President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s State of the Nation Address, September 2, 2019. Part 4
V. STRONG REGIONS – STRONG COUNTRY.
In this area, we need to focus on the following tasks.
First. Improving the efficiency of local authorities.
People should always have access to local authorities. This is an axiom but not a reality.
I consider it possible to introduce, as a pilot project, a system for assessing the effectiveness of local authorities.
For example, if, as a result of a survey or online voting, more than 30% of residents believe that the akim of a city or a village is ineffective, this could be the basis for the creation of a special commission by the Presidential Administration to study the problem and make relevant recommendations.
Second. Reform of the system of interbudgetary relations.
The current system of interbudgetary relations clearly is not stimulating akimats of all levels to create their own development base of small and medium-sized businesses. The regions are poorly motivated to search for additional sources of income.
Starting next year, additional tax revenues from SMEs will be transferred to the regions.
But this is not enough. The time has come to review the organisation of the budget process at all levels. A major role should be played by the genuine involvement of the population in the formation of local budgets.
District, city and rural levels of Government should become economically more independent in solving problems of local importance. Their rights, duties and responsibilities should be clearly regulated in legislative acts.
Third. Managed urbanisation and a unified housing policy.
The previously adopted laws "On the status of the capital” and "On the special status of the city of Almaty” played a positive role, but today they need improvement.
It is necessary to expand the competencies of the akimats of the three largest cities, including in the field of urban development policy, transport infrastructure, and the formation of an architectural vision.
The large population of a number of cities is no longer a matter of pride, but a reason for concern in terms of meeting fully the socio-economic needs of residents.
We can see the pressures of overpopulation on our largest cities and at the same time a lack of human and labour resources in cities such as, for example, Pavlodar and Petropavlovsk, where proper conditions are created to welcome new residents.
The Government must take effective measures to manage migration processes.
In my election programme, I noted the need to develop a unified housing policy.
The basic principle is to increase housing affordability, especially for socially vulnerable segments of the population.
The Government needs to develop a unified model of housing development in the country to move away from the practice of adopting disparate programmes.
For example, within the framework of the "7-20-25” programme which was originally supposed to be based on social security, the average level of the borrower’s family income is expected to be around 320,000 tenge per month. People with low incomes could not afford to participate in it.
Therefore, this year, on the initiative of Elbasy, a new programme "Baqytty Otbasy” was launched with a preferential rate of 2% and an initial payment of 10%. These are very favourable conditions.
By the end of the year, at least 6,000 families will purchase housing under this programme, primarily large families and those raising children with disabilities. As of 2020, 10,000 such families will be provided with housing annually.
The Government should define clear criteria for participating in the programme and ensure its strict administration. Support should be provided exclusively to those who need it.
My instruction to the Government is to resolve within three years the backlog of low-income large families that are currently waiting for housing. Their number is around 30,000.
Citizens who do not have an income for the purchase of housing must be given the opportunity to live on a social benefit lease.
For these purposes, by 2022, the state will allocate more than 240 billion tenge.
New measures should be developed to involve the private sector in this work and to use the mechanisms of the public-private partnership.
People are dissatisfied with the opaque way akimats decide priority for social housing.
By the end of the year, the Government should create a unified national accounting system for waiting lists for rental housing, as well as for obtaining preferential housing loans under the "Baqytty Otbasy” programme.
Despite the reduced wear on utility mains from 65% to 57%, this indicator remains high.
In addition, out of 78,000 apartment buildings, more than 18,000 require repairs.
It is necessary to allocate at least 30 billion tenge to the regions over two years in the form of budget loans for the modernisation and repair of housing.
I instruct the Government to provide for this mechanism and tightly control the effectiveness of the development of these funds.
Regional development budgets by 2022 will exceed 800 billion tenge.
I instruct the akims, together with local maslikhats, to provide half of these funds for co-financing the modernisation of housing and communal services and solving urgent social problems of residents from the regions.
Fourth. Infrastructure development.
Obviously, residents of different regions of the country have different levels of access to clean drinking water, natural gas and transport infrastructure.
It is necessary to intensify the work on levelling this inequality.
At the instruction of Elbasy, the construction of the first phase of the Saryarka gas trunk pipeline network is nearing completion.
From next year, work will begin on the construction of distribution networks in the cities of Nur-Sultan and Karaganda, and later in the Akmola and North Kazakhstan, regions.
For these purposes, the state will allocate 56 billion tenge. As a result, more than 2.7 million people will have access to natural gas.
Over the next three years, around 250 billion tenge will be allocated to provide our citizens with clean drinking water and sanitation.
The full and high-quality implementation of the Nurly Zhol programme should be monitored closely by the executive branch.
This is a strategic project whose effective modernisation will improve the entire transport infrastructure.
For these purposes, until 2022, the state will invest more than 1.2 trillion tenge.
The Government had allocated huge amounts of money before. But these funds overwhelmingly disappeared into the air, or rather, into the pockets of officials, which is why there is still not enough clean water or modern roads and other infrastructure.
This time, the Government and Parliament, together with the Accounts Committee, must ensure the absolute efficient use of budget funds.
The Government needs to intensify efforts to improve the environment, expand the use of renewable energy sources, and cultivate a respect for nature. In this regard, the campaign "Birge – Taza Kazakhstan!” deserves approval and must be continued.
Parliament is to discuss and adopt a new version of the Environmental Code.
In general, the Government in the coming period should increase the efficiency of its activities. The people of Kazakhstan are waiting for concrete results.
Dear compatriots!
We have entered a new stage in reforming the country. We must fulfil these important tasks to a high standard.
Every citizen of the country should feel positive changes.
I demand Government agencies work rapidly and achieve real results.
It is unacceptable to carry out reforms for the sake of reforms.
Each minister and akim should have a list of key performance indicators.
It determines the level of their achievement.
Government ministers, heads of state bodies and regions, state-owned companies and institutions are personally responsible for the relevant reforms.
To ensure accountability for progress, I have recently signed a decree to gauge the situation in the country, including in each region through regular surveys.
Government agencies responsible for social and economic policy should work to meet the needs of society now and in the future. For this purpose, it is necessary to strengthen the system of monitoring, analysis and forecasting.
Therefore, I ask Parliament to establish the Institute of Legislative Research and Expertise at the request of our deputies.
This new institute should help improve the quality of our laws.
Dear people of Kazakhstan!
We know well the issues that worry our people.
We are developing an action plan to tackle each of these areas.
We have a great responsibility.
I have great confidence in every citizen of the country and know they are concerned about the destiny of our country.
Kazakhstan is our common home!
I invite all of you to contribute to our national prosperity.
A constructive public dialogue is the basis of peace and stability.
In the words of the great Abai, "Unity must be in minds.”
Elbasy’s message "The unity of the people is our most valuable treasure” remains our guiding principle.
Harmony and unity, wisdom and mutual understanding help our nation move forward.
Our destination is clear, and our way is open.
I hope that together, the country will achieve even greater success!
I wish all of you wellbeing and success.