Digital marking technology will be used in the allocation of funds for the repair of utility infrastructure in Kazakhstan. This measure is intended to improve oversight of how the funds are used.
At a briefing, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev spoke about the implementation of a project to modernize the country’s energy and utilities sectors. This year, in a pilot mode, Kazakhstan is attracting 150 billion tenge (approximately $280.3 million) in investment, which are expected for the repair of 8,500 kilometers of networks and the replacement of more than 42,000 units of equipment. Next year, another 1 trillion tenge (around $1.9 billion) is expected to be raised to repair an additional 9,700 kilometers of electrical, water, and heating networks, and to replace 46,000 units of equipment.
«By the end of the year, we will approve the project pipeline and the technical audits conducted in companies. This information will remain available on the website until the end of the national project. We will launch the website in September and conduct training for journalists, so that everything is clear and transparent — so that it’s known where every cent goes and how it is used. Transparency is very important for us. We are working with the National Bank to explore the possibility of ‘coloring’ these funds, so we can ensure they are used exactly as intended. The project office will monitor the project on a monthly basis across all executive bodies,» Bozumbayev said.
In his speech, the official spoke about the use of the digital tenge, which, through digital marking, makes it possible to track budget funds at various stages — from allocation to full disbursement.
A pilot project designed to oversee public spending through the digital tenge was launched in Kazakhstan in April.
