bank - in the modernization of the economy of Kazakhstan.
"Over the years of its presence in Kazakhstan the ADB invested in our economy over 2 billion U.S. dollars. in the framework of our partnership we implement a large-scale project "Western Europe - Western China". This international transit corridor will be the major route of transportation in the Central Asian region," Serik Akhmetov noted.
"In 2013, in cooperation with the ADB, Kazakhstan made a donor contribution to the Asian Development Fund (ADF). This will allow Kazakhstan to facilitate the development of Asian and Central Asian countries, participate in decision-making regarding ADB donations," he said.
The Prime Minister also announced Kazakhstan's plans to change its status of recipient of technical assistance to a partner of ADB for provision of assistance to developing countries.
The same day the Premier chaired the session of the Inter-departmental commission for the implementation of the "Business Road Map-2020" program. Minister of Labor and Social Protection Tamara Duisenova informed nearly 290 thousand people got public assistance under the program.
On Friday, October 25, Serik Akhmetov paid a working visit to Almaty region where he familiarized with the construction of Almaty satellite cities under G4 City project.
In the future, G4 City project will include the construction of four mini-cities along the route Almaty-Kapshagay. The unique location of the cities will unite them into a powerful, high-tech and modern conglomerate. The total construction area of the project is more than 8 hectares.The development of infrastructure of the region was discussed during the Prime Minister's visit. Minister of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan A.Zhumagaliyev reported on the implementation of projects for the construction of sections of the highways Almaty - Astana, Almaty - Ust-Kamenogorsk, Almaty - Khorgos, Big Almaty Ring Road, and Almaty bypass railway line.
Serik Akhmetov noted the strategic importance of these projects for increasing transit capacity and economic development of Kazakhstan.