Kazakhstan improves its business conditions - World Bank

Astana, 17 September 2008, (Khabar) - It is now becoming easier to run
business in Kazakhstan is the conclusion that was announced by specialists of the World Bank as a result of their research work entitled "Doing Business".

In comparison with last year's rating posted by the specialists, Kazakhstan moved up ten positions, thus breaking away from many CIS states.

The increase in rating is the result of joint work performed by the
government and local business circles aimed at the reduction of
administrative barriers. Recently, the law was amended to introduce new tax
preferences and registration simplification. All the positive aspects were
immediately evaluated by the group of researchers from the World Bank.

Sergei Pizikov, Country Director, BEI Project in Kazakhstan:
- Property and real estate registration positions went up by 52 points
thanks to timely measures taken by the Ministry for Justice. As a result,
the number of levels was reduced by 30%.

The rating which evaluates countries' business conditions is made annually.
The list consists of 181 states, and Kazakhstan occupies 70th place.
Compared with the previous report, Kazakhstan moved up ten positions, since
four months ago the Republic adopted a number of decrees simplifying
permission procedures for the construction sector. However, these decrees
were not included in the research work, since Kazakhstan had not informed
the World Bank about the changes in advance. After that, the government took
the decision to timely inform the experts about the steps taken to improve
the business environment in the Republic.

Zagipa Baliyeva, Minister for Justice of RK:
- We have applied a common term of registration for small and medium-sized
businesses. Now, it is 3 days instead of the previous 10 days.

At the next government sitting, the ministers are going to consider a draft
law which will simplify customs procedures for participants of external
economic activity.