Kazakhstan, Astana, September 10 / Trend D.Mukhtarov /
The Single-Industry Cities Development Programme for 2012-2020 rolled out on a pilot basis, was launched in Kazakhstan last year and this year it is being implemented in full, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov said speaking at country's government meeting on Tuesday.
However, in his opinion, there are serious shortcomings that should be addressed.
"The mining and metallurgical industry is concentrated in single-industry cities and during a crisis it is exposed to reduction of export potential," the Prime Minister said pointing to governors that 'their actions are concentrated on the development of engineering and social infrastructure'.
According to Akhmetov, attention should be paid to the main direction of a programme towards economic diversification, development of entrepreneurship and job creation.
According to the data of Regional Development Ministry, 27 single-industries cities contain 1.53 million people or 16.8 per cent of the urban population of the country. Only six cities have a high potential of development and 19 cities on average.
A programme on a systematic solution of small city problems was launched in Kazakhstan last year. Six billion tenge is allocated for this purpose and 170 projects were implemented. For the current year 18.8 billion tenge ($1 - 153.9 tenge) is to be allocated for this purpose and about 10 billion tenge, or 54 per cent of the funds has been already provided.
In 2013 in the framework of investment projects 6.3 billion tenge has been allocated towards development of industry cities and for the implementation of on-going activities - 6.6 billion tenge. Prior to 2015, it is planned to demolish all existing emergency homes and buildings in the industry cities.