The Government slashes $170 million of planned expenses on celebrations and events

Over $170 million has been relieved in of the state budget after the Government slashed its planned spending on solemn events, grand celebrations and conferences as well as on costly foreign cars, Kazakhstan’s PM Karim Massimov said February 27 when speaking at the sitting of the Nur Otan fraction. According to him, the newly adjusted 2012-2014 draft budget seeks to slash expenses on costly events by 20%. “Taking into account the instructions voiced earlier by President Nazarbayev on cost optimization and cutting down the budget expenses, the Government has slashed its planned expenses by $170.6 million”, Mr. Massimov said. He elaborated “the slashed expenses figure includes expenses on costly events such as solemn celebrations, conferences, parades, meetings (…) besides, public bodies are banned from purchasing foreign cars”.