Economic News in Brief

 

  • A total of 13,543 property legalisation applications amounting to 103.3 billion tenge (US$562.86 million) had been received by Dec. 11 by the local executive commissions charged with accepting them. The applications include 10,484 for real property items worth 75.4 billion tenge (US$410.9 million), 7,034 for non-residential properties worth 26.3 billion tenge (US$143.3 million), including 1,259 commercial facilities worth 14.6 billion tenge (US$79.5 million).Also, 20 applications were received for legalisation of shares in legal entities worth a total of 0.7 billion tenge (US$3.81 million.) Another 5,056 properties worth 27.4 billion tenge (US$149.29 million) were legalised. No applications for legalisation of property registered overseas have been received. In terms of applications already submitted, the Almaty region and Almaty city are in the lead, followed by the Aktobe region. The West Kazakhstan region has submitted the fewest applications. The number of applications submitted for property legalisation is as follows: Akmola region – 250; Aktobe region – 1,172; Almaty region – 4,311; Atyrau region – 237; East Kazakhstan region – 353; Zhambyl region – 734; West Kazakhstan region – 91; Karaganda region – 383; Kyzylorda region – 176; Kostanay region – 1,142; Mangystau region – 187; Pavlodar region – 208; North Kazakhstan region – 278; South Kazakhstan region – 311; Almaty – 2,823; Astana – 887.

 

  • “Thismemorandum of cooperation just signed with the KAZENERGY Association is aimed at promoting EXPO 2017,” First Deputy Chairman of Astana EXPO 2017 Alisher Pirmetov said whileaddressing journalists after the memo’sDec. 10 signing ceremony.“Our cooperation will firstly be focused on promotingthe exhibition, attracting participants and the latest technologies inKazakhstan’s energy conservationinfrastructure, as well as the latest renewable energy technologies,” Pirmetov said. According to him, it is planned to utilise the association’s experience in establishing relations with international organisations,such asthe World Energy Council and Energy Charter. It is stipulated in the memorandum that the KAZENERGY Association would actively inform its partners and EXPO 2017 member states about the exhibition in Astana.

 

  • At a Dec. 12 meetingbetween President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chairman and CEO of Arcelor Mittal Lakshmi Mittal,the parties discussed the company’s main activities in Kazakhstan. The President noted the success of Arcelor Mittal.“In general, higher prices on the company’s products have improved its performance. This has spurred profit growth. Oursame basic strategic goal of increasing steel production to six million tonnes per year remains,” Nazarbayev said. Kazakhstan’s President also drew attention to the importance of favourable social conditions for workers in the company. “Currently, the main thing is the social well-being of those in the workplace. I have a special relationshipwith Temirtau metallurgists and Karaganda miners. Therefore, when jobs are cut or wages are not paid, I am directly contacted,” he said. The chairman and chief executive officer said that the company continues to develop its production capabilities and increase its investments. “In the last fouryears, despite the turmoil plaguing the global economy, ArcelorMittal has been constantly expanding and we have invested on average growth between $350 and$400 million per year. We continue to improve and expand production inour blast furnaces andcentral plant,” Mittal said. The important role of the country’s economy and the need for its strength inthe second five-year programme of industrial-innovative development was noted.

 

  • On Dec. 12, a meeting of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs and Demographic Policy of Kazakhstan was held. Secretary of State Gulshara Abdykalikova delivered a speech. According to her, gender equality in the work place is a must. “According to the tasks set in the President’s state-of-the-nation address, we need to maximisefemale involvement in all infrastructure projects and increase the level of employment among women,” she said. It is important to note that the unemployment level among women in Kazakhstan is currently 5.5 percent;the total unemployment level in Kazakhstan is 5.2 percent.

Get The Astana Times stories sent directly to you! Sign up via the website or subscribe to our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube and Tiktok!