Modern state for all: five institutional reforms

The election program of the candidate for the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dear Kazakhstanis!

Early presidential elections scheduled April 26, 2015, is a response to the all-Kazakhstan initiative. It demonstrated the unity of the people’s will to continue our course for strengthening the homeland, peace and stability.

I decided to stand in the election and present my election program to the voters.

I. Great Kazakhstan's way

Over the years of independence Kazakhstan has passed a great way. Our country has joined the ranks of 50 most competitive countries of the world.

GDP increased 20 times, reaching 13 000 dollars per capita in 2014. Our country has become a leader in the CIS by a favorable investment climate and has attracted more than 200 billion dollars of foreign direct investment.

People’s welfare has grown. The size of the average monthly salary is 27 times up; Kazakhstanis’ revenues increased 12 times as much.

Life expectancy went up to 70.4 years, maternal and infant mortality reduced many times.

We came into the twenty-first century a respected country, a reliable and stable partner for the world.

Colossal progress has been made in the previous 4 years. Objectives of 2011 election campaign were achieved.

Firstly, GDP has been annually growing by an average of 5.7%. The first five-year plan of accelerated industrial- innovative development is accomplished.

Over the four years, about 630 industrial projects were launched in all the country’s regions, nearly 55 000 permanent jobs opened. Goods were produced worth more than 4 trillion tenge. More than 400 new, previously imported products have been developed.

Entirely new to Kazakhstan industries emerged - IT, aviation and auto industries, petrochemical, railway wagon and many other industries. In the 4 years, revenues from exports of new productions made 628 billion tenge.

Secondly, agricultural sector was given a significant impetus. The gross agricultural output volume grew by 10%, up to 2.5 trillion tenge. The growth of livestock production amounted to 26%. Food production has increased by more than 25%.

Third, drastic changes have taken place in the infrastructure sectors. In the energy sector increase in generating capacities is 13%; 67 substations and distribution units, 900 km of new transmission lines were built and upgraded.

In the transport branch in the 4 years, nearly 1,700 km of new railway lines have been built: Zhezkazgan - Beineu, Uzen - Turkmenistan border, Zhetygen – Korgas, Arkalyk - Shubarkol.

The condition of 70% of the roads was improved. Traffic was launched on Shymkent - Russian border section on the project Trans-Eurasian highway Western Europe - Western China. Astana – Kostanay-Chelyabinsk and Uralsk – Aktobe roads were reconstructed.

Construction of 3 dry cargo terminals in Aktau port is under completion, which will nearly double the annual freight. In the Chinese Lianyungang port, Kazakhstan’s terminal complex was built.

Fourth, the government adopted measures for the development of small and medium-sized business.

In the 4 years the number of active businesses increased by 20%, to 900 000, employing nearly 3 million people, 14% more than in 2011.

The Business Roadmap supported more than 230 000 businessmen. More than 5 000 projects worth over 1 trillion tenge were funded.

Fifth, Kazakhstan embarked on social modernization, leading to the Universal Society of Labor.

Labor Day was established, as well as high ranks and state awards for our outstanding workers. Now every year we celebrate the Day of the Family, implement national plans to strengthen family and moral values.

During the 4 years, funding on education increased by 1.9 times, on science - 2.3 times, health - 1.6 times.

On the Balapan program more than 2 000 kindergartens opened. Already 78.6% of children between 3 and 6 years old are involved in preschool education and training; 428 schools were built. In 280 colleges dual training is being introduced with participation of more than 3 000 companies.

This year first Nazarbayev University graduates are coming out - the flagship of Kazakhstan higher education system.

In the 4 years more than 600 healthcare facilities were built.

The employed population increased to 8.6 million people. Since 2010, the population’s incomes increased by 43%, and the average monthly salary - by 64% (up to 127 000 tenge). The size of state social benefits increased by 1.4 times (up to 20,302 tenge), minimum pension - 1.8 times (up to 21,736 tenge).

Appearance of our cities, regional centers and villages is improving. More than 30 million sqm of new housing were built.

Sixth, in the elapsed 4 years a scaled administrative reform has been carried out.

State apparatus was reformed, with 60% of the Government’s functions delegated to the ministries and local government offices.

As a result, the Government became compact, with fixed strategic management functions. Election of city mayors and regions’ and rural governors was introduced.

In-depth reform of the law enforcement and judicial systems is underway, also fight against corruption.

State’s secularism was strengthened as the basic foundation of inter-religious harmony and peace in our society.

Measures are being taken to prevent religious and other extremisms.

Seventh, Kazakhstan international standing is consistently improving. We won the right for hosting EXPO-2017. This year we are hosting the V Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

Together with our partners, we have established the Eurasian Economic Union. A new agreement is about to be signed on expanding partnership and cooperation with the European Union, and the process of joining the WTO is under finalization.

We have proposed to the world a multipolar conception of G-Global interaction, which is of particular relevance amid the current geopolitical contradictions.

All that is the result of our joint work, of which all the Kazakhstanis are proud!

II. Challenges of the epoch

The world is undergoing difficult times.

Surge of prices in the world energy and metals market has sharply increased global and regional economic risks. It negatively impacts the economies of almost all countries of the world. Kazakhstan is no exception.

It is important to understand that our economy is in no crisis as such, there are no internal causes for it. The difficulties that we face is the price of our involvement in the global economic relations.

Military-political situation in the world poses new dangers and threats: international terrorism, aggravated interfaith relations in many parts of the world, growing distrust between the powers over the new hotbeds of conflict and a number of unresolved safety issues. 

It is a systemic global crisis, posing challenges to everyone. We anticipated it two years ago. In Kazakhstan-2050 Strategy all the global challenges are detailed on, which the world and our country will have to overcome.

We are in for dramatic and profound changes.

Prior experience of crisis time will play a crucial role. Kazakhstan has passed a serious test and coped with the impact of previous external global shocks.

This time Kazakhstan again gave a convincing response in the economic sphere. Nurly Jol new economic policy has been timely developed.

It includes, firstly, measures to counter the global crisis under the state program of infrastructure development. Secondly, the course for industrialization in the second Five-Year Plan is continued.

Social policy is clearly defined too. Tight fiscal discipline and savings will not affect the social obligations of the state.

Kazakhstan is actively involved in the global and regional policy and enjoys international recognition.

Despite all the difficulties, Kazakhstan should only go ahead!

III. Five institutional reforms

Global challenges and risks are so deep that they bring up the question of the stability and success of the state.

Kazakhstan has the following objectives ahead.

Firstly, to avert a negative scenario of the global crisis impact on the state-building.

Secondly, to maintain the development momentum.

Third, to build conditions for a new breakthrough.

Fourth, to continue the movement to the ranks of 30 world advanced nations.

To meet all the targets of the New Economic Policy "Nurly Jol" and achieve the main goal of Kazakhstan-2050 Strategy, we must strengthen our state, carrying out five successive institutional reforms.

1. Modern state for all

Strong and successful is a state with modern, professional and autonomous state apparatus.

We need to develop a new Law on Civil Service.

Service to the state should be the basis for the formation of Kazakhstan identity.

The civil service should be the prototype of Kazakhstan society, where all are given the same opportunities for self-realization basing on the principle of meritocracy, regardless of ethnicity.

2. The rule of law

It is necessary to ensure the rule of law in Kazakhstan and the protection of property rights.

The weak spots of the judicial system at present are selection of judges, inefficient qualification requirements to them, corruption of the judiciary.

Work of the Interior bodies, of the police remains opaque and lacking as a result in public credibility. 

Therefore it is necessary to raise the status of the police and its responsibility to its citizens, to develop a package of measures to ensure transparency of law enforcements, the development of information technology and so on.

It is important to introduce a new system of professional and psychological selection of the police, tighten the eligibility requirements for judges.

Foreign and home investors should be confident of the soundness of Kazakhstan’s justice. To increase the credibility in it, it is necessary to attract foreign judges to consider investment disputes.

A separate issue is modernization of Kazakhstan’s Army. It has to be modern, mobile, professional, provided with advanced weaponry and equipment.

3. Sustainable economy

First of all, it is a set of economic reforms to accelerate the formation of the middle class. For the growth and diversification of the economy, we are implementing the industrialization program. It is an extremely timely and necessary measure.

However, the manufacturing sector has not yet become a driver of economic growth. The effect of industrial policy in development of industry barely makes 1%.

Urbanization level is not high enough, the rural population is more than 43%. Moreover, rural producers barely pay any taxes. At the same time, huge funds are funneled in subsidizing the productions with low added value.

Current customs procedures and tariff policies are complex, non-tariff barriers are at variance with the international practice.

Industrialization is aimed at creation of jobs and development of Kazakhstan's export potential. The key medium term task is to prevent a sharp "dip" in the dynamics of economic development.

The work should result in the emergence of new three or four export products through economy diversification.

It is important to develop agribusiness on the basis of a new complex development program.

In this regard, it is necessary to implement about10 large-scale projects involving multinational companies.

A main focus is development of the service sector, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises of the service sector. 

It is necessary to adopt a new program for tourism development, to seek access of our producers to large regional markets, as well as liberalization of customs and import and export procedures in the Eurasian Economic Union.

Momentum should be imparted to creation of the financial center in Almaty. It is important to legal-frame a special status of Almaty.

4. Nation of single future

In previous years, Kazakhstan has made significant progress in maintaining stability and social harmony.

Kazakhstan's Constitution guarantees equal rights to all the citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or social standing. Alongside that, it must further strengthen Kazakhstan identity.

Kazakhstan identity must be based on the principle of citizenship.

Kazakhs have a special responsibility as a state-forming ethnicity. They have an important integrative role in Kazakhstan nationhood building.

Trinity of languages - Kazakh, Russian and English is a pledge of the society’s cohesion. 

Kazakhstanis should put national ideals and values above their ethnic behavioral patterns, which is the main goal to be attained.

Eurasianism is a rallying idea for all the Kazakhstanis.

Values of all- Kazakhstan Mәңgilik El idea should be taught at schools. 

5. Transparent and accountable State

Kazakhstan society is gradually adapting to changes. It is an important factor of political stability.

Many countries’ experience shows that violation of the principle of "first - a strong state and economy, then - politics" leads to a disaster, it splits the society. In some states it destabilizes political regimes, in other it results in economic collapse, conflicts and even civil wars.

It is therefore important now to complete the institutional reforms in public administration and economic development, and only then take a number of important steps towards democratization.

The "4 + 1" reforms are expedient, as evidenced by successful states’ practices.

Firstly, it is necessary to expand the practice of the government agencies’ accountability.

Secondly, we need to ensure transparency of decision-making. Through the mechanism of "open government" citizens should be actively involved in the decision-making process of supreme state bodies.

Third, civil budgeting should be introduced.

Fourth, it is important to strengthen the appeal and redressing. The law should allow for redressing the actions of public servants. Administrative justice should be developed.

Fifth task is widespread self-regulation of the society, transferring powers from the state agencies to civil society institutions.

Each of the five institutional reforms is a huge challenge for the country, a painstaking work, requiring financial costs and professional guidance.

As international experience suggests, establishment of a strong state and developed society takes decades - 40-50 years of steady progress.

These measures radically change the system of social relations.

To carry them out, I propose to establish a National Commission on the Modernization. 

Thus, our main task in the coming years is to start and implement step-by-step these five institutional reforms.

My Dear Kazakhstanis!

People’s destiny is my destiny! Welfare of every Kazakhstani family is my personal welfare, my best reward!

I will always work for the good of the people and the state! That is the purpose of my life!

Paid from the national budget in accordance with the Law "On elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan" and the election fund of candidate for President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Source: www.kazpravda.kz