Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASTANA29
2006-04-13 07:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: NAZARBAYEV OUTLINES PLAN TO MAKE KAZAKHSTAN ONE

Tags:  ECIN EINV ENRG KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE PINR 
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PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU
DE RUEHAST #0029/01 1030702
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 130702Z APR 06
FM USOFFICE ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0099
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY PRIORITY 0093
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0014
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0016
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0018
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0013
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0014
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0015
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0039
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ASTANA 0101
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000029 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE)
USOSCE FOR D. BROWN AND J. DUNLOP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN EINV ENRG KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE PINR
WTRO, KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NAZARBAYEV OUTLINES PLAN TO MAKE KAZAKHSTAN ONE
OF WORLD'S 50 MOST COMPETITIVE COUNTRIES

REF: ALMATY 1095

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000029

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE)
USOSCE FOR D. BROWN AND J. DUNLOP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN EINV ENRG KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE PINR
WTRO, KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NAZARBAYEV OUTLINES PLAN TO MAKE KAZAKHSTAN ONE
OF WORLD'S 50 MOST COMPETITIVE COUNTRIES

REF: ALMATY 1095


1. (U) Summary: In his annual state of the nation address
delivered on March 1, President Nazarbayev presented his
"Strategy for Kazakhstan's being among - the world's 50 most
competitive countries." In his introductory statement, he spoke
of the key components of his vision: the market economy, the
social safety net, a democratic society, national security, and
international relations. While Nazarbayev's speech touched upon
all of these issues, his focus was clearly on economic
modernization. End summary.



The Market Economy

--------------




2. (U) President Nazarbayev stressed diversification of the
economy, calling for realization of "breakthrough projects" and
achieving world market competitiveness in selected "niches." He
strongly endorsed extending government support and credit
assistance to stimulate imports of high-tech equipment and
exports of goods other than raw materials. Noting that such
exports have remained at the level of $2 bn. for almost a
decade, Nazarbayev called it "necessary" to achieve an increase.
At the same time, he promised to continue to maintain
"transparency and stability in conditions of cooperation with
multinational corporations" in the natural resource sector. In
regard to energy, Nazarbayev said the focus "must now be on
diversifying and ensuring stable channels for supply of
Kazakhstan's energy resources to the world markets."




3. (U) A key aspect of President Nazarbayev's economic program
is Kazakhstan's integration into the world economy. "We must be
prepared for intense competition and use it to our advantage,"
he declared. Nazarbayev expressed support for Kazakhstan's

active participation in various economic organizations and for
WTO accession, which "is going at full speed." He called for
the development of a commercial high-tech sector, an effort in
which the Innovation Fund would play a key role. (Note: The
state-owned National Innovation Fund was established in May 2003
to encourage economic diversification and industrial-innovative
development. End note.) This, Nazarbayev said, would enable
Kazakhstan to acquire intellectual property ownership.
Consequently, he continued, Kazakhstan needs to improve
protection of copyrights and trademarks by strengthening
criminal and administrative measures against infringement and
implementing "a broad-based public campaign aimed at building
intolerance to pirated goods."




4. (U) President Nazarbayev also addressed the issue of
infrastructure, saying that "the major task for Kazakhstan's
transport-communications complex remains integration into the
Eurasian transportation system." The integration process, he
said, "must take full advantage of the country's geo-strategic
position as a transit bridge between Europe and Asia."
Nazarbayev called for the creation of at least two or three
aviation hubs to establish "quality links" between Europe and
Asia. He said that improved infrastructure is needed to develop
Almaty as "the principal financial center of the Central Asian
region" and Astana as "a modern capital of the Eurasian space."
Nazarbayev also spoke of creating "academic centers" and
"technological parks" and directing the development of the
country's scientific potential to link applied research with
commercial business. The state must "abolish legislative,
administrative, and bureaucratic obstacles to business
initiative."




5. (U) President Nazarbayev charged the Government with a number
of concrete tasks, particularly in the area of taxation. The
value added tax, he said, should be lowered by 1% in 2007 and

ASTANA 00000029 002 OF 003


another 1-2% in 2008-2009. (Note: The value added tax is
currently set at 15%. End note.) Starting in 2008, the social
tax is to be reduced by 30%, which "should serve as a stimulus
for employers to raise employees' wages." (Note: The social
tax is a progressive tax paid by the employer on employees'
wages. End note.) Starting in 2007, a single unified tax rate
is to be introduced for small businesses. (Note: Small
businesses are currently subject to a progressive tax. End
note.) At the same time, a 10% personal income tax is to be
introduced, with partial exemptions for low income earners.
Nazarbayev emphasized the importance of maintaining fiscal
discipline and using monetary policy to limit inflation. He
also called for various legislative measures aimed at
strengthening the institution of private property, including
imposition of economic, administrative, and criminal liability
for breach of contract, protections for minority shareholders,
stronger anti-monopoly provisions, and guarantees against
re-nationalization. Furthermore, Nazarbayev urged the
development of a program for floating national companies'
securities on capital markets.



The Social Safety Net

--------------




6. (U) As a second priority, President Nazarbayev called for
strengthening the social safety net. The state, he said, will
not spare resources in supporting socially vulnerable segments
of the population. He tasked the Government with raising
pensions for a number of selected groups, such as WWII veterans
and their families. Nazarbayev said that social policy needs to
be brought into compliance with market forces, targeting stable
employment as the key objective. He urged the adoption of an
environmental code and a labor code as well as international
standards of social responsibility for businesses. He discussed
the importance of improving housing, educational, and healthcare
infrastructure. Finally, President Nazarbayev said that
Kazakhstan's circumstances are favorable for accepting inflows
of foreign labor. He called for a one-time amnesty for migrant
laborers, as well as a mechanism to attract highly educated,
professional workers to Kazakhstan on a permanent basis.



A Democratic Society

--------------




7. (U) President Nazarbayev named "further development of
democracy and modernization of the political system" as another
priority. He noted, however, that it is necessary to balance
"the general patterns" shared by prosperous democratic states
with "the important cultural and historical traits and
traditions" of Kazakhstani society. Nazarbayev said that "the
unity" demonstrated by the citizens in electing him last
December leaves no doubt about the society's "consolidation," a
precondition for the country's stable development. He went on
to speak about "the anxiety, even fear at times" that
Kazakhstanis experienced during the campaign, a phenomenon, he
added, that "some were, apparently, counting on." "We all
recall," he remarked, "the sigh of relief our citizens breathed
after the election."




8. (U) Nazarbayev said that the absence of well-established
democratic traditions and society's tendency to mistake
permissiveness for freedom pose threats to the country's
stability. Therefore, he continued, democratic traditions must
be not only developed but also protected. The key to this, he
stated, is enforcement of law and decisive prosecution of
behavior such as slander, bribery, and violence. Nazarbayev
welcomed NGOs' role in Kazakhstan's development, but said that

ASTANA 00000029 003 OF 003


they will not be permitted to act outside the law.



National Security

--------------




9. (U) Discussing national security, President Nazarbayev
emphasized the creation of a professional army and the struggle
against religious extremism, international terrorism, and drug
trafficking. He spoke of regional cooperation on these issues,
including anti-terrorist initiatives under the umbrella of NATO.
Nazarbayev then turned to discussing corruption as "a threat to
national security and social stability." He called for
legislative amendments to bring transparency to the financial
activities of state and private enterprises. He spoke in favor
of an amnesty on capital and property taken out of legal
domestic circulation, with the exception of funds directed
toward illegal activities, such as drug or weapons trafficking.
The plan calls for a 10% tax to be charged on the equities being
legalized. Those who took capital out of circulation but fail
to take advantage of the amnesty and pay the tax will be
prosecuted, said Nazarbayev.



International Relations

--------------




10. (U) The final priority cited by President Nazarbayev was
"further realization of a balanced and responsible foreign
policy." This called for developing a strategic partnership
with Russia, strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with
China, strengthening senior-level relations with the U.S.,
developing cooperation with the European Union, closer
coordination with neighboring Central Asian states, and
developing relations with the countries of the Muslim world.
Regarding the U.S., President Nazarbayev spoke of "a long-term
and stable partnership characterized by broad cooperation on the
issues of ensuring international energy security and stability,
combating terrorism and religious extremism, and continuing
democratization."



Comment

--------------




11. (SBU) Comment: President Nazarbayev's speech was long on
economic reform, and there is ample evidence that Astana's
prudent macroeconomic policies will continue. Nazarbayev's
elevation of intellectual property protection was a particularly
encouraging note, given the importance of this issue for WTO
accession. In comparison with last year's speech, this annual
address was much shorter than expected on democratic reform.
Rather than break new ground, he stuck to the usual theme of
following a "Kazakhstani path" to democracy. Senior sources in
Astana tell us that the political uncertainty associated with
the Sarsenbayev murder led to the decision to minimize the
attention paid to it this year. The President's opening remarks
to the Democratization Commission a few weeks later (see reftel)
had the kind of detail that we had expected in this speech.

End comment.
TRACY