OREANDA-NEWS. April 26, 2013. Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov has held a session of the Government at Ukimet Uyi.

Minister of Economy and Budget Planning Yerbolat Dossayev reported on the results of the country’s socio-economic development.

"According to preliminary estimates, Kazakhstan’s GDP grew by 4.5% in the first quarter of this year. Short-term economic indicator for the six basic industries was 103.7%. Stable macroeconomic situation facilitated economic growth," he said.

From the beginning of the year the level of inflation has made 1.9%. Production of non-ferrous metals increased by 4.8%, light industry - by 4.7%, chemical industry - by 1.6%. Production growth in the machine-building and beverage industries was 21.3%. Overall production in the manufacturing sector increased by 1.6%.

For two months mutual trade with the Customs Union states increased by 23.5% in comparison with the same period of the last year and amounted to 4 billion U.S. dollars. Export volume grew by 7.7%.

The unemployment rate was 5.3% in March 2013.

"In the first quarter there has been a trend of acceleration of GDP growth, and in case of maintaining that pace the country’s economic growth in the first half of the year will be 5%. In the second half of the year, taking into account seasonal factors against the last year’s recession, including in agriculture, we expect GDP growth of 6.8%," Dossayev emphasized.

Kazakh Minister of Finance Bolat Zhamishev told about the implementation of the republican budget and goals for the coming period. According to him, the budget revenues in the 1st quarter of this year amounted to 1 trillion 248 billion tenge or 99.1% of the plan. Compared to the same period last year, revenues increased by 82.9 billion tenge.

"In 1st quarter the volume of budget expenditures was 1 trillion 286.8 billion tenge or 88.8% of the plan," Zhamishev said.

According to him, the structure of expenditures included social assistance and social services - 25.2%, health - 11.5%, education - 7.3%.

Summing up the results of the discussion, S. Akhmetov noted that the President of Kazakhstan instructed the Government to ensure sustainable economic growth this year. "In general, socio-economic results for the first quarter are positive. Despite the global economic situation it is necessary to preserve macroeconomic stability."

"This year, we have to ensure 6% economic growth, and we need to achieve it not only by increasing our export opportunities, but also through the expansion of the domestic demand," Akhmetov stressed.

At the same time, the Prime Minister stressed that the country's economy is vulnerable to external influences with all existing risks.

Akhmetov instructed the Ministry of Economy in cooperation with involved government agencies to monitor the economic situation in the world as well as in our country and if necessary, under the Government's economic plan, to develop additional proposals for an adequate response to the situation.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for a qualitative disbursement of the budget. He urged the budget program administrator, regional governors to enforce financial discipline and value for money.

The concept of electronic healthcare development in Kazakhstan for 2013-2020 was presented at the session.

The draft Concept of Development of Socio-Entrepreneurial Corporations was approved as well.