0° / -7°C WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019 No 5 (167) www.astanatimes.com Women play important role in Kazakh EBRD predicts 3.5-percent economy, says President GDP growth for Kazakhstan in 2019 “Oil is a large part of exports,” By Zhanna Shayakhmetova he added. “Roughly 65 percent of exports in dollar terms are oil ex- ASTANA – The European Bank ports. There has been a significant for Reconstruction and Develop- increase since 2016. This peaked ment (EBRD) Transition Report in the third quarter of 2018, mostly forecasts steady growth for the Ka- because prices have come down. zakh economy, as major structural There was also an increase in pro- reforms are expected to improve duction, like a 5 percent increase the situation further. in 2018 over 2017, as Kashagan “Kazakhstan’s real GDP grew 4 started to produce more.” percent in 2017 and a little bit more Private consumption has been in 2018. This has been driven since a growth driver largely because 2017 primarily by exports and a real incomes finally started to im- recovery in private consumption prove last year. The solid growth, has started to be a driver of GDP however, was neither driven nor growth since 2018,” said EBRD accompanied by credit expansion, Associate Director and Lead Re- credit growth or the banking sys- gional Economist Hans Holzhack- tem as a whole. er at the Feb. 27 presentation. Continued on Page A4 Photo credit: akorda.kz. Photo credit: EU-Kazakhstan relations Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev sings with Koktem Shuagy (Spring Light) women’s community representatives at the Akorda on March 7. potential in business, the creative rently, on average we have three social support for large families By Saltanat Boteu sphere and sports. For us, for men, children in one family and approx- with low incomes. Social pay- evolving cooperatively, it is time to think of how to keep imately 400,000 babies are born ments and benefits, wages of low- ASTANA – Kazakh President up with you,” he said. in a year. Children are the wealth paid public sector workers will be Nursultan Nazarbayev met at the “In our dynamic, full of innova- and pride not only of a family, but raised, housing will be built. There Akorda March 7 with Koktem tions century, you fruitfully live a valuable capital of the country. are the Baqytty Otbasy (Happy providing a model for Shuagy (Spring Light) women’s up to your potential and [use your] Therefore, our mothers, and espe- Family), Qutty Meken (Blessed community representatives to con- abilities for the good of the coun- cially those with many children, Home) and Auyl – El Besigi (Vil- gratulate the country’s female pop- try. You reach new heights and sig- deserve deep respect and grati- lage is the birthplace of a nation) region, says EU envoy ulation on the International Wom- nificant results in many areas and tude. They are making a real feat projects that are aimed at system- en’s Day (March 8). He stressed directions. In fact, women are the of motherhood, multiplying the atic support [of the families],” he aid, so our focus is shifting from the important role of women in the agents of my ideas for modernisa- benefits of the nation,” he said. said. By Saltanat Boteu earlier bilateral programmes to capacity-building ones with a re- country’s economic development. tion,” he added. The President also stressed the Every year on the eve of Interna- ASTANA – The European Un- gional dimension.” “Today, female workers in edu- Nazarbayev also spoke about the importance of new large-scale tional Women’s Day, the President ion is Kazakhstan’s biggest foreign The EU and Kazakhstan signed cation and health care comprise role of women in educating future social projects to support moth- meets with women from various investor, and Kazakhstan is the their Enhanced Partnership and 70 percent; in the financial and in- generations of Kazakh citizens. ers with many children, noting the fields to congratulate them and EU’s closest political and econom- Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) surance sector, 60 percent, and in “It is a woman who presents the amount of assistance will consist- discuss ways to expand their ac- ic partner among the countries of in December 2015. The agreement agriculture, 45 percent. There are most important [thing] – the mira- ently increase. tive participation in the country’s Central Asia while EU-Kazakhstan is now the main document fram- many of those who live up to their cle of birth – to the world. Cur- “They are aimed at enhancing economy. cooperation is expanding in educa- ing EU-Kazakhstan relations and tion, research, trade, transport, ag- provides the legal framework for riculture and environmental work, developing bilateral relations in 29 among many areas, the European key policy areas, such as political envoy in Astana said. dialogue, human rights, energy, Official diplomatic relations transport, the environment and cli- Nazarbayev urges measures between the EU and Kazakhstan mate change, employment and so- were established in 1993, and cial affairs, culture, education and since then, the EU has provided research. to improve living standards official development assistance to “The EPCA is a so-called new- the country. generation agreement, which also “Over 350 projects amounting serves as a model of future coop- to 180 million euros [US$204.12 eration for other countries. It is million] have been funded by the not by chance that Kyrgyzstan and EU, notably focusing on strength- Uzbekistan would like to follow ening the capacity of regional and the Kazakh example and sign a local government, justice sector similar framework agreement with reform and human rights,” the the EU. The EPCA with Kazakh- Ambassador, Sven-Olov Carls- stan has been provisionally im- son, an experienced Swedish and plemented for almost three years European diplomat, said in an in- [since May 2016] and provides a terview for this story. “Nowadays significant boost to economic and Kazakhstan is defined as an ‘upper political ties between the EU and mid-income’ country and does not Kazakhstan,” said Carlsson. qualify anymore for our bilateral Continued on Page A3 “I instruct the government to gional governors), the government, and families with children with By Saltanat Boteu increase the criterion for provid- the party and the Atameken Na- disabilities. ing targeted social assistance for tional Chamber of Entrepreneurs “It is necessary to intensify work ASTANA – Kazakh President people in need, especially large should jointly help people with on construction of housing. I in- California native preserves Nursultan Nazarbayev outlined at families, to 70 percent of the sub- these issues. The akims should struct to build more than 40,000 the Feb. 27 18th Congress of Nur sistence minimum (29,698 tenge review the regional assistance pro- rental apartments for large and Otan Party efforts to improve so- (US$78.8))… To establish a mini- grammes for families in need,” he low-income families as a part of Soviet monumental art cial supports and living standards mum [monthy] payment of approx- said. the Nurly Zher programme. In the in Kazakhstan. According to the imately 21,000 tenge (US$55.7) The President also set goals to in- next seven years, 50 billion tenge but mosaics especially have such a instructions from the head of state, for each child in a large family… I crease the salaries of public sector (US$132.6 million) will be allocat- By Dilshat Zhussupova physicality to them that they made a strong impression on me.” the government will allocate two also instruct to increase allowance workers in healthcare, education, ed for this purpose annually,” said Socialist realism was the So- trillion tenge (US$5.3 billion) from for parents, guardians and families social care, culture and sports. Nazarbayev. ASTANA – California native viet Union’s official art style from the country’s budget for social pro- raising children with disabilities by “I instruct from July 1 to increase The healthcare system is also and Kazakh TV’s Discovering 1932-1988, but he sees Soviet jects over the next three years. 30 percent,” said the President. wages for low-paid public sec- Kazakhstan host Dennis Keen has slated for a funding increase. monumental art as more stylised The social assistance should tor employees and to grass-roots lived in Almaty for six years. It The congress approved the par- High-quality healthcare services than realistic. ty’s agenda until 2030. reach 830,000 people, including workers of executive bodies who should be available in any part was in his adopted city that Soviet monumental art first caught his “Because monumental art was “Nur Otan promotes the adop- 550,000 children. work with citizens at the regional of the country, said the President, considered decorative art rather tion of necessary state decisions. He also spoke about the need to level and in the villages by 30 and calling for an increase in health- eye. Keen, who spoke about the than fine art, monumental artists New time dictates new challenges. create more flexible employment 25 percent respectively,” said the care spending. were often given more stylistic country and its art in an interview The main thing is to work out the opportunities for parents of large President. “For development of this task, freedom than their colleagues who with The Astana Times, was just right direction of development and families, including opportunities to “There is a serious disproportion additionally, I instruct to allocate were easel painters – that may be to mobilise the society… Today, the work from home. He also said mi- between the centre and the regions, approximately 120 billion tenge three years old when the Soviet one aspect that is leading to a reap- congress is considering a party pro- crocredits should be made available we need to support regions.