CA-NEWS (KZ) - In his State of the Nation Address today, President Nazarbaev instructed Kazakh Government to make sure 1.5 million people get new jobs within the Employment Program before 2020.

He reminded that the Program seeks to put in place an effective personnel professional development system, support entrepreneurial initiatives in rural areas and spur labor resources mobility through smaller towns development.

According to President Nazarbaev, the Program launched in 2011 as a pilot project covering totally 60,000 people.

"I instruct the Government and regional governors to widely implement the Program starting from this year," he said, emphasizing that microcredits should be made available to businesses in rural areas.

"For those willing to move to move to urban areas, the Government should provide training and employment opportunities. New jobs should be offered to at least 1.5 million people by 2020," the President said.