World Monitor Mag, Digitalisation WM_June 2019 web | Page 8

DESTINATION KAZAKHSTAN
Digitalisation in Kazakhstan
World Monitor Magazine discussed the Digital Kazakhstan programme,
the development of digitalisation and the introduction of modern
innovative solutions with the vice minister of digital development, the
defense and aerospace industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Please tell us briefly about the Digital
Kazakhstan programme. What is it like?
Ablaikhan Ospanov,
Vice Minister of the
Digital Development,
Defense and Aerospace
Industry of the Republic
of Kazakhstan
The state programme ‘Digital Kazakhstan’
is inherently unique by consolidating the
efforts of state bodies, 'akimats', and
other organizations. Its main goal is to
further stimulate the development of
the economy, to create conditions for
its transition to a fundamentally new
trajectory and a new stage. And now I'm
talking about creating a digital economy of
the future because it is digitalisation and
the introduction of innovations that will
positively affect and improve the quality
of life of every Kazakhstani person. To
achieve this goal, the state programme
identified five main areas: first, the
development of human capital; second, the
creation of an innovation ecosystem; then
the implementation of the digital Silk Road;
next is the transition to a digital state; and
the final component is the digitization of
economic sectors. All these areas provide
substantial potential, not only in terms
of the changes to which they will lead,
but also in terms of the efforts made to
implement them as well as the degree of
influence on the daily lives of citizens.
What are the main goals and
achievements that can be identified?
The programme was adopted in December
2017 and more than a year has passed,
so your question about the first results
is quite reasonable. The so-called ‘quick’
results really do exist. Looking at the most
ambitious outcomes, I would like to mention
measures for the transition to a digital state,
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digitalisation and automation of public
services, which makes getting references
and paperwork intuitive and convenient
for people. For this, it was very important
to create an environment, carry out system
integration, introduce new standards, train
citizens in how to use modern means of
communication and the Internet for their
own benefit, in order to save time. By the
way, today, almost 8.5 million users are
registered on the eGov portal, 72% of
services are automated and their delivery
time has been reduced, on average, by half.
Last year alone, the economic effect from
the automation of public services amounted
to almost three million US dollars.
We pay special attention to digitalisation
and the introduction of developments
for small and medium-sized businesses,
the development of IT products for
entrepreneurs, and the development of
infrastructure. For example, it is digitalisation
that helps us protect businessmen because
the automation of state control and
supervision systems now tightly controls
the process of organizing inspections of
enterprises: from initiation to the stage of
taking measures.
In addition, in order to reduce digital
inequality and provide residents of villages
with electronic public services much work
is being done to provide rural communities
with broadband internet access.
To this end, today we are implementing a
project for the construction of fiber-optic
communication lines in 1,250 villages through
a public-private partnership mechanism.