Kazakhstan hopes for slowdown of rates of GDP falling in 1999

/IRBIS, Sep.23, 99/ - According to REUTERS, which cites Roman Solodchenco the chairman of economic planning agency, Kazakhstan will hardly stop falling of industrial production before the end of the present year, however government expects significant growth in the agriculture, that can help to slowdown the rates of GDP falling. Solodchenco has told about it yesterday on the evening meeting of the Senate. By the preliminary estimations of government, GDP will decrease by 1.5% in 1999 in comparison with 2.5% in 1998, the industry production will decrease by 1.2%, growth of agricultural production volumes will make 12%. Kazakhstan had the poorest harvest of grain in the past year - 6.4 million tons. Now it has a good chances to have about 10 million tons. Uraz Dzhandosov vice-premier, minister of finance representing to the senators project of the budget-2000, has told, that the government is ready to co-ordinate with deputies the separate budget articles, however it will not admit the increase of budget revenues. According to the minister, the tax receipts for eight months of the present year were by 10.7% less than scheduled. Solodchenco has added, that by provisional data in January - August Kazakhstan export has decreased by 31%, import - by 27%. The government has declared that it has prepared the program, which will allow to suspend deterioration of macroeconomic parameters and to turn to the growth. Project of the budget-2000 will be considered on the Senate and Mazhilis of parliament joint meeting on September 25 of the current year.