Alikhan Smailov: Government to continue expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs

The progress of the National Project for the development of entrepreneurship for 2021-2025 was considered at the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.

The Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov said that in 2021 under the National Project state support covered 48.8 thousand projects, for the implementation of new business ideas in services and manufacturing industry 984 projects provided grants. Besides, 33,4 thousand people were trained in the basics of entrepreneurship and more than 169 thousand more SMEs got consulting services on starting up and running a business.

By the end of the year due to realization of measures of the National project 320 thousand new workplaces were created, 814 thousand people were covered by active measures of employment assistance. At the same time, the share of the rural population with incomes below the subsistence level has decreased, the contribution of SMEs to the country's GDP has increased, and the share of the state sector in the economy has been reduced to 14.5%.

Presentations on this issue were also made by the Chairman of the Presidium of Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Raimbek Batalov, Akims of Pavlodar region Abylkair Skakov, of Aktobe region Yeraly Tugzhanov, as well as Deputy Akim of Shymkent Aibek Sattybayev.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the National Entrepreneurship Development Project focuses on the qualitative development of small and medium-sized businesses.

"The main goal is to increase employment and provide equal conditions for business entities. For this purpose, the government is creating transparent and clear rules for business," Smailov said.

He also reminded that the Government jointly with Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurship carries out a large-scale work on introduction of new regulatory policy in the sphere of entrepreneurial activity. In particular, measures are taken to automate the system of risk assessment and risk management in state control to eliminate the human factor.

"The implementation of the reform "from scratch" will improve the effectiveness of regulation of the business environment, to form a favorable and stimulating environment for the development of entrepreneurship," Prime Minister said.

According to him, this year, the share of SMEs in GDP has reached 33.5%. The number of business entities is 1.4 million, and the total number of those employed in small and medium enterprises is 3.5 million people.

"Our goal is to ensure qualitative changes in this direction to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs. The expected effect of the National Project by 2025 will be to increase the share of small and medium business in the country's GDP up to 35%, create around 1 million jobs and reduce the share of the state in the economy to 14%," Alikhan Smailov said.

In this regard, for the qualitative and timely achievement of indicators of the national project, Prime Minister instructed to increase the effectiveness of state support measures in all directions, taking into account the counter obligations for business.

"We expect from entrepreneurs to create new jobs, stable salaries, timely deductions of pension contributions and taxes, and expansion of the range of products," Alikhan Smailov emphasized.

In addition, the akimats were instructed to provide comprehensive support for new businesses: to promptly make decisions on the construction of roads and connection to electricity, water, and heat supplies. The Ministry of National Economy and the Atameken Chamber should continue working to reduce the administrative burden, as well as to ensure the revision of both existing requirements for business and newly introduced ones.

"Business should feel that the Government is interested in its stable and profitable activity," the Prime Minister concluded. 

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