Growth in industry, employment and modernization of healthcare system — how economy of Almaty developed during pandemic

 

In 2020, the positive dynamics of the main socio-economic indicators remains in Almaty. Throughout the year, the region has been implementing major projects to create industrial and social infrastructure. Read the review about the main indicators for January-December 2020.

Despite the negative trends caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Almaty managed to complete 2020 with an increase in almost all indicators of socio-economic development.

Trade, transport and warehousing suffered from the restrictions.

In January-December 2020, the short-term economic indicator (including the dynamics of development of 6 key sectors: industry, agriculture, construction, trade, transport, communications) increased by 1.4% compared to the period January-November and amounted to 91.5%.

In industry, growth was achieved by 4.6%, construction increased by 10.6%, communication services by 8.2%. There has been a noticeable improvement in trade. Thus, in comparison with the period January-November, the growth amounted to 2.4%.

Inflation at the end of 2020 was 107.2%. Investment in fixed assets amounted to 971.2 billion tenge and increased by 17.2%.

The state budget received 2 trillion 290 billion tenge of taxes with an increase of 2.9%.

Trade takes 34.4% of the city's economy and 38% of the country volume. Nevertheless, despite the state of emergency and lockdowns, it was possible to keep the volume of retail trade at 3.5 trillion tenge. And the wholesale turnover is at the level of 10 trillion tenge, which made it possible to prevent a significant decrease in trade indicators.

The most vulnerable to the coronavirus shock were SMEs, especially in the service sector. However, thanks to the implementation of the large-scale plan for supporting the economy, developed on behalf of the Head of State, it was possible to prevent the reduction of this sector.

How healthcare system developed during the pandemic?

Almaty is the largest metropolitan area in the country and a high level of health care system is extremely important for the city. Now in the structure of the Department of Public Health there are 74 organizations — specialized hospitals, clinics, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers.

In 2020, 342,215 patients were treated in hospitals. Including, more than 20 thousand with coronavirus infection. The number of visits to primary health care organizations (polyclinics) 8,745,259.

As part of the modernization initiated and supported by the city akimat, in 2020, a large number of new equipment was purchased and delivered to medical institutions. To provide medical care to the population of Almaty, within the framework of the "City without Suburbs" program, from 2019 to 2021, 15 medical outpatient clinics were opened within walking distance. By 2023, it is planned to open 17 more dispensaries.

Today, the equipment of Almaty hospitals and clinics is not inferior to the world standard. Over the past few years, the health care system has received significant financial support from the state and local budgets. This made it possible to carry out a large-scale modernization of the industry, purchase modern equipment, and introduce innovative developments and technologies. Ultimately, all these measures have a positive impact on the development of the economy and a qualitative improvement in the life of Kazakhstanis.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 22,215 cases of coronavirus infection have been registered in Almaty. Cured — 20,380 (98%). The deceased is 429 people. Daily gain, on average, 0.3%. Every day, no more than 40 patients with CVI are admitted to hospitals.

As part of the fight against the pandemic, in 2020, 43.1 billion tenge was allocated from the local budget. High-tech equipment has been purchased, in particular, 285 ventilators, 250 high-flow oxygen therapy O2FLO devices, oxygen concentrators, 6 oxygen stations have been installed in hospitals, and separate operating units have been opened to treat Covid patients.

As part of the modernization, 135 special vehicles equipped with advanced resuscitation equipment were purchased for the ambulance service and medical organizations. In addition to beds in infectious diseases hospitals, infectious diseases wards are organized in city hospitals. The entire bed capacity for KVI patients is 7,011 beds.

To fight the coronavirus, last year, with the financial support of the Government, three specialized Mobile hospitals were built. In particular, in the Modular hospital — 280 beds, in the second Modular branch RV-90 — 500 beds, in the module of the children's infectious diseases hospital — 300 beds. Today, 68% of their total are in reserve. The intensive care units are now occupied by less than 50%.

To monitor the condition of outpatients with CVI, a Telemedicine Center was created. And also, the Center for Mobile Anesthesiology and Reanimation, which includes leading professors and experienced resuscitation doctors. For efficiency in servicing KVI-patients who are in home quarantine, mobile teams have been created at each PHC organization.

The therapeutic activities of medical organizations in Almaty, including during the period of the fight against coronavirus, are based on the treatment protocols approved by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and in accordance with the requirements of the Resolutions of the Chief Sanitary Physicians of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Almaty to ensure the quality of medical care and the implementation of sanitary and epidemiological safety measures for the population and medical staff.

On behalf of the akimat, a stabilization fund for medicines and medical supplies was created. For the uninterrupted supply of inpatient and polyclinic organizations of the Public Health Administration with drugs, medical products and personal protective equipment, as well as for the supply of medicines to pharmacies, a minimum two-month stock of necessary medicines, medical supplies and products has been formed.

What measures taken to restore economic activity in the region in 2020?

In 2020, systemic measures were taken through the proactive implementation of state and regional programs, within the framework of which more than 2.1 thousand projects were supported with a total value of almost 350 billion tenge.

The amount from the budget for the implementation of programs was increased 3 times to 34 billion tenge, fines for overdue loans during the emergency were canceled, and a deferral for loans was introduced in the most affected industries. Rent accrual was suspended for 20 thousand entrepreneurs, 75 thousand SMEs received tax breaks.

Under the Business Roadmap-2025 program, the amount of lending has been increased, industry restrictions have been lifted, and the remuneration rate for small and micro-businesses has been subsidized.

Under the regional program of Almaty Business-2025, the rate was reduced from 7% to 6%, the amount per borrower was increased from 300 to 500 million tenge.

In general, lending to SMEs increased 1.7 times (175.4%) and amounted to more than 1.4 trillion tenge.

As a result, the number of operating entities in the SME sector during the pandemic not only did not decrease, but even increased by almost 4%.

As a result, we managed not to go into the “red zone” and at the same time to maintain business activity in the city, in general, ensuring a stable socio-economic situation.

In 2020, systemic measures were taken through the proactive implementation of state and regional programs, within the framework of which more than 2.1 thousand projects were supported with a total value of almost 350 billion tenge. The amount from the budget for the implementation of programs was increased 3 times to 30.4 billion tenge.

In general, lending to small businesses in 2020 increased by 1.7 times (175.4%) and amounted to more than 1.4 trillion tenge.

Also, within the framework of the regional program of Almaty Business-2025, a new tool for supporting SMEs and attracting investors has been introduced — small industrial parks. Three such parks were opened in idle premises in 2020.

Additionally, in order to support and develop business, in the fall of 2019, the Qoldaý Entrepreneurship Center was launched, providing business advice on the principle of 'one window’.

In Almaty, deferrals were granted for tax, rent and credit payments. 74,769 SMEs in the amount of 23.5 billion tenge took advantage of tax breaks. Deferrals for loans are provided for 360 thousand loans for 127.3 billion tenge. Exemption from payment for rent of premises was provided to 1,111 entrepreneurs in the amount of 376 million tenge.

What work done in 2020 to provide social assistance during the pandemic?

On behalf of the Elbasy and the Head of State, unprecedented measures were taken to support the population during a pandemic. So, in Almaty:

  • more than 600 thousand people received 42,500 tenge each due to the loss of income by 33,580 million tenge;
  • 82.8 thousand people from among socially vulnerable segments of the population were provided with a social payment in the amount of 2 MCI for 2 billion tenge;
  • 6.2 thousand low-income families were provided with targeted social assistance for 3.4 billion tenge,
  • 6.9 thousand children from 1 to 6 years old were provided with food sets and household chemicals for 329.8 million tenge;
  • 63.8 thousand people were provided with food and household sets;
  • 48.5 thousand people from among lonely pensioners (over 80 years old), medical workers, volunteers were provided with hot meals;
  • 5 thousand persons from the number of SUSN closed accounts receivable in the amount of 80 million tenge;

During the Bizbirgemiz campaign initiated by Elbasy, members of the NurOtan party and volunteers delivered grocery baskets to more than 60 thousand families at 50,000 tenge each.

In support of large and low-income families, there are 9 Baqytty Otbasy” centers. The centers registered 33 848 people, provided information and consultative assistance and resource support — 78.8 thousand people.

In order to assist persons with disabilities in their search for work, the project Ten Qogam Social Support Center for Persons with Disabilities was implemented, which became a platform for people with disabilities, in order to obtain qualifications or improve the existing ones, as well as support during the search and the initial period of employment. from six months or more.

The project "School of Independent Living" was implemented, which is aimed at supporting persons with disabilities in order to overcome their fears and insecurities associated with disability, increase self-esteem and instill the skills of goal-setting and planning their own lives. 48 persons with disabilities were trained with the participation of 6 trainers.

The Shynga Orleu Social Club project was launched, the purpose of which is to involve representatives of the older generation who find themselves in difficult life situations in public life, by transferring life experience, knowledge and skills to children of primary school age.

900 children from low-income families were covered, 72 professional teachers from among pensioners and people with disabilities were employed. For the leisure of the elderly, there are 9 centers for active aging, where 21,397 elderly people are registered.

How small and medium-sized businesses developed in the region in 2020?

In Almaty, the number of operating SMEs, despite the pandemic, in 2020 increased by 3.6% or 6.9 thousand.

Analysis of the number of employed in SMEs characterizes the importance of entrepreneurship in solving the employment problem. The share of the population of the city of Almaty actively employed in SMEs, as of Oct. 1, 2020, amounted to 600.6 thousand people, or this is 6 out of 10 employed.

The production output by operating SMEs in absolute monetary terms is growing annually. The output of SMEs in comparable prices increased by 5.3% and amounted to 5 594.8 billion tenge.

Under the Business Road Map-2025 program, in 2020, 7.9 billion tenge was allocated to support SMEs, of which, within the framework of anti-crisis measures, 2 billion from the republican budget. Approved 1,167 projects, saved more than 16 thousand permanent jobs.

Taking into account the economic situation, the amount of lending was increased with the use of guarantees for the missing part of the collateral; sectoral restrictions were removed, measures were taken to unify the rate for entrepreneurs at the level of 6%, a new direction was developed to subsidize the remuneration rate of small and microenterprises.

What measures taken by regional leadership to increase employment coverage?

In 2020, an increase in the number of unemployed was noted in almost all regions of the republic; in Almaty, the unemployment rate increased by 0.2% and amounted to 5.3%.

For the period of economic recovery during the state of emergency and restrictive measures in order to curb the growth of unemployment, active work was carried out to implement state programs, and work was also carried out with business entities in terms of creating new jobs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to an increase in the number of people applying for work at the Employment Center. Thus, more than 76 thousand people applied for assistance in finding a job.

In total, 56.4 thousand people were covered by employment measures, 18.6 thousand of them were sent to state-subsidized jobs, more than 1 thousand people were covered by short-term vocational training, more than 1.7 thousand people received grants for starting a business.

In addition, within the framework of state programs and business entities, 76 301 new jobs were created over the past year.

For 2021, the plan for creating jobs is 51 thousand, including 28 thousand for permanent jobs and 23 thousand through the implementation of state programs.

The Employment Roadmap envisaged the implementation of 228 infrastructure projects.

A total of 21,818 jobs were created, including 10,926 through the employment center, the condition for employment of at least 50% through the Employment Center was fulfilled. The share of employed young people is 37%.

Financial assistance was paid in addition to the received wages — one-time financial assistance (lifting) — 753 employees.

Taking into account the rolling projects for 2021, the 2020 employment plan is 100% fulfilled.

In 2021, work continued on the implementation of the Employment Roadmap. It is planned to implement 11 infrastructure projects.

Results of regional industry development in 2020

At the end of 2020, the growth in industrial production was 4.6%.

In the Territory Development Plan for 2020, according to the index of industrial production of the manufacturing industry, the plan for 2020 was 102.5%, at the end of the year the plan will reach 106.9%. The growth in industrial production took place in such industries as mechanical engineering, pharmaceutical paper and paper products, construction industry, light industry.

In 2020, 4 plants were launched in the Industrial Zone of Almaty: Almerek LLP, DoorHan LLP, Huyndai Trans Kazakhstan LLP, SK Rakhat LLP for 29.9 billion tenge with the creation of 850 jobs.

In addition, within the framework of the state program of industrial and innovative development of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020-2025, 4 plants were implemented in the city: Oil-Del LLP, Papirone LLP, AZMK LLP and Solnechny Dairy Plant LLP for 9 billion tenge with the creation of 220 jobs.

Almaty is not an agricultural region, and there are no sown areas in the city. At the same time, the processing of agricultural products is a priority, since the food industry occupies about 40% of the entire manufacturing industry of the city. As of Aug. 1, 2020, 269 actively operating food industry enterprises were registered, which produced products in January-June for 181 billion tenge, including: food for 142.6 billion tenge, drinks for 38.4 billion tenge.

At the end of 2020, under the Economy of Simple Things program, 68 projects were financed and approved for 124.1 billion tenge.

What work done to attract investment in the region in 2020?

The volume of investments in fixed assets amounted to 971.2 billion tenge. Basically, investments were attracted from three sources, the main share of which fell on the owners of enterprises themselves — 62.1% of the total volume of investments. Borrowed funds amounted to 16.9%, the state budget — 17.8%.

In 2020, a significant amount of investment was attracted in:

- real estate — 425.1 billion tenge;

- industry — 133.9 billion tenge;

- transport and storage — 100.2 billion tenge;

- education — 59 billion tenge;

- financial and insurance activities — 51.1 billion tenge.

At the same time, in 2020, 51 projects were implemented in Almaty for 174.8 billion tenge, with the creation of 4,065 jobs.

Also, on Dec. 3, 2020, a large-scale Almaty Investment Forum 2020 was held online, in which more than 5,000 spectators took part.

Within the framework of this Forum, 55 memorandums of cooperation were signed for over 1.5 trillion tenge with foreign and domestic investors. The signed memorandums are aimed at improving and developing socially important areas of the city, such as education, health care, development of urban infrastructure, industry, tourism, information technology and the creative industry.

In addition, today a pool of 201 investment projects for 2021-2024 has been formed for a total cost of 4.5 trillion tenge with the creation of 35.4 thousand jobs, of which 92 projects are being implemented in 2021 for 187.9 billion tenge with the creation of more than 7 thousand jobs.

This year, taking into account the economic situation and the improvement of the conditions of state business support programs (Business Roadmap-2025, EPV), a number of changes have been made to the AlmatyBusiness-2025 program. In particular, the interest rate of remuneration was reduced from 7% to 6%, the loan amount was increased from 300 million tenge to 500 million tenge, new industries in the field of construction, the development of industrial parks, food security through the development of shopping projects "Convenience stores" were included, development of non-stationary trade facilities, construction and development of social facilities, in the IT sector, which generally provides support for the creative industry.

One of the key instruments of the Program is the creation of industrial parks in Almaty. The main advantage of the program is the fixed cost of rent and purchase of production areas. Thus, when concluding an agreement with industrial parks, the rental rate for 5 years will be from 1000 to 1200 tenge per square meter. When buying out the premises, the cost will be 140-145 thousand tenge per sq.m.

How state programs to provide the population with affordable housing implemented in the region?

In 2020, within the framework of the Nurly Zher State Program of Housing and Utilities Development for 2020-2025, 1,967 apartments were issued to those on the waiting list.

In 2020, within the framework of the city program of concessional lending "Almaty Zhastary 3.0", 949 young families were provided with housing (5-10-25). This program was developed on the initiative of the city akim Bakhytzhan Sagintayev specifically for young people among medical workers, teachers, teachers and research workers of universities and research institutes, cultural and sports workers, journalists and social workers. In total, 2,916 apartments were issued to citizens in need.

Results of digitalization and innovation

In 2020, the digitalization activities of the city of Almaty were aimed at creating an integrated strategic approach to digitalization projects in the spheres of the city's life, namely:

  • developing a digitalization strategy until 2025;
  • development of a unified IT architecture for the city;
  • creation of a register of all IT companies in the city;
  • interaction with the business community through the IT council under the akim of the city of Almaty;
  • development of cooperation with leading technical universities and IT talents of the city.

A number of projects have been launched to integrate information systems: Unified Duty Dispatch Service, Unified Geographic Information System, Situation Center, Unified Video Monitoring System, Unified Data Storage, Unified Communication Space.

One of the most important areas of digitalization is the security sector. In 2020, the number of Sergek cameras was increased from 414 to 766 posts, 4,158 yard and access cameras of Kazaktelecom JSC were installed. As part of emergency forecasting, uninterrupted monitoring of 31 mudflow hazardous objects (159 sensors) was ensured, as well as 6 stations of the earthquake forecasting system were installed.

In the transport sector, through the Onay electronic ticketing system in 2020, 1.18 billion non-cash transactions worth 72 were installed, 38 billion tenge. All 2,176 units of public transport are equipped with GPS sensors and 1,957 units with cameras, which made it possible to increase the regularity of vehicles on routes by 12%. 175 parking meters "A-parking" provided 11.4 thousand parking spaces and budget receipts of more than 1.5 billion tenge. There are also systems for renting bicycles "Almaty Bike" for 1760 bicycles and renting cars "Carsharing Anytime" for 400 cars.

In the area of ​​city management, access to the city budget, procurement and city planning has been implemented. Monitoring of the implementation of budget programs is carried out on 1,200 analytical and operational indicators in 14 city areas.

In Almaty in 2020, 90% of 165 types of public services were provided in electronic form (in 2019 - 80%). Inspections of the quality of public services were carried out in 22 departments and district registration offices, 83 violations were revealed, 118 recommendations were given to improve the sphere of public services.

In the field of data management, a methodology has been developed for collecting, processing and integrating data into a single data warehouse for the city. A pilot project was launched on a free basis to integrate one state and one commercial database (“Population of Almaty” and databases of JSC “Alseco”).

In the field of housing and communal services, 1,553 general house metering devices have been installed, the percentage of equipment of the substation control center (general substation control center) is 94.2% for the Moscow Railway. 9,116 metering devices or 93% of the total number of control rooms were repaired. In the street lighting control system, work was completed in 2020 to modernize outdated outdoor lighting lines on 7 streets of Almaty.

In the healthcare sector, a drug monitoring system (drug movement) has been introduced with direct integration to the 1C system of hospitals, including an algorithm for predictive analytics needs (35 hospitals). A project has been implemented to track the status of medical equipment (7 GKB). A map of walking distance to PHC has been developed, the issue of creating open access for all citizens is being worked out.

In the social sphere, a pilot project has been launched to automate the services of the House of Social Services. In the field of education, the TS of the project on video surveillance in 220 schools has been worked out.

During the KVI emergency, the Digitalization Directorate developed 15 projects to counter coronavirus infection. Among them are analytics of the quarantine regime based on data from mobile telecom operators, automation of the work schedule of disinfection teams, monitoring of foci of infection with CVI, creation of a unified data aggregator for CVI, and many others.

Results of education system development in the region

In 2020, the construction of 4 state kindergartens for 670 places was completed, 48 private preschool organizations for 1,378 places were opened.

Currently, the construction of 4 more kindergartens for 640 places is underway. Within 5 years, it is planned to stage-by-stage placement of the state educational order for 14,900 places in about 360 private kindergartens. Also, the city is also taking measures to return the state kindergartens that were leased to private educational organizations from 1997 to 2004. As of today, the building of the Skazka kindergarten in the Auezov region has been returned from the lease, in which major repairs are being carried out and it is planned to open 14 groups for 320 children. Preparatory work is also underway to introduce partial payment of parental payments for meals in private kindergartens with a state educational order at the expense of the local budget.

Due to the measures taken within 5 years, it is planned to create more than 20 thousand new places in kindergartens

In the city there are 276 schools in which more than 287 thousand children study (207 state schools with coverage of more than 270 thousand children, 71 private ones with coverage of more than 17 thousand children).

In 2020, 2 public schools for 1,800 places were commissioned, the construction of 5 annexes to existing schools was completed, for 2017 places, 2 private schools for 1,390 places were opened.

For a phased solution of the shortage issue, a program for the accelerated construction of educational facilities until 2025 was specially developed. Currently, within the framework of the Employment Roadmap, construction has begun on 8 schools for 12,600 places and 17 outbuildings for 8,388 places. Work is also continuing on the construction of 2 private schools for 900 places.

By introducing the first new educational facilities, it is planned to achieve a 73% decrease in the deficit in 2022.

In the sphere of secondary education, the issue of preventing three-shift education is also under special control.

Students received 9,120 computers on a return basis purchased at the expense of per capita financing by schools. First of all, students from socially vulnerable families (from disadvantaged, low-income and large families), taking into account first-graders, 100% were provided with computers. And also, additionally, at the expense of sponsors, children from socially vulnerable families were provided free of charge 650 laptops, 1.5 thousand tablets and 1,000 sets of school supplies.

What work is done to modernize social infrastructure?

In 2020, 16.1 km of networks were reconstructed and repaired. In 2021, it is planned to carry out work on the reconstruction and repair of heating networks with a length of 20 km. Also, this year it is planned to complete the "Reconstruction of the Southern District Boiler House" facility with an overall increase in the boiler house capacity from 135 to 190 Gcal. This will reduce the heat energy deficit in the southern part of the city (260 thousand consumers).

In 2020, 312 km of water supply and sewerage networks were built for 33 projects. This made it possible to provide drinking water and sewerage networks for more than 140 thousand residents of the Nauryzbay, Alatau and Turskib districts.

In 2021, it is planned to build 170 km of water supply networks and 145 km of water disposal in 17 microdistricts of Nauryzbay, Alatau and Turskib, covering about 85 thousand residents. In 2020, within the framework of the PPP agreement, work was completed on the modernization of outdoor lighting on 7 main streets of the city.

At the same time, according to the City without Outskirts program, new outdoor lighting lines were installed on 1,423 streets that were previously unlit in 4 city districts. The remaining 601 streets are planned to be completed by the end of 2021, which will provide 100% of the city's lighting.

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