ASTANA – The approved draft of the National Action Plan includes approximately 100 events in the six key state development areas highlighted in Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s recent address, reported Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov at the Oct. 9 governmental meeting.
Photo credit: turkystan.kz.
“In general, the timely implementation of the National Plan will ensure the effective implementation of the instructions given by the head of state in the state-of-the-nation address, [which is] aimed at improving the welfare of the people and laying the foundation for ensuring socio-economic stability in the country,” he said.
As the title of the address “Growing Welfare of Kazakh citizens: Increase in Income and Quality of Life” suggested, the foremost goal is improving the welfare and average income of the population. The government is considering action on 24 new measures that should push for improvements to increase incomes and create new employment opportunities. One of those measures is the gradual hike in the minimum wage starting Jan. 1, 2019.
“In order to protect people’s incomes, changes will be made to the legislation to ensure transparency of the tariff setting mechanism and the use of public utility services. In order to effectively support business, the Business Road Map programme will be extended until 2025,” he added.
The ministry noted an additional 24 events will focus on education and healthcare. The government identified the shortage of student places that resulted in three-shift schools in the regions as the main impediment in the former area. By the end of the year, the government will begin constructing new schools to eliminate the inconvenience.
The healthcare sector will have three fundamental changes. Beginning Jan. 1, fully digitised medical records should improve the quality of medical services in clinics and hospitals and a committee will be created to control the quality and safety of medical goods and services. The respective ministry also plans to construct a national scientific oncology centre in the capital equipped with the most advanced technology.
A programme to develop the regions through 2025 will be introduced next year with a detailed plan to manage the allocated funds and organise events and projects. The programme should control urbanisation and overall territorial organisation, said Suleimenov.
The Nurly Zhol and Nurly Zher state programmes will continue functioning as outlined and should improve transport system and housing construction.
Regarding social security, he spoke about plans for a new roadmap to modernise internal affairs bodies. It entails introducing a new format for working with the public and providing safety monitoring systems. The roadmap should, as he noted, “reduce redundant judicial procedures” and ensure citizens’ safety.
Nineteen events will be directed towards establishing improved understanding between the state and civil society. The new programme, Leader of the New Formation, will work to explain the concrete measures and results of state policies.
Next year will be designated as the Year of Youth and the Ruhani Zhangyru (Modernisation of Kazakhstan’s Identity) programme will add projects to support the nation’s younger citizens.
