New Kazakh Prime Minister’s Key Government Tasks
Olzhas Bektenov Outlines Priority Tasks as New Kazakh Prime Minister
Olzhas Bektenov, the recently appointed Kazakh Prime Minister, outlined primary tasks at a Feb. 9 meeting, in accordance with instructions given by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at an expanded government session on Wednesday.
In the financial sector, the Prime Minister stressed the need to prioritize budget expenditures with a focus on obtaining a total economic return while completely excluding unproductive spending. He instructed the Finance Ministry to audit the national budget within 10 days and local ones within a month, significantly reducing non-essential expenditures. Bektenov also highlighted the need to rewrite the Tax Code considering the opinions of the expert and business community, creating conditions favorable for businesses to grow without fear of fiscal costs and administrative burdens.
In terms of industrial development, Bektenov instructed First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar to involve all major industrial enterprises, particularly in the extractive industries, to present specific plans for establishing production facilities of high conversion. He emphasized that domestic industrial companies should increasingly purchase Kazakh goods, works, and services to conclude appropriate agreements.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of using domestic building materials and conducting audits to address cost overestimation in the construction, energy, and water industries. He necessitated reliable power supply to industrial enterprises, setting a target of introducing over 700 megawatts of additional generation this year. Additionally, Bektenov instructed the Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry to prepare a set of measures for rational water consumption and initiate a water conservation campaign. Regarding the construction of plants for processing solid domestic waste, he demanded proposals to attract private investment within a month.
In the social block, Bektenov called for reforms in the healthcare insurance system, emphasizing the importance of digitization and transparency. He gave specific instructions on digital transformation, transportation, agriculture, implementation of national projects, and reforming mechanisms of social support of citizens, public procurement, and public-private partnership.
Bektenov concluded by emphasizing the need to eradicating formalism and red tape and noted that ministers should promptly solve sectoral issues at their level independently. He stated, “Everyone needs to understand that the pace of work will be increased, and work will be demanding.”
The meeting signifies the government’s commitment to implementing a comprehensive program to address key areas of development for the benefit of the citizens and the country as a whole.
