On February 3, 2012, the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Fighting Economic and Corruption Crimes (Financial Police) has initiated criminal cases against former Chairman of the Customs Control Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Finance Serik Baimaganbetov on the facts of abuse of office and bribery on an especially large scale.

President of Kazakhstan emphasized in his annual Address to the Nation a necessity to improve the quality of qualification of teachers. Besides, the Head of State also told about the importance to establish integrated centers for teachers’ professional development in every region. Established in November of 2011 Teachers’ Excellence Center under the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools will become an important link in the transformation of the system.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev has left for a working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany. Within the official visit it is planned to sign a solid package of economic documents, which will promote further strengthening of relations between Germany and Kazakhstan. In the German side's opinion, the visit is important and will give a powerful impetus to comprehensive mutually beneficial partnership.

Anuar Zhumadildayev has been appointed Chairman of the Tax Committee of the Finance Ministry of Kazakhstan.

Air Astana Company has signed a contract with the Boeing Company to purchase four Boeing 767-300ER aircrafts and three Boeing 787-Dreamliner jet airliners, Peter Foster, the Air Astana CEO announced on Saturday.

Shortly after the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan as of 15 January 2012 the Institute for Social and Political Research conducted an opinion poll, which lasted six days on January 25-31.

Five new kindergartens with total of 1200 seats will be put into service this year in Atyrau region, head of the regional education department Satkan Yesengaliyev told.

Successful implementation of projects under the State Program of Forced Industrial-Innovative Development helps increase the share of manufacturing in GDP of Kazakhstan. Work continues on improving the quality of education, expanding and improving coverage of population with health services. The Government is preparing to resist the influence of a new wave of global financial and economic crisis.

Today East Kazakhstan governor Berdibek Saparbayev introduced new Ust Kamenogorsk governor Serik Taukebayev.

At a meeting on February 1, 2012 Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov and Secretary Hillary Clinton expressed satisfaction with the progress Kazakhstan and the United States have made in strengthening the strategic partnership.

"The staff of the national companies of the National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" will be significantly reduced," Fund's chairman Umirzak Shukeyev told journalists after the board meeting.

"Maternal death dropped by 1.5 times in the regions, infant death rates by 9.9%," Kazakh Healthcare Minister Salidat Kairbekov told summing up the Ministry's activity for 2011.

Religious associations of Kazakhstan must re-register before October 25 this year. Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan For Religious Affairs Kairat Lama Sharif has told a board meeting.

The Kazakh Government will introduce "Affordable housing" program in July this year. Until that time the document should be elaborated. First Deputy Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov has announced t a board meeting of the Kazakh Agency for Construction, Housing and Utilities.

Today, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov chaired an enlarged session of the board of the Agency for Land Resources Management of Kazakhstan where the results of the Agency’s work done in 2011 were summed up as well as the tasks for 2012 were defined in the light of implementation of the President’s Address to the Nation ‘Socio-economic modernization – main direction of development of Kazakhstan’.

Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kairat Kelimbetov chaired an enlarged session of the Agency for Protection of Competition of Kazakhstan focused on the results of Agency’s work in 2011 and the tasks for 2012 were defined during the session in the light of implementation of the President’s Address to the Nation ‘Socio-economic modernization – main direction of development of Kazakhstan’.

The European Union fully supports Kazakhstan in its development. Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Kazykhanov has announced it after a meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton in Brussels.

A three-year budget of healthcare for 2012-2014 makes KZT 1.315 trillion. Kazakh Minister of Healthcare Salidat Kairbekova has announced at a board meeting of the Ministry.

Head of Kazakhstan's Mission to the NATO, Ambassador Yerik Utembayev has held a meeting with Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Knud Bartels in Brussels.

Last year 6.5 million square meters of housing space were put into operation. Head of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Construction, Housing and Serik Nokin has said at a board meeting.