During a meeting of the Investment Climate Improvement Council (ICIC), chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin, issues of developing a competitive environment in Kazakhstan economy in accordance with the requirements of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) were discussed, according to the RK PM’s press service reporting.
The Minister of National Economy Ruslan Dalenov, as well as the ambassadors of the U.S. accredited in Kazakhstan William H. Moser, Great Britain - Michael Gifford, Canada - Nicholas Brousseau made reports on the state and prospects of economic competition in Kazakhstan. Options for improving policies in this area were offered.
The measures taken by Kazakhstan to develop competition and business climate contributed to growth of the country's economy by 4.4% over 10 months of this year, as well as improving the position of Kazakhstan in the ratings of the EBRD, IMF, ADB, World Bank and the World Economic Forum. The issue of raising the status of Kazakhstan is being considered in the OECD Competition Committee.
The Head of the Government noted that in order to reduce the role of the state in the economy, by the end of this year the number of activities in which companies with state participation are allowed to share will be reduced by more than 30% - from 347 to 240.
He informed that of the 864 assets of the Comprehensive Privatization Plan for 2016-2020, about 500 have been privatized, which increased productivity and efficiency of infrastructure management, management in the construction, mining, agricultural, processing and other sectors.
Mamin emphasized that one of the priorities of the economic policy of Kazakhstan is development of small and medium-sized businesses.
"From 2005 to 2018, the share of SMEs in the country's economy increased almost threefold - from 10.5% to 28.4%. By 2025 we intend to bring it to 35%. There is a lot of work to achieve this goal," - said the Prime Minister.
Reported by the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda.
