Kyzylorda region Akim (Governor) Krymbek Kusherbayev spoke about the state of agriculture in the region, as well as joint investment plans between the akimat (local administration) and national companies at a press briefing of the Central Communication Service (CCS) on Sept. 20.
He also touched on regional social and financial issues. Kusherbayev noted that the Samruk-Kazyna Fund is considering participating in the Shalkiya Zinc project, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy plans to invest about 300 billion tenge ($1.9 billion) in the region’s economy to 2020 and the Baiterek holding is considering participating in one of the biggest industrial projects in the Syrdarya area. Kusherbayev also announced the second Baikonur investment forum scheduled for Nov. 13-14 in Kyzylorda and Baikonur.
Regarding agriculture, the governor said that rice cultivated in three districts of Kyzylorda region covers the demand of Kazakhstan as a whole. The region produces 285,000 tons of rice per year.
“About 20-30 rural settlements will be established in Kyzylorda region. They will be turned into centres of economic growth and promote the dynamic development of auls [villages]. The region has well-developed infrastructure. The Syr Darya river flows through the territory of the region and through all districts. The Almaty-Moscow railway and Samara-Shymkent highway run through the region as well. The Western Europe-Western China highway is also being constructed in the region. The 812-kilometre-long road section is 85 percent complete,” Kusherbayev said.
Kusherbayev also reported on plans to build a modern international terminal at the Kyzylorda airport. “85 percent of rural settlements are located along the international transport corridor, which is a competitive advantage of the region. Construction of the Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent gas pipeline will provide gas to Kyzylorda region and be an impetus for economic development,” he stressed.
Industrial enterprises of Kyzylorda region manufactured goods worth 756.5 billion tenge ($4.9 billion) over January-July 2013.
The first six tons of ammonium metavanadate were produced at the Balasauyskandyk vanadium deposit. The enterprise is expected to begin production of molybdenum after it reaches its design capacity.
A plant for the production of glass plates is planned to be built in the region. The enterprise will produce 600 tons of glass per day or 180,000 tons per year.
A plant for producing combined feed with a capacity of 80,000 tons per day will also be built through the Industrialisation Map in 2013. The project costs 280 million tenge ($1.8 million) and will create 60 new jobs.
Another project of the Industrialisation Map is the construction of a synthetic latex plant. The project costs 421 million tenge ($2.7 million) and will create 42 new jobs. 166 projects worth more than 12 billion tenge ($78.3 million) have been approved since the launch of the Business Road Map 2020. 138 projects are receiving state subsidies.
In 2013, the number of active small and medium entities in the region came to 22,955, a 26.4 percent increase compared to the previous year.
According to the Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning, Kyzylorda region is in first place in the country in terms of the growth of investments, the pace of construction and budget revenues over the first half of 2013, Kusherbayev said at the press briefing. He explained that the reduction in oil production of some oil companies is caused by the fact that these companies have not introduced new technologies and are not conducting exploration or increasing labour productivity.
According to Kusherbayev, over 6,000 new jobs were created at regional enterprises over the past six months and the unemployment level is not higher than the average unemployment rate in the country.
“Micro loans are an effective instrument for supporting business initiatives of rural entrepreneurs. Over three billion tenge ($19 million) is allocated for this purpose this year. The cost situation is stable.”
The akim underlined that Kyzylorda region has great reserves of mineral and raw material resources. The region has 15.1 percent of the explored reserves of zinc, 9.6 percent of reserves of lead, 4.7 percent of oil reserves and gas condensate and 3.4 percent of the country’s reserves of ground water.
It should be noted that the region also has such valuable resources as hydrocarbon, non-ferrous metals, uranium, vanadium, sodium salt and ground water. Gold and schungite are also present. The Balasauyskandyk and Kurymsak deposits are also close to the border of the region.
Seven districts and the capital of Kyzylorda are located near the 800-kilometre-long section of the Western Europe-Western China international highway. The pace of construction is steady and 15,000 people are employed in building the transit corridor. The project is leading to a growth in the local construction industry by 50 percent.
The building of the Saksaulsk-Zhezkazgan railway will require the creation of a railway workers village. 64 two-apartment houses will be built for about 130 railway workers. In 2014-2015, 4.2 billion tenge ($27.4 million) will be allocated from the national budget for developing Saksaulsk village. Upon completion of construction of the Zhezkazgan-Beineu rail road, 700 permanent jobs will be created.
Kusherbayev also spoke about the development of the social sphere in Kyzylorda region, which is among the leaders in the country in terms of birth rate. According to expert forecasts, the population of the region may hit one million in 7-8 years. This year, 300 mothers with many children received free package trips to different health centres and resort areas in Kazakhstan. Cancer rates have fallen over the last year; the number of people suffering from cancer fell from 143.3 to 121.1 per 100,000 people.
Approximately 4,930 jobs were created in the production sector thanks to the opening of new productions, the development of small and medium businesses and the launch of social facilities. 191 jobs were created in the agricultural sphere, 207 in industry, 1,146 in sales, 350 in education, 321 in health care, 101 in transport, 291 in construction and 1,144 in other spheres. 1,180 people are employed in temporary jobs.
6.5 billion tenge ($42.4 million) was provided for implementation of a road map aimed at ensuring the rights of the disabled and improving living standards in the region in 2013-2014. 2.1 billion tenge ($13.7 million) was provided for implementation of the Business Road Map 2020 in 2013. 162.4 million tenge (about $1 million) was allocated for the development of industrial infrastructure in the region. Currently, 11 projects are being implemented and four of them have already been launched.
