On February 9, the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, held a Government meeting on the implementation of instructions of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at an expanded Government session on February 7.
Bektenov emphasized that state budget expenditures must be clearly prioritized with an emphasis on obtaining full economic returns, and unproductive expenses should be completely excluded. “The Ministry of Finance should audit the national budget within 10 days and all local budgets within a month with a view to significantly reducing expenses that are not of paramount importance,” he said.
The prime minister ordered to rewrite the draft Tax Code, changing its philosophy. “The opinions of the expert and business community should be taken into account. The Tax Code should stimulate business activity, motivate businesses for enlargement.” He added that conditions should be created to encourage businesses to grow, without fear of fiscal costs and administrative burdens.
Speaking about industrial development, Bektenov ordered First Deputy Prime Minister, Roman Sklyar, to hold negotiations with the owners of all large industrial enterprises, primarily in the extractive industries, within 10 days. “They must submit specific plans for the creation of new facilities manufacturing products with high added value,” Bektenov said, adding that domestic industrial giants must radically increase purchases of Kazakh goods, works, and services.
Discussing issues in the construction industry, the prime minister pointed out the importance of widespread use of products from domestic manufacturers.
The head of Government emphasized the importance of reliable energy supply to industrial enterprises, saying that this year it is necessary to introduce more than 700MW of additional power-generation capacities.
The prime minister ordered the Ministry of Water Resources to prepare a set of measures for rational water consumption in the economy, as well as to work out a campaign to introduce a new culture of water use.
“We will be a Government of decisive action. We have been given enough powers to effectively increase the growth rates, actively diversify the economy, attract investments, and solve all the tasks we face,” Bektenov concluded.
Photo: primeminister.kz
