OREANDA-NEWS. June 16, 2014. 59 projects worth USD 5 billion were implemented in processing industry of Kazakhstan with participation of foreign investors during the years of national program FIID. It has been reported by Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev speaking at the 27th plenary meeting of the Foreign Investors Council.

However, he added that the gross inflow of foreign direct investment in processing industry is more than USD 14 billion during the years of NP FIID implementation.

A nationwide system to support exporters will be created in Kazakhstan. "One of our main objectives of NP FIID second five-year plan is to export products of processing industry and development of markets of macro-regions by Kazakhstan producers," A.Issekeshev said.

According to him, potential zones have been identified for it: the Russian Federation, Central Asia, China, Iran.

"A nationwide support system will be created for exporters, where new tools, such as pre-export, financial and insurance support, etc. will be introduced," A. Issekeshev concluded.

Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan intends to review the operation of free economic zones. "In Kazakhstan, work of 10 free economic zones will be revised qualitatively in different regions based on their specialization. They are designed to become points of growth for investors, where qualitative infrastructure with professional management will be presented to them," A.Issekeshev said.

According to him, well-known companies such as Jourong and Dubai Port World are planned to be attracted for management.

Today, 85 projects for USD 1.16 billion have been implemented in FEZ. Another 72 projects worth almost USD 10 billion (1.8 trillion. tenge) are at implementation stage.

A cluster approach with maximum involvement of the private sector will be used in NP FIID second five-year period. Head of MINT noted that formation of clusters based on competitive advantages of regions began during the first five-year plan. Therefore, formation of clusters will be based on regional specialization using different support tools: FEZ, grants, creating a "soft" infrastructure, etc.

In accordance with the program, three types of clusters: national, territorial, innovative will be developed in Kazakhstan.

"The first pilot cluster of national type is proposed to be defined as oil and gas cluster based in Atyrau, Mangystau and West Kazakhstan regions," A.Issekeshev said.

This cluster, according to him, will be formed around oil extraction and refining, petrochemical, oil and gas engineering and service.

State support of regional clusters will be conducted on a competitive basis and on the basis of business.

Three of the most formed clusters in priority sectors to test support tools will be chosen in the first two years of the program in conjunction with the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs.

Innovation clusters are developed in two major metropolitan areas of Almaty and Astana with a center in PIT "Alatau" and Nazarbayev University.