No Money for This Yet - Finance Ministry on Time Transition Study

Vice Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Birzhanov commented on the Ministry of Health’s application for a 160 million tenge scientific grant, Orda.kz reports.

The application concerns financing to study the impact of a single time zone on Kazakhstanis.

The Vice Minister recalled the President’s mandate to reduce expenses, including consulting services, seminars, etc. The finances were to be directed to the real sector.

The current budget, which we are going with for next year, does not have these funds. Perhaps, through grants, they will attract third-party funds. But the validity of any costs must be confirmed by documents - conclusions, for example. If this work is carried out by 10 or 15 employees - then this is the payroll. If, say, an international consultant is brought in, then the cost of attracting labor. And all this must be weighed. Just take and give a certain large sum, naturally this will not happen, said Yerzhan Birzhanov.

Birzhanov was asked whether 160 million tenge was adequate for such research.

At first glance, of course, for me, as an ordinary person, it may seem like a lot. But I have not seen the figures and calculations. It is necessary to look at the technical specification, the number of specialists and the volume of work. Will this be carried out in the regions, in what way - through a survey, with the connection of technical means? All this needs to be looked at, he added.

The Ministry of Health has applied for a three-year research grant worth 160 million tenge with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. 

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova