World Monitor Mag, Digitalisation WM_June 2019 web | Page 9

DESTINATION KAZAKHSTAN
Thus, at the expense of various
technologies, by the end of 2021, we plan
to bring the level of internet coverage to
100%, that is, to reach absolutely every
locality in our country. I note that now
about 80% of Kazakhstanis are internet
users.
That is, can we say that the “Digital
Kazakhstan” programme has affect-
ed all spheres of our life?
Yes, and you can judge for yourself. In
the health sector, medical information
systems are now being introduced in
all urban medical institutions, electronic
health passports, services and mobile
applications that really simplify the
interaction between patients and
doctors. Also in agriculture it is now
possible to check the availability of
veterinary, phytosanitary and quarantine
certificates for agricultural products. The
system of grain receipts works well and
elements of precision farming are being
introduced, which make it possible to
reduce the costs of farmers by 15-20%
and increase the yield. For the mining
industry? Here the state programme
makes it possible to automate the
processes of the mining enterprises,
to reduce equipment downtime and
repair work. And then the transport and
logistics sector is also actively digitised,
within the sphere of toll roads. So it is
quite possible to speak for a long time
in many areas: the fuel and energy and
mining and metallurgical complexes, the
oil and gas and electric power industries.
I believe that it is worth mentioning
separately the innovations in the intro-
duction of information and communi-
cation technologies in the urban infra-
structure and the creation of ‘smart’
cities. In the state programme ‘Digital
Kazakhstan’ five cities have already
been identified: Nur-Sultan, Almaty,
Shymkent, Aktobe, and Karaganda,
all of which can potentially enter the
international ratings of ‘smart’ cities. In
addition, taking into account the global
trend of 5G technology development, it is
planned to implement a pilot project for
testing fifth-generation communication
networks in Akmola, Almaty regions and
the cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, and
Shymkent this year.
How are issues of ensuring the se-
curity of information infrastructure
being solved with the wide use of in-
formation and communication tech-
nology by users?
In this regard, over the past two years
approaches to the development of
the ICT sector have been significantly
adjusted in the country, with a focus
on improving the sustainability and
reliability of information systems. Great
attention is paid to the implementation
of guarantees for the observance of the
rights and interests of citizens in the
field of personal data processing.
This is achieved, first of all, by careful
attention to compliance with technical
standards in the creation and operation
of information systems and information
infrastructure facilities.
To counteract targeted computer
attacks within the framework of the
implementation of the ‘Cybershield
of Kazakhstan’ Concept, the National
Information
Security
Coordination
Centre has already started. Commercial
information security centres are being
actively created. And here I want to note
that this type of activity is more and
more interesting for telecom operators
and owners of data processing centres.
In general, the field of information
security continues to increase in being
professionally established, becoming
a separate direction in the provision of
outsourcing services in both the public
and private sectors.
What about human capital develop-
ment in the cybersecurity sector?
Indeed, as you rightly pointed out, over
time one cannot lose sight of the issues
of human capital development. At the
initiative of our Ministry, the number
of educational grants in this area has
been increased and changes have been
made to the curricula of colleges and
universities. The Academy of Public
Administration under the President of
the Republic of Kazakhstan has launched
training programmes for civil servants
on such topics as: ‘Information Security’
and ‘Basics of Cybersecurity’.
All this work has allowed Kazakhstan
to rise significantly in the Global
Cybersecurity Index of the International
Telecommunication Union. And although
we have begun to be viewed as a
country with a high level of readiness to
withstand threats, I think it’s too early
to relax our vigilance in this area. Those
who want to test the infrastructure
facilities for strength has not lessened.
in 2015-2016 in the index
of the International
Telecommunication
Union (ITU) Kazakhstan
ranked 107th, in 2017 -
82nd, in 2018 - 40th.
What are the plans of the Ministry
in the further development of
digitalisation and the introduction
of modern innovative solutions in
various sectors of the economy?
Regarding the introduction of innova-
tions, I would like to start out by say-
ing that in November of last year we
opened an international technology park
of IT start-ups called ‘Astana Hub’, which
today is already filled with 100% start-
ups, having attracted 14 billion tenge in
investments. In the whole country, the
supported by EUROBAK
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