Kazakhstan’s Senate passed a set of legislation intended to foster innovation and ratified an agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia on creating a joint regional air defence system in a plenary session on May 15 chaired by Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The aim of the Law on the Park of Innovative Technologies Innovative Cluster is to set forth the special status of the Park of Innovative Technologies Special Economic Zone, the arrangements for attracting foreign labour and the requirements necessary to register and work in the park. An accompanying law amending legislation on the Park of Innovative Technologies was considered in two readings and passed.
Speaking in support of the legislation, Tokayev noted that many advanced countries that use innovative techniques and technology don’t actually create them. “In fact, the real innovations are produced mainly in the U.S. and Japan. Other countries borrow them. For instance, South Korea borrows to improve them; China borrows to reduce the cost. There is nothing frightful in borrowing, it is common among advanced countries,” he said adding that developing science and innovation is a complex task.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev attaches great importance to innovation, Tokayev noted. “A unique institution, Nazarbayev University, was created, where ambitious and knowledgeable scientists are working on this absolutely new field. Innovation means ‘new,’ absolutely new. Our television sometimes shows the production of noodles and yogurts as innovation. This, of course, discredits innovation,” he said.
On May 16, the Senate continued their discussion on developing a science-driven and innovation friendly economy at the meeting of the Onir (Region) parliamentary group.
The agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia ratified by the Senate on the joint regional air defence system identifies the agencies authorised to implement the agreement, the order of coordinating joint actions and the rules of the air defence system’s operation. The joint defence system is intended to be a key part of the single air defence system of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Lawmakers also amended laws regarding money laundering and financing terrorism and changed the name of the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development and Entrepreneurship to the Committee on Economic Policy, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship during the session.
All bills must be signed into law by the head of state to become laws.
