In his speech, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev reminded about the core indicators of akims’ work are attracting investment, creating new workplaces, developing infrastructure, providing support to small and medium businesses and protecting the environment as well.
Role of Almaty is very important. A great deal of work is being done, which can serve as an example for other regions. However, we should not forget that further development of the city, improving the well-being of the population, improving the quality of life should always remain on the agenda, - the Head of State stressed.
Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev has set a number of specific tasks for the development of the southern capital.
As the first task, the President named ensuring high growth rates of Almaty's economy through business and innovation development. As an example, he cited the industrial zone of the city, where 33 companies are registered and more than 156 billion tenge were invested. The Head of State drew attention to the fact that during 7 years since the creation of this zone, only 6 new enterprises were put into operation, and this year only 1 small factory was launched.
Regarding to this, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev recommended to Akim of the city to attract new projects, especially high-tech and export-oriented ones, to the industrial zone.
The President considers the development of innovations and introduction of new developments to be promising, taking into account the fact that the leading universities of the country are located in the city, and there is a good scientific and human resources potential. At the same time, he pointed to the lack of serious developments in this area and instructed to use the potential of the «Park of Innovative Technologies»
The Head of State also called for increased activities to improve the business climate and increase the investment attractiveness of the city.
«If we really want to strengthen both the investment and tourist appeal of the largest cities, the country as a whole, we should get rid of such anachronisms as mandatory registration of foreigners in the migration police as soon as possible,» Kassym-Zhmart Tokayev said.
The speech highlighted the importance of solving problems hindering the development of small and medium businesses.
- The results of the survey of entrepreneurs show that the city lags behind in a number of indicators, including the effectiveness of local executive bodies, the prevalence of corruption, the validity of inspections. The task on comprehensive support of SMEs and removal of various barriers is still on the implementing list of the city’s mayor's office. Almaty should retain the status of the main business center of the country, - the President believes.
The Head of State called unacceptable the sharp increase in food prices, especially for bread and meat products.
«We must admit that the very fact of higher food prices is an obvious indicator of the vulnerability of our economy. References, for example, to the deterioration of external markets are totally inappropriate. The Government has developed additional measures to create new growth points for the economy. These measures were approved by me at a special meeting. It is urgent to implement them,«- instructed Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev.
Another priority task by President was the improvement of social situation of the city's residents. He highlighted the problem of unemployment, the need to improve health care, and the lack of places in general education schools and kindergartens.
The issues of ensuring a high quality of life and infrastructure development of the city have not gone unnoticed by the Head of State.
- We position Almaty as an international center of business and tourism, so all the work to improve the quality of life of citizens should be guided by international standards. The main thing is that citizens should be comfortable and cosy to live in the city. This is influenced by a number of factors - the presence of a road to the house, the walking accessibility of social infrastructure, the provision of high-quality drinking water, gas, uninterrupted electricity and heating,- said Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev.
The President also instructed the akim’s office to solve problems with street lighting, inadequate condition of yards, operation of the open system.
Noting the successes in the development of the city's transport infrastructure, the Head of State pointed to a number of problematic issues in this area.
- Every day, more than 200,000 cars enter the city only from The Side of Caskelen, Kapshagay, Talgar and through the Kuljin Trail. This creates congestion at the entrance to Almaty, especially during rush hour. The problem needs to be solved not only by the reconstruction and expansion of roads, but also through the increase in the number of metro lines and the development of public transport connecting the city and surrounding areas,- said Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev.
The President reminded that Almaty is in a seismic zone.
- Citizens remember the last mudslide well. And that is bothering them. It is necessary to start construction of dams in «Aksay» and «Ayusai» gorges, ensuring full rural security in the city,- the Head of State said.
During the meeting, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev paid great attention to the state of the city's ecology and air quality. He instructed to complete the transfer of public transport to gas and other environmentally friendly fuels, to gasify the private sector of the city and the suburban zone, to take control of illegal logging of trees, apple orchards, as well as to intensify work on greening the city and reviving the Almaty port.
In his speech, the President closed the theme about construction of a ski resort in Kok Jailau.
- In order not to return to this issue every time, I forbid to engage in this project. Moreover all the professional ecologists are against of it,- the Head of State said.
Speaking about the tourist potential of the metropolis, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev noted that Almaty has great potential for the development of touristic products of the highest level. This applies to mountain, cultural, ethnographic and business tourism. He reminded that the Mountain Cluster of the Almaty region has been identified as a priority in the State Tourism Industry Development Program until 2025.
- I instruct the Government and the akim of the city to start implementing a master plan of mountain locations. The project can attract more than $2 billion in investment and create at least 30,000 workplaces. At the same time, I draw attention to the fact that all decisions should be taken taking into account the opinion of the population, - the President said.
The Head of State also focused on issues of public security.
- Unfortunately, Almaty takes the first place in the country in terms of crime. A large proportion are petty offenses - theft and hooliganism. There were so many of them that the situation is perceived by the citizens as rampant crime. This is one of the main concerns of the city's residents,- said Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev.
In conclusion, the President noted that with the support of Elbasy, Almaty has achieved high levels in its development, and called for mobilization of efforts to achieve the goals.
First Deputy Prime Minister Alihan Smayilov, Akim of Almaty Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Assistant to President Aida Balaeva and Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Beibut Atamkulov also spoke at the meeting.
Source: akorda.kz
