Kazakhstan to become key player in regional meat exports
The World Bank publicly discussed the details of the proposed Sustainable Livestock Development Project aimed at facilitating the development of an environmentally sustainable, inclusive and competitive livestock sector in Kazakhstan, Strategy2050.kz informs with reference to the World Bank’s press service.
At the request of the Government of Kazakhstan, the World Bank Group jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture is preparing the Kazakhstan Sustainable Livestock Development Program, to be implemented in 2020-2024.
“An interactive and transparent discussion is very important for the World Bank to design a successful and inclusive Program. We stand ready to support Kazakhstan in achieving its objectives to become a key regional player in high value meat export markets”, Jean Francois Marteau, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan said.
The proposed Program-for-Results for Livestock Development responds to the following higher-level priorities. First, it aims to contribute to the diversification of the Kazakhstan’s export away from minerals and oil. Second, it aims to boost small and medium business growth and create opportunities for socio-economic development in rural areas. Third, it aims to increase agriculture productivity by improving the use of Kazakhstan’s vast pasture and grassland resource potential.
“The proposed Program for Livestock Development supports the Government’s State Program for Agro-Industrial Complex Development 2017-2021. The Program would focus on those results and objectives that are fundamental to the livestock sector development with the objective of increasing the competitiveness of the export-oriented meat value chains The Government would benefit from the World Bank’s technical expertise and global experience to strengthen and enhance the implementation of the State Program”, Gulmira Issayeva, Vice-minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan said.
The total amount of the loan will be up to US$ 500 mln. The World Bank proposes to use the Program-for-Results lending instrument for the operation. This design allows for effective linking of the loan to the State Program, usage of the Government systems for project implementation and utilization of the World Bank’s technical expertise. The instrument targets the objectives of the State Program, and thus supports effective implementation of these, including through introducing mechanisms to verify the results of the State Program. But according to the proposed lending design the loan disbursements will be linked to achieving specific indicators and authorized after the World Bank verification of results.
An interactive public consultation on the Program Design has taken place with an ultimate objective to inform stakeholders, including the private sector, associations and unions, think tanks, the media, and civil society about the project and its objectives, as well as to provide a platform for exchange of ideas around the implementation of the project, and discuss technical, environmental and social systems assessment.
