Kazakhstan's Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, recently held a meeting to address the implementation of the directives given by the country's President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, aimed at enhancing the quality of life in the nation. The directives were outlined during the third session of the National Council "Just Person - Just Work - Just Outcome" on March 15.
One of the key directives focused on the repair and modernization of housing and utilities infrastructure. The President instructed the renovation of 55 existing heat sources and the modernization of at least 6,500 km of engineering networks, with 650 billion tenge in investments allocated for these purposes, according to the Prime Minister's press service.
To address the housing needs of Kazakh citizens, the government plans to quadruple the volume of rental housing with the right to purchase for those on waiting lists, including socially vulnerable groups. An additional 272 billion tenge will be allocated for this purpose, along with the launch of a new preferential program in collaboration with "Otbasy Bank" to provide mortgage loans totaling 300 billion tenge.
Moreover, significant efforts will be made to improve the country's road network. In addition to the 12,000 km of roads designated by the President for maintenance, the government has also planned repairs and construction of an additional 2,500 km of roads, with around 1 trillion tenge to be invested towards these endeavors.
In terms of increasing the gasification level of populated areas, the President tasked the modernization of at least 1,700 km of networks, aiming to provide over 300,000 citizens with access to natural gas. This year, 87 settlements will be gasified instead of the initially planned 46, with an additional 41 settlements covering nearly double the population target. Approximately 195 billion tenge will be directed towards this initiative.
Prime Minister Bektenov instructed the submission of funding schedules for projects by April 1, 2024, with daily monitoring to ensure timely implementation. Emphasizing the importance of delivering tangible results to the citizens, he stressed the need for efficient execution of the President's infrastructure initiatives.
The meeting also addressed measures for the further development of manufacturing industries, transit corridors, entrepreneurship, and IT technologies. A primary focus will be on new investment projects that generate multiplier effects such as creating new jobs, transferring advanced technologies and competencies, localizing major productions, and establishing high value-added clusters.
In conclusion, the government's commitment to supporting domestic businesses was highlighted, with additional funding allocated for the agricultural sector, small and medium-sized business projects, and the development of special economic and industrial zones. Efforts to accelerate the construction of eight new small industrial zones through the "industrial mortgage" mechanism were also outlined, demonstrating the comprehensive approach towards economic growth and development in Kazakhstan.
