ASTANA (TCA) — Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev on May 18 chaired a government meeting summing up the country’s social and economic results for the first four months of this year.
The president pointed out that despite economic difficulties, Kazakhstan has seen growth in processing industries, agriculture, transport, and construction.
“Nine regions of the country have achieved production growth,” the presidential press service quoted Nazarbayev as saying. “Last year saw a growth of investments in priority sectors of the industrialization program, including in machine-building (7-fold), food industry (30 percent), and production of oil products (81 percent). It was the result of direct foreign investment in these sectors. In general, investments in fixed capital have grown 15 percent. It is a good result that shows the continued interest of investors.”
The head of state also pointed out positive indicators in the social sphere.
“We have managed to prevent unemployment growth and retained it at the 5-percent level. Despite reduced state-budget revenues, I have given a clear order to meet all social commitments by the state. We should not allow a decrease in the population’s living standard. It is the main task of state bodies at all levels. This year we have raised wages of state-paid employees in the education sphere by 29 percent, in the healthcare by 28 percent, and in other spheres by 40 percent. Pensions have been raised by 9 percent. All this is the result of timely anti-crisis measures,” Nazarbayev said.
