Digitalization and innovation development discussed at meeting chaired by Kazakh PM

Between 2018 and 2019, the digitalization measures implemented brought an economic effect of 714.3 billion tenge (2019 – 496.1 billion tenge, 2018 – 218.2 billion tenge), as well as 32.8 billion tenge were attracted to the innovative ecosystem along with the creation of 50 thousand jobs, primeminister.kz informs.

Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Askar Zhumagaliyev reported on the results of the State Program “Digital Kazakhstan” in 2019, as well as the issues of scientific, technical and innovative development of the country.

In 2019, 18.7 billion tenge from the national budget and 993 million tenge from local budgets were directed to the Digital Kazakhstan programme, with the companies and organizations investing over 9 billion tenge.

The digital literacy rate of the population has reached 79.6%. Broadband Internet access (broadband access) was provided in 117 cities and 3,324 villages with a population of over 250 people.

Automation of public services allowed for a reduced paper workflow by 70.8 million documents and save over 8.4 billion tenge. The effect of digitalization of the financial sector, tax and customs administration amounted to 361 billion tenge.

In 2019, 18.8 billion tenge of investments were attracted to domestic startup projects, 91 startup projects were launched within the confines of Astana Hub.

The meeting participants discussed priority clusters for the development of an innovative environment, measures to support technological entrepreneurship, institutional development of the venture capital market, as well as ways to increase the level of commercialization of scientific and technical activities.