On Friday, August 11, within the framework of his working trip Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov held a meeting on topical issues of further socio-economic development of Zhambyl region.

Akim of the region Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Karashukeyev, Deputy Ministers of Ecology and Natural Resources Galidulla Azidullin, Industry and Infrastructural Development Ilyas Ospanov, National Economy Bauyrzhan Omarbekov, Healthcare Vyacheslav Dudnik made reports on the measures and projects being implemented, as well as the solution of problematic issues.

Prime Minister emphasized that today one of the most pressing issues for the region is water supply. Thus, in terms of drinking water supply, residents of only 285 out of 367 villages of the region are provided with drinking water. The regional center is covered with centralized water supply by 94%, the city of Shu - by 67%.

Along with this, there are problems with water disposal. In particular, there are no sewage treatment facilities in the regional center, and sewage filtration fields, built in 1962, are in unsatisfactory condition.

"Due to a significant decrease in the water level on the Shu and Talas rivers, as well as significant wear and tear of irrigation systems, the agrarians of the region annually experience a shortage of water for irrigation of crops. The above-mentioned problems require prompt and comprehensive measures," Alikhan Smailov said. 

In this regard, he outlined the need to actively use water-saving technologies, modernize hydraulic structures and concreting of main canals. At the same time, three large reservoirs should be built, as well as a number of small reservoirs to accumulate water during the non-growing season and reduce its losses.

Taking into account the prospects of the region's development, Prime Minister spoke about the need to carry out technical inspection and modernization of heating facilities and networks, including in single-industry towns. To finance these activities, a new program "Tariff in exchange for investment" has been gradually introduced since this year.

At the same time, Alikhan Smailov drew attention to the importance of timely opening of new social facilities within the framework of the national projects "Comfortable School" and "Modernization of Rural Health Care", as well as the qualitative implementation of the program to increase incomes of the population and the project "Auyl Amanaty".

As Head of Government noted, the region has a great potential in the development of chemical industry, so it is required to maintain the momentum. 

"Until 2026 in the region it is planned to implement 60 investment projects worth 2 trillion tenge with the creation of 4 thousand jobs. Akimat needs to launch in time all the initiated projects, as well as to ensure quality development of those planned for implementation," he said.

In addition, there is a need to take measures to saturate the domestic market with food products, which will be greatly facilitated by the development of agriculture.

"The Government annually allocates significant funding to support domestic agricultural producers. Only for the agrarians of the region this year the budget allocated 52 billion tenge, including 27 billion tenge in the form of subsidies. We will continue to assist in the implementation of agro-industrial complex projects. However, I want to note that budget funds should be used as efficiently as possible," Alikhan Smailov said, instructing to intensify the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the construction and modernization of vegetable storages.

According to Prime Minister, another promising direction for the region is logistics. As part of the development of the international transit corridor "Western Europe - Western China" 495 km of highways of national importance have been reconstructed in the region. 

"At the same time, to date, 67 km of roads of republican significance are in need of major repairs. Among them is a section of the highway "Almaty-Tashkent-Termez". The Ministry of Industry together with the Akimat should accelerate the tender procedures and development of technical documentation," he pointed out. 

In conclusion, the Head of Government instructed to work out the issue of financing projects of gasification of settlements of Zhambyl, Zhualyn, Korday, Moyinkum and Talas districts, by the end of the year to complete construction work on the 2nd stage of biopharmaceutical plant to increase its capacity, as well as to activate the infrastructure in the industrial zone "Taraz" and consider the issue of financing projects of overhaul of multi-storey buildings in the cities of Taraz, Zhanatas, Karatau and Shu.

#Alikhan Smailov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Economy #Regions