Saktaganova Indira Sovetovna,
Associate Professor, Department of Theory and History of State and Law,
constitutional law, Candidate of Law
Eurasian National University of L.N.
Gumilyov, Astana, Kazakhstan
Rysbekova Nazgul,
The 3rd year student of the specialty jurisprudence
of the Eurasian Humanitarian institute. Astana,
Kazakhstan
Saktaganova Akmaral
Bakytovna,
The 2nd year student of the
specialty psychology of
the Eurasian national university
Named
after L.N. Gumilev, Astana, Kazakhstan
The conditions
in the economic sphere and monetary system after collapse of the Soviet Union
are discussed in this work. Furthermore, this article describes and illustrates
the formation of national currency of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its
controls, main adopted laws related to the monetary system of Kazakhstan. In
addition, the fluctuations in the rate of tenge towards ruble and dollar and
significant factors of devaluation are included. Despite of this, the
importance of the monetary system for the country and state economy is added in
order to prove the topicality of the work.
After the
collapse of the Soviet
Union, various attempts were made by most former members of the Soviet Union to
maintain a common currency. Some politicians were focusing on the relations
among former Soviet republics. On the other hand, the another factors were the
economic considerations for maintaining the ruble zone. However, to preserve
strong trade relations between former Soviet republics was considered to be the
most important goal.
I
would like to point out that the break-up of the Soviet Union was not
accompanied by any formal changes in monetary arrangements. The Central Bank of
Russia was authorized to take over the State Bank of the USSR (Gosbank) on 1
January 1992. It continued to ship USSR ruble notes and coins to the central
banks of the fourteen newly independent countries, which had formerly been the
main branches of Gosbank in the republics.
The
political situation, however, was not able to save a common currency. Maintaining
a common currency required a strong political consensus in respect to monetary
and fiscal targets, a common institution in charge of implementing these
targets, and some minimum of common legislation (concerning the banking and
foreign exchange regulations). These conditions were far from being met amidst
the turbulent economic and political situation [1].
During
the first half of 1992, a monetary union with
15 independent states all using the ruble existed. Since it was clear that the
situation would not last, each of them was using its position as «free-riders»
to issue huge amounts of money in the form of credit. As
a result, some countries were issuing coupons in order to «protect» their
markets from buyers from other states. The Russian central bank responded in
July 1992 by setting up restrictions to the flow of credit between Russia and
other states. The final collapse of the ruble zone began when Russia pulled out
with the exchange of banknotes by the Central bank of Russia on Russian territory
at the end of July 1993.
Since its independence in late 1991, Kazakhstan has consistently
followed an economic course toward development of a free market economy. The
1991-1993 period may be described in general as a preparatory phase, laying the
foundations of reforms of the republic’s inherited administrative-command
economy. Significant economic reforms started in 1993, following the
introduction of Kazakhstan’s national currency-the tenge. The term Tenge means «a
set of scales» in the Turkic languages.
As
a result, Kazakhstan and other countries still in the ruble zone were «pushed
out». On November 12, 1993, a decree of
the President
of Kazakhstan, «About introducing national currency of Republic of Kazakhstan»,
was issued. The tenge was introduced on 15 November 1993 to replace the Soviet
ruble at
a rate of 1 tenge = 500 rubles and 1 dollar was equal to 4,7 tenge.
Consequently, November 15 is celebrated as the «Day of National Currency of Republic
of Kazakhstan». In 1995, the first tenge printing factory was opened in
Kazakhstan. Because, the first consignment of tenge was printed abroad, in the
UK, while the first coins were minted in Germany [2].
As
a sovereign country, Kazakhstan made different attempts in order to join a
world market economy. For this, creating a monetary system was very
indispensable.
The Republic of
Kazakhstan aimed not only to initiate a monetary relationship with other
countries, but also to enhance the state economy.
Having
been the member of the International Monetary Fund since 1992, Kazakhstan
started to make its own monetary system in the way of Jamaica’s monetary
structure, focusing on the rule of the International Monetary Fund.
In
order to create own monetary system, Kazakhstan declared a law about the currency
regulation in the 14th of April, in 1993. However, at the beginning
the country was not completely pulled out from ruble and this hampered
cooperation with foreign countries. Moreover, this law had some drawbacks and
limited the progress of representing national currency all over the world.
That
is why, in the 24th of December, in 1996 Kazakhstan adopted new law
about the currency regulation.
The
all relationships between Kazakhstan and other foreign countries have been
based on the adopted law.
Despite
of abovementioned law, the country adopted many laws in this spheres. For
example,
· «The
Law about monetary system of the Republic of Kazakhstan», December 13, 1993.
· «The
Law about the National Bank», March 30, 1995.
· «The
Law about Bank and Banking in the Republic of Kazakhstan», August 31, 1995.
· Charters
of the President of Kazakhstan.
· «The
Law about the currency regulation and control in the Republic of Kazakhstan»,
2003 [3].
According to the law, the
objects of Kazakhstan monetary system are foreign currency, foreign stocks and
the order importing precious metals to Kazakhstan. Consequently, the subjects
are residents and not resident people.
In concordance with the Kazakhstan
law, buying and selling foreign currency were carried out by commercial banks
and currency exchanges, which had been licensed by the National bank.
In Kazakhstan, the main
state agency that regulates the monetary system is National Bank. It carries
out very economic deals and solves the problems related to the currency. For
instance,
Ø
Regulates a foreign currency and
securities in a foreign currency;
Ø
Defines the rules and contract that
give an opportunity to residents to open an account in foreign banks and gives
licenses for exchange transaction;
Ø
Determines the rate of tenge towards
other foreign currencies according to the worldwide market economy;
Ø
Makes assets with gold and embody
transactions with them;
Ø
According to the state projects, it
develops the relationships with foreign and international organizations.
Public authorities and
state agencies carry out currency control throughout the Republic of
Kazakhstan. National bank and the Government of Kazakhstan are considered to be
the public authorities, while the state agencies are authorized organizations
that work, especially, with the exchange transactions.
The exchange control is
conducted in such directions:
Ø
To make sure an exchange transaction
is legal and has a particular license;
Ø
To control that everything is
according to the law when the residents make exchanges with foreign currencies;
Ø
To watch there is an objectivity
while not residents and representatives of other countries exchange their money
to tenge [4].
At
the beginning of adopting new currency, international currency resource supported
the way of creating own national currency in Kazakhstan and gave about $90
million Standby Letter of Credit (SLOC) to Kazakh National bank. Also Japan
allocated $180 million to the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan in order to
back up the process of new currency [5]. Overall, the reform about new currency
in 1993 was accepted successfully. However, the next step was to control the
work of Tenge throughout Kazakhstan and keep its stability. Unfortunately, each
former member of the Soviet Union declared their own currency and this
contributed to the financial crisis. After 2,5 months, exactly on the first of
February in 1994, the rate of tenge towards dollar was decreased 2,5 times,
then in the following months tenge fell down from 11,58 to 43,3 dollars. Taking account the last statistics, since our
independence tenge has been devalued 30-40 times, which is very dangerous for Kazakhstan
economy. Because the general state debt outnumbered the GDP of our country
(General Domestic Product) and the National Bank allocated a particular sum of
money in order to help get rid out of debts, consequently, this caused to the
devaluation of tenge. However, nowadays, the government is trying to promote
tenge and making the citizens to use tenge more and more. That is why, there
are more interests for them, who want to keep their money in tenge in deposits.
Today,
Belarus, Russian Federation and Kazakhstan are cooperating together and
increasing the level of relations between themselves. It is well known that
they formed the Eurasian Union on the international arena. Consequently, the
mutual currency is proposed from the Russian Federation, pointing out main
advantages of this initiative. Nevertheless, this is very topical right now and
discussed frequently among politicians. Even most people disapprove this
proposal, mentioning its negative aspects for Kazakhstani Economy and,
especially, for tenge.
These
days, Kazakhstan strengthened the work of banks and keep it in the right way.
Nevertheless, there is another danger. Because of the system of Globalization,
plentiful foreign companies and plants are being opened in our country.
Moreover, the level of import is rising year by year. Obviously, these factors
will impact on our economy and result in the following devaluation of national
currency [6]. To prevent this problem, our government is supporting and proposing precious opportunities for the
middle and small businesses to improve their products and increase their
images. They have a chance to take a loan from the bank with low interests.
Furthermore, our country is giving a hand them in their documents, decreasing a
mountain of papers and replacing them with the computer. Because, now they are
able to solve problems about such documents as licenses on electronic form very
quickly and this, of course, can save their precious times. There is no doubt
that if we can tackle such kind of predicaments on time, the role of tenge will
increase on the international arena. Even after a few time, keeping this
process of development, our currency is becoming popular and important in the
Central Asia. In addition, by supporting state and national businesses,
companies, we are able to promote the sense of patriotism among the people and
pave the way to meet citizen’s needs in own Motherland.
Contemplating
all above mentioned statements and processes of development in the currency of
Kazakhstan, our government is working hard in order to keep stability in the
country and enhance the economy, financial system of Kazakhstan. Consequently,
making stable the monetary system in the country plays an important role in the
way of achieving the strategic goals of the Republic of Kazakhstan and
strengthening economy, which is the main aspect of the government.
The list of using literatures:
1.
Odling-Smee, J. (2001). «The IMF and the
ruble area, 1991-93».
2.
Dąbrowski, M
(1995). «The reasons for the collapse of the Ruble zone».
3.
«Finance and credit», The Kazakh
State University, 2000.
4.
«The monetary system of Kazakhstan»,
M. Kanatuly and S.N. Nurlanova.
5.
«Exchange of money», Makysh S.B,
2004.
6.
«The base of economic theory»,
Aubakirov Y., Narykbayev K., Eskaliev M., Zhatkanbayev E., Baizhumaev E.,
Doskaliev S., Almaty. 1998.