OREANDA-NEWS. May 20, 2013. The Government of Kazakhstan approved an updated forecast of socio-economic development of Kazakhstan for 2013-2017 and the draft law "On amendments and additions to the Law" On Republican Budget for 2013-2015." Minister of Economy and Budget Planning Yerbolat Dossayev delivered a report on this issue.

Following the discussion, Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov instructed republican budget programs administrators in a one-day period to submit adjusted strategy plans to the Ministry of Economy, Prime Minister's Office in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy to prepare for signing the abovementioned documents as soon as possible and submit them to the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan.

At the Government session, Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov reminded about the personal responsibility of officials for the undisbursed funds under the program "Affordable Housing 2020".

Akhmetov said that under the program "Affordable Housing 2020", which was adopted last year on the instructions of the Kazakh President, it is planned to put into operation 6.6 million square meters of housing.

Reports on the implementation of the program were delivered by Vice Minister of Regional Development S.Nokin, head of JSC "Kazakhstan Housing and Construction Corporation" K.Aitekenov, Chairman of the Board of JSC "Zhilstroysberbank" N.Nauryzbayeva, head of JSC "Real Estate Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" B.Palymbetov, Vice Minister of Industry and New Technologies N.Sauranbayev, as well as governors of Akmola, Atyrau and South Kazakhstan regions.

"Today's discussion has shown that in some regions there are still problems connected with the lack of interaction with the program operators, development of all necessary documents, allocation of land for the construction of house-building factories," Akhmetov said.

The Head of Government stressed that following the results of six months it was planned to consider the issues of redistribution of undeveloped resources.

In this regard, Akhmetov instructed Akimats to address the problems raised by Zhilstroysberbank, Ministry of Economy in cooperation with the Ministry of Regional Development, to consider the capitalization of JSC "Kazakhstan Mortgage Company", and Ministry of Industry together with Akimats to take all necessary measures to deal with all problems connected with house-building factories.

In addition, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies to develop and submit the draft program "Energy Efficiency 2020" to the Government until August 1 this year.

"The President instructed to ensure annual 10-percent reduction in energy consumption by 2015. First of all, it concerns the industry, housing sector and public offices. It is necessary to have exact plans on all directions including at the regional level," he stressed.

"Energy conservation is a national problem and it should be implemented in all economy sectors and spheres of life," Akhmetov noted.

The Head of Cabinet instructed the regional governors to enforce the comprehensive plan and the President’s instruction on the annual reduction in energy consumption in the regions. The Ministry of Industry was instructed to strengthen the monitoring of the implementation of energy conservation policy in the regions and at enterprises.

"We have to raise public awareness of the need for and the benefits of careful energy consumption. The Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Ministry of Educationshould strengthen the work to promote energy efficiency," Akhmetov concluded.