Kazakhstan’s Parliament Opens its 3rd Session

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Kazakhstan’s Parliament Opens its 3rd Session

The joint sitting was attended by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Karim Massimov and heads of Ministries and national agencies.

Today Astana hosted a joint sitting of the two Chambers to mark the opening of the 3^rd session of the 4^th Parliament.

The joint sitting was attended by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Karim Massimov and heads of Ministries and national agencies.

In his speech President Nazarbayev noted that the 2009 national census results show positive dynamics.

“The standard of living has enhanced significantly: for the decade annual monetary income of the Kazakhstan’s population has grown on average five times. …

For the decade the population has grown from 14 million 19000 to 16 million 300000”.

“Support to the national agriculture entailed growth of rural population. For the last decade its share has grown from 44 to 46%. At the same time there has been a substantial growth of urban population in the largest cities: by 80% in Astana and 20% in Almaty”.

“Incoming migrants outweigh outcoming migration which testifies to attractiveness of living conditions in Kazakhstan. For the last decade over 650000 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to their homeland from neighboring countries of the CIS, China, Mongolia, Turkey and Iran”.

“The share of ethnic Kazakhs has grown from 53 to 65% for the decade.

At the same time we have kept the unique compound of the population: there are 140 ethnic groups living in our territory. About 70% of the population are Muslims, 25% are Christians and the rest 5% represent other religions”.

“For the last ten years real monetary income of the population has been growing by 10% a year… The number of private cars has grown 2.5 times for the decade. 24 million square meters of housing have been built, with 50% of the residential facilities located in rural areas”.

President commissioned the Government to publish the verified results of the census at the end of the year and take them into account when implementing socio-economic programs.

“The entire financial system has been stabilized. For the first seven months of this year, investments into the Kazakh economy grew by 7% on 2008. We’ve been steadily lending the economy. Inflation has been bridled. Total assets of the banking system as of August 1, 2009 exceeded KZT 12 trillion, almost 2% up as compared to 2008. Our banks’ loan portfolio for the H1 2009 grew by 10.6%. International reserves have been stabilized at USD 42.5 billion, with their volume being slightly increasing. Works are under way to refinance mortgages”, President said when dwelling on finance sector issues.

“S&MBs absorbed KZT 134 billion of the state budget money. The state support program covered 2.5 thousand S&MBs. These businesses have created 4700 new jobs. S&MBs’ production output grew by 19% in the Q2 as compared to the Q1”.

President has set a number of tasks for the Parliament. Notably, a “legislation regulating industrial policy is to be drafted as a top priority. Effective industrial policy should be based on innovations, the latest knowledge and the most advanced technology”.

Besides, a draft law on farming should be passed without delays.

As far as financial sector is concerned, “we have to strengthen financial supervision bodies, amend legislation regulating insurance market, and ensure greater efficiency of the legislation on budgeting”, President said.

“The financial system as a whole should be targeted at economy diversification and innovation-based industrialization… The Government and national holdings should cut down the central budget expenses and more widely rely on domestic borrowing through issuing bonds”.

“We need to accumulate greater share of oil revenues in the National Oil Fund. In 10 years’ time the Fund’s assets should be no less than 30% of the GDP”.

“It’s important for Kazakh banks to keep all the commercial, financial and currency risks within prudent limits”.

President reminded that “the year to come is of special significance to our nation. Kazakhstan will chair the OSCE. This mission is a huge responsibility and a great opportunity”.

“The deputy corps will have to actively work with foreign colleagues and participate in various committees and groups of the OSCE and the Parliament Assembly.

This opportunity to study work practices of the OSCE member countries’ parliaments should not be wasted”.

Concluding his address, President Nazarbayev said that “The year to come is of special significance to our nation. Kazakhstan will chair the OSCE. This mission is a huge responsibility and a great opportunity. This chance to study work practices of the OSCE member countries’ parliaments should not be wasted… We should upgrade lawmaking process, bringing it closer to European standards. Our common duty is to ensure that Kazakhstan copes with the responsibility and strengthen its weight in international politics.”

Kazinform