The Head of State`s Statement on the Address to Kazakhstan`s Nation

Dear compatriots!

Kazakhstan has overcome many of the global challenges and is entering a phase of intensive economic transformation.

Our country`s long-term development strategy until 2050 is being implemented.

We are undertaking reforms within the framework of the National Plan of 100 Concrete Steps.

Systemic efforts are being made to facilitate industrialisation.

We have passed constitutional reforms, and embarked upon the Third Modernisation.

Complex measures are being taken within the Rukhani Zhanghyru programme (Modernisation of Kazakhstan`s Identity programme).

The Digital Kazakhstan program has been adopted.

Dear fellow citizens!

Today humanity is entering an era of a new industrial revolution.

Modern technologies are changing the world.

Global technological shifts bring about both challenges and new opportunities for growth.

This is a historic chance for us to rapidly join the top 30 most developed countries.

My annual address to the people of Kazakhstan will be published tomorrow.

It will focus on the country`s development in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

I see 10 priorities that we need to implement.

I want to briefly outline their main points.

First. Kazakhstan`s industry must become the flagship for the introduction of new technologies.

Our manufacturing industry needs to increase labour productivity through the digitisation of manufacturing chains and the adoption of modern business models.

Second. It is necessary to significantly improve the efficiency of our resource use.

Information and technological solutions should be applied in order to achieve this. This will help to increase the share of extracted resources, their processing depth, as well as enhancing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of production operations.

Third. We must raise our agricultural industry to a new technological level.

This will significantly increase the production capacity in the agricultural sector and the exports of the end product.

Fourth. A further development of the transportation and logistics infrastructure.

Introduction of digital technologies and construction of intelligent transportation systems provide the opportunity to shorten the cargo delivery time and increase revenues from transit.

Fifth. The application of modern technologies in construction, housing services and utilities.

New construction methods, increasing the requirements for energy efficiency of buildings and the introduction of intelligent infrastructure management systems will improve the quality of life of Kazakhstani citizens.

Sixth. A "Reset" of the financial sector.

Measures to enhance the banking system should be accompanied by increased supervision and take into consideration the interests of ordinary citizens.

It is necessary to significantly raise the level of accountability of those who own banks and those who manage them.

We need to expand lending and ensure the development of the stock market.

Seventh. A new quality of human capital.

All levels of the education system have to meet the realities of the modern world and demands of the economy.

It is also necessary to raise the prestige of the teaching profession.

In healthcare, the use of new technologies should significantly improve disease prevention and treatment, and raise the quality of health services.

In 2016-2017, welfare payments were increased three times, including basic pensions by 29%, pay-as-you-go pensions by 32%, salaries of healthcare workers by 28%, salaries of education

workers by 29%, and those of civil servants by 30%.

This trend will continue.

This year, welfare budget expenditure will be increased by 12% and will exceed 4 trillion tenge.

The basic pension will increase by an average of 1.8 times, taking into account employment history.

The salaries of teachers, who switch to teaching within the framework of the updated curricula, will increase by between 30 and 50 percent, depending on the conferred qualification.

Eighth. Effective public administration.

Digital technologies will allow us to continue business deregulation, improve the quality of public services and state support, and help us better meet the needs of citizens.

The economic independence of regional and local governments will be expanded.

Ninth. The rule of law and the fight against corruption remains a priority of State policy.

Tenth. The introduction of "Smart City" technologies will allow Kazakhstan to effectively solve the problems of growing cities and increase their attractiveness for investors.

Today, we all need to concentrate on achieving these ten tasks.

They are presented in more detail in the full text of my Address.

Dear people of Kazakhstan!

The implementation of these tasks will require the unity and cooperation of the entire society.

To this end, the Government and governors must conduct extensive explanatory work.

The prosperity of our nation will depend on the ability of every citizen to meet the requirements of the new "digital era".

Every Kazakhstani should understand this clearly.

I firmly believe that we will achieve all of these goals on the path to a bright future for Kazakhstan.