Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov within the framework of his working trip to Zhambyl region checked the fulfilment of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's instructions to increase the share of manufacturing industry in the country's economy to achieve target growth indicators.

Head of the Government familiarised himself with the activities of backbone enterprises of the region, in particular, companies of chemical, light industry, mining. He also visited the special economic zone Jibek Joly, on the territory of which new large-scale production facilities are being built. 

Currently, more than 44 thousand people are employed in the industry of Zhambyl region, 859 enterprises operate in the region, Deputy Akim Abulkhair Tamabek reported to the Head of the Government. At the same time, large-scale measures are taken in the region to develop the chemical industry. Creation of special economic zone Jibek Joly today allows more effectively realise the existing potential of the region. Currently, the workload of the special economic zone is 86.7%, 16 participating companies have been registered, 4 of which are operating enterprises, 3 are at the stage of construction and placement, the rest are undergoing state expertise or carrying out design. For example, the Chinese company TAS Market and Uzbek Universal Trade LLP are planning to localise production in the special economic zone. The PRC project involves the construction of a plant for the production of iron, steel and ferroalloys worth 12.9 billion tenge at the initial stage, while Uzbekistan's project involves the construction of an enterprise for the remelting of ferrous metal and the production of thin sheet galvanised steel with a total investment of $120 million. However, these projects do not fall under the priority activities of the SEZ and cannot benefit from the relevant benefits. Prime Minister instructed the Ministries of Industry and Construction, as well as the National Economy to promptly work out the issue of expanding the list of priority activities.

The locomotive of Zhambyl region today is the chemical industry, its share is 37%. One of the city-forming enterprises of the region is the Kazphosphate fertiliser plant, which employs about 1,800 people. Annual capacity reaches 1 million tonnes of fertilisers. Currently, there is a decrease in production volumes due to limitations in the use of natural gas. The company needs 81,176,000 metresᶟ of natural gas for full effective operation. Olzhas Bektenov stressed that it is a key task to ensure stable operation of the enterprise, which supplies the agricultural industry with fertilisers. Head of the Government instructed the akimat of Zhambyl region and the management of the plant to make proposals for modernisation of Gas Distribution Station-2 of Taraz to solve the problem. Taraz to solve the problem. In addition, the task was set to complete the construction of a new dump with the area of 51.3 hectares as soon as possible to accommodate phosphogypsum waste and prevent pollution. 

Also during the working trip Olzhas Bektenov visited a new processing plant in Shatyrkul-Zhaisan cluster of Shu district. To date, construction and installation works are 95% complete.  The plant will have an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of ore. The start-up is scheduled for August, while the enterprise will reach the estimated indicators in October this year. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted the prospect of metallurgical industry, the share of which in the industry of the region is 10%, and emphasised that the Government is ready to provide comprehensive support to such projects.  

"The Government has set a task to ensure stable economic development. This year, taking into account the challenges, we need to develop industrial production in an intensified mode, which will have a multiplicative effect on all spheres. By launching projects and working at full capacity, we will increase the independence of the economy and create highly skilled jobs. There are positive cases in all regions of the country: they should be supported and scaled up," Olzhas Bektenov emphasised.

Special attention was paid to measures to support domestic commodity producers, including by ensuring full utilisation of enterprises.  Zhambyl region has one of the main factories in the country for the production of footwear. Olzhas Bektenov instructed the Ministry of Industry and Construction together with the regional Akimat to strengthen measures to support domestic producers, including light industry. 

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