УДК 338.24

Abdildinova M.N., Rayeva M.K.

THE NEED OF THE CLUSTER APPROACH IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF KAZAKHSTAN

Civilization entered the third millennium on the crest of a new technological “leap”, based on the latest technologies that interact between each other (microelectronics, telecommunications, computers, creating new materials, biotechnology, information technology, etc.), which required new forms of innovation. An essential element in increasing the efficiency is organizational factor related with a regional association of producers. In this case, not a separate company competes in the market, but the regional industrial complex, which reduces its expenses through joint technology cooperation of companies.

The above approach presupposes organization of clusters, formed in the territories, out of the companies that perform different functions, but united by one technological process that results in a final product, thanks to the efforts of all stakeholders from science and training to technicians, packers, transporters and dealer network.

Modern economics understands by cluster geographically concentrated groups of interconnected large, medium and small enterprises, which are specialized suppliers of raw materials, goods and services, as well as related to their work organizations. A cluster is a group of geographically adjacent and integrated, cooperative companies and related organizations operating in a particular industry (multisectoral) field and complementary to each other, in order to increase the competitiveness of the cluster members [1].

Porter points out several functions performed by clusters in the economic development of any country:

· clusters - the critical power in the economic structure of the national and regional economy.

· clusters can identify fundamental problems in national or regional business conditions

· clusters provide a new way of thinking in the field of economy and efforts to develop its organization: cluster force us to reconsider the role of the private sector, governments, trade associations, educational and research institutions in the economic development and to identify common opportunities, not just common problems of companies and enterprises of all forms of ownership [2].

Currently, the use of the cluster approach in the development of economic sectors is a key tool for improving competitiveness and become a significant phenomenon in the economic policy around the world. In Kazakhstan, both the scientific community and authorities show considerable interest to the clusters, as a mechanism for regional development. [3]

As part of the objectives outlined in the program of the country’s industrial-innovative development until 2015, in order to use the cluster approach in the development of industries, the government of Kazakhstan in July 2004 launched the project “Kazakhstan’s competitiveness and prospects of development of the cluster”.

Cluster development of Kazakhstan's economy is reflected in the start in the 2004 draft « Diversification of Kazakhstan's economy through the development of clusters in the non-oil sectors». That same year, the JSC "Center for Marketing and Analytical Research" has signed a contract with the American consulting company «JE Austin» to assess the competitiveness of existing and potentially promising sectors of the Kazakh economy. The project aims - improving the competitiveness of non-oil sectors, the increase in productivity, the development of clusters. Analyzing the situation in 150 sectors of the national economy, the consultants concluded that attention should be paid only 23 industries. Only nine projects were the best. The government has allocated seven priority sectors in which developed and as the "pilot" clusters: metallurgy (Central Kazakhstan), Petroleum Engineering (Western Kazakhstan), textile (South Kazakhstan), food industry (agricultural area), construction materials (Almaty region), tourism (Almaty), transport logistics (transport corridor between China and Europe) [4].

It is recommended to form a cluster to enterprises that related to a single technological chain, that is, those which are working to create a final product. This cluster, in turn, will ensure implementation of such strategic goals of the state, as food security of the country, domestic supply of quality products at affordable prices.

Participation of the state in the cluster is put into effect through the interaction between enterprises and ministries. Main state structures and institutions are Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, administrations, tax and customs authorities, standardization and certification bodies, sanitary-epidemiological services. State regulation is carried out through legislation. Basis for the effective functioning of the cluster is analysis and creation of value chain at every stage. Presence of multi-level channels of merchandising when the main product exchange is carried out on the open market, leads to the emergence of numerous resellers who control the market. Hence, the following problems: low procurement prices for the products of agricultural producers when the costs of agricultural raw materials are high, high purchase prices for processing enterprises at a low cost of sales. Thus, there is disproportion in prices between agriculture and industry.

The main reason is a violation of the economic relations between suppliers and processors, as well as the lack of competitiveness of the supplied raw materials and manufactured products. Cluster has no interaction schemes between small and medium business (processing and service companies) and with the local authorities, connecting all the successive stages and links to promote products - from production to finished goods receipt to the consumer market in the required amount with the greatest transparency.

For the successful integration of the agricultural enterprises, farms, private farms together, food processors, organizational models between them must be defined, it is necessary to form a mechanism for regulation of output and turnover of agricultural products, establish marketing channels.

It is very significant to consider different models for the development of a regional network to provide the raw materials in accordance with the foreign experience and its adaptation to the conditions of our country. It is necessary to create or revive the system of cooperation that would effectively confront intermediaries and establish a stable supply of raw materials to processing plants.

It is essential to consider effectiveness of the territorial distribution of enterprises. Weak territorial linkage of the processing enterprises with agricultural producers and production levels causes unsustainable transportations entailing the huge transport costs and loss of agricultural production.

According to the order of the Head of Almaty region is being created sectoral and intersectoral working groups to develop plans for the creation and development of pilot clusters. Problems, faced by each of the clusters in the implementation of their business, were revealed. Cluster working groups were formed to solve the identified problems and achieve set goals, they include itself representatives of a particular industry, its related industries, regulatory agencies, industry associations and scientific circles. Currently, synthesis and analysis of cluster initiatives’ realization are being conducted. The working group on the creation and development of clusters in the dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables within the framework of the food industry cluster was approved. It consists of managers and specialists from government agencies, representatives of associations and public associations of entrepreneurs, production and processing of agricultural products’ enterprises, research centers, banks and other financial institutions involved at no cost, a team of scientists. Due to the plans for establishment and development of pilot clusters in priority sectors, the targeted work is underway. There were conducted several cluster meetings in the region, where the main problems of business activation, product’s quality improvement, pricing, training and retraining, markets and other issues of the industry were worked out.

For the development of the food cluster, analysis of the branch provision with factors of production was carried out, through the description of the additional charge chain and subsequent evaluation of each link in the chain from the standpoint of presence or absence in each link characteristics such as the number of companies operating in the food industry, human capital, technology, and its presence in various regions of the area.

We believe that for the formation of clusters, internationally competitive and having a leading role in the regional market of processed products, it is necessary:

- develop the mechanism of interaction of small and medium enterprises and local governments for the clusters’ development;

- establish good relationships between cluster members, including farmers and processing companies;

- increase transparency in the relationship between members of the cluster;

- determine products’ price structure (expenditures map), reveal cost-centers and possibility of cost cutting and suggest measures to improve the situation after the results of research;

- consider the issue of financing of the research on pricing;

- provide cluster participants with information on the market analysis, marketing, transfer of new technologies and with related methodological literature;

- create a database accessed by the companies seeking partners in their scope of activity;

- support projects and initiatives of the private sector, offering new or improved marketing information systems available to rural areas;

- organize experience exchange of cluster participants concerning advanced and up-to-date technologies in the production and processing of agricultural products, designing and adoption of programs that affect development of competitive clusters and mutually beneficial partnerships;

- carry out an active, market-oriented strategy aimed at increasing the capacity of the processing industry (producers and processers), meet safety and quality standards of food products using cost-effective way, based on the analysis of demand;

References

1. Rakhimbekov T.S. Problems and prospects of the development of clusters in the food industry in Kazakhstan //Аль-Пари. – 2005. – №2 – С. 103-104.

2. Porter M. Competition. Пер. с англ. — М.: Издательский дом «Вильямс», 2005. —608 с

3. R. K. Khasanov "Industrial clusters modeling" // http://www.torgprice.ru/2132

4. Steblyakova L. The cluster approach to economic modernization: systemic and social aspects. [electronic resource]—URL: www.chelt.ru/2010/3-10/steblyakova.3-10.html