Kazakhstan creates Communication and Information Agency and renames ministry

Kazakhstan has created a new agency to manage information and communication, Tengrinews reports citing the official website of the Kazakhstan President. The decree establishing the new agency is called the Decree on Further Improvement of Kazakhstan's Public Administration System. The Communication and Information Agency is not a part of the Kazakhstan Government and its functions include everything related to computerization and communication field in Kazakhstan, supervision of automation of public services and coordination of Public Service Centers. These functions have been transferred to it from the Ministry of Transport and Communication of Kazakhstan. The new agency has also been vested with authorities in the field of information, archives and documentation transferred from the Ministry of Culture and Information. Besides, the Ministry of Culture and Information has been renamed to the Ministry of Culture of Kazakhstan and lost its Committee for Information and Archives. The Ministry of Transport and Communication of Kazakhstan retained its name, but also lost committees: the Committee for Communication and Computerization and the Committee for Supervision of Automation of Public Services and Coordination of Public Service Centers. Askar Zhumagaliyev, ex-Minister of Transport and Communication, has been appointed Chairman of the new Communication and Information Agency. During Zhumagaliyev's term as the Minister Kazakhstan introduced digital satellite and terrestrial television, 3G internet, constructed the Media Center in Astana, developed the concepts of Kazakhstan 24.KZ and Madeniet Channels, was stimulating production of own TV content in Kazakhstan, and made a large-scaled modernization and automation of the country's Public Service Centers. Zhumagaliyev was replaced by Zhenis Kasymbek as Minister of Transport and Communication last week. Before that Askar Zhumagaliyev to worked as Director General of Zharyk JSC that managed satellite communication in Kazakhstan, chaired Kazakhtelecom company, led the State Department for Communication, served as Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Communication and Computerization of the Ministry of Transport and Communication of Kazakhstan.