Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov spoke at the main plenary session “Industrial strategies of new times” as part of the international exhibition “INNOPROM. Kazakhstan”, taking place these days in Astana.
The event was also attended by Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers - Head of the Administration of the President of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov and Chairman of the Government of Russia Mikhail Mishustin.In general, the main plenary session brought together about 700 participants, including high-ranking representatives of the public sector, heads of regions, heads of manufacturing enterprises, members of industrial unions and associations of EAEU countries.
In his speech, Alikhan Smailov noted that as part of the work to form a strong industrial framework for Kazakhstan and ensure economic self-sufficiency, the Government is focusing on the accelerated development of the manufacturing sector. In particular, measures are being taken to implement projects aimed at creating high value-added clusters. First of all, in oil, gas and coal chemistry, metallurgy, heavy engineering, production of automotive components and fertilizers, uranium industry and other segments.“To achieve this, Kazakhstan is carrying out systemic reforms, improving state support measures, and introducing a proactive approach to attracting investments, - said Alikhan Smailov.
According to him, over the past 5 years, the volume of production in the manufacturing industry has increased by 2.2 times, and the volume of gross added value of the industry has increased by 2.3 times. At the same time, labor productivity increased to $49 thousand, which is more than 2 times higher than the average for the economy.
“If we speak in an industry context, the mining and metallurgical complex is the basis of the domestic manufacturing industry. Last year, $19.3 billion worth of products were exported, which is about 23% of the country’s total exports. We have provided a mechanism for providing domestic enterprises with accessible raw materials. Agreements on the supply of primary aluminum and copper have been signed with major suppliers of raw materials,” - the Prime Minister noted.
He added that mechanical engineering continues to develop dynamically. Thus, in 2022, a record half a billion dollars of direct investment was attracted to the industry. In the first quarter of this year, direct investments have already exceeded $208 million.
In the automotive industry, production volume last year amounted to 113 thousand units. For 8 months of this year, almost 100 thousand units were produced, with an increase of 41%. In value terms, this is more than 1 trillion tenge. Along with this, the production of building materials in the Republic of Kazakhstan also exceeded the trillion mark for the first time.
"All these indicators are reflected in the Concept for the Development of the Manufacturing Industry, adopted this year. By 2030, we plan to ensure an increase in gross value added by 2.8 times, labor productivity by 1.8 times, and export products worth $225 billion," - said the head of the Government.
As Alikhan Smailov noted, a wide range of support tools was strengthened by the creation of the Industrial Development Fund, which has already financed investment projects worth more than 200 billion tenge. Projects worth another 150 billion tenge are in progress.
«Currently, the pool includes more than 1 thousand projects in the mining and metallurgical complex, mechanical engineering, petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical industries and other industries. At the same time, the main priorities of cooperation are deep processing, maximum localization, production of new products and export potential," - the Prime Minister said.
At the same time, he emphasized that the formation of a new technological structure, including the transition from basic to complex production, requires legislative strengthening. To achieve this, the Government is improving approaches to tax, budget and regulatory stimulation of economic activity of businesses.
Thus, last year new approaches to the functioning of free economic zones were legislated. The main emphasis in their activities is on the manufacturing sector with a combined mode of action. Among other things, investors are given the right to buy out a leased land plot ahead of schedule, without regard to the validity period of the SEZ itself.
In order to develop small and medium-sized businesses, small industrial zones are being created in the regions. Here, ready-made production premises will be available for rent for entrepreneurs.
According to Alikhan Smailov, an important component of the industrial breakthrough should also be the widespread introduction of innovations and advanced technologies. According to UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), the global market for new technologies in 2025 will be more than $3 trillion.
"Already today, artificial intelligence is used in all industries, helping to optimize the production cycle, fully automate processes, control and safety management. Therefore, in such conditions, flexibility and adaptation are required," - the Prime Minister emphasized.
As Alikhan Smailov noted, against the backdrop of a break in global production chains, new guidelines for investment flows are emerging, so it is necessary to effectively develop your competitive advantages.
«In this regard, in our opinion, special attention should be paid to the development of regional value chains," - he said.
The Head of Government added that another global trend remains digital transformation, which should be considered as a priority area for cooperation among the EAEU countries.
"Today, large-scale projects have been implemented in Kazakhstan in such areas as FinTech and GovTech. We have achieved a high level of penetration of digital solutions into everyday life. Now our task is to achieve the same level in the real sector. The Autonomous Cluster Fund “Park of Innovative Technologies", the IT-technopark “Astana Hub” and research centers at higher educational institutions are already actively involved here,” - said Alikhan Smailov.
According to him, the most important factor in achieving the goals is staffing. In this regard, work is underway in the republic to open branches of leading technological universities from near and far abroad.
"This will allow us to train specialists with new views on the management of innovative projects and the development of competencies, engineers of the future," — the Prime Minister emphasized.
In conclusion, he noted that along with solving issues of industrial growth, we should not forget the relevance of the environmental agenda: control of emissions, introduction of clean technologies in production, disposal and recycling of waste should be priorities in the activities of enterprises.Source: https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/o-formirovanii-novogo-tekhnologicheskogo-uklada-v-kazakhstane-rasskazal-alikhan-smailov-25659
