Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues

The article deals with the problem of future development threats based on the methodology of industry foresight. As an empirical basis for this direction of forecasting, the authors study the mining and metallurgical complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan as a leading factor in the development of the entire national economy. The study is a pilot and focuses on assessing the risks that have formed that could pose a serious threat to the development of the industry, the economy and the country as a whole in the future. Summarizing the world experience in applying the foresight methodology, the authors use it to predict the security and sustainability of development in the medium-term. Using the risk mapping method, the authors identify safety zones in the development trends of the mining and metallurgical industry. The assessment of threats and risks also highlights the leading actors that affect the development of the industry. The main risks for Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical enterprises are the lack or shortage of local labor and its low skills. Automation of production processes and digitalization of production are becoming the leading trends in the development of the industry. The problem of improving the quality of workforce training and mastering the necessary skills by specialists is a serious threat to the development of the industry. The authors suggest using foresight tools not only to assess risks, but also to prevent their development into future threats.

The article considers the problem of forming the vector of economic development on the principles of sustainable development and social economy. State security is based not only on successful economic development, but also on maintaining a balance of social interests. Social entrepreneurship is contrary to social stratification and confrontation in society. As an empirical basis for this direction of development, the authors explore the segment of non-profit organizations with constant income and organizations providing services in the social sphere of Kazakhstan. In the absence of an official definition of social entrepreneurship, these types of socially oriented activities most fully implement the principles of sustainable development, while at the same time forming economic and social value. The results of a sociological study reveal the microscopic extent of this phenomenon in Kazakhstan, and the overwhelming array of respondents focuses on the system of institutional support for social entrepreneurship. The authors developed recommendations on the regulatory legal status of social entrepreneurs and the main directions of their institutional support. Particular attention is paid to the development of intersectoral and intra-sectoral ties in the development of social entrepreneurship. The emphasis is on the accelerator model, as the most productive form of support, which has a network nature and is based on coordination mechanisms between the state and non-state actors. The formation of a full-fledged institutional environment will ensure the stability and progression of the economic development of socially oriented activities and create a critical mass of entities acting on the principles of sustainable development in the unity of economic and social values of social development.

Currently, it has become generally accepted in the leading countries of the world to consider human capital as the basis of the state, society and the economy. In the modern post-industrial society of the leading states of the world, the life and creative potential, human abilities are the core of all socio-economic processes, this is especially relevant in the context of the globalization of the world economy and the free flow of any capital, including human capital, both inter- and in-country. Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, human capital is perceived as something burdensome and unnecessary. In Kazakhstan society, it is still not customary to talk about the priority of the quality of human capital in the process of creating products. Separate studies of recent years unequivocally indicate that Kazakhstan as a whole and Kazakhstani enterprises in particular will soon face serious difficulties in the area of human resources. Managers of enterprises, both in the public and private sectors, relate to the creation of conditions for the development of the human capital of their employees as a waste of time and money. Such a position essentially reflects not only the low level of management culture, but also strategic mistakes in doing business in Kazakhstan. On this basis, for Kazakhstan, the trends in the development of human capital are of undoubted interest and have practical significance.

In the tourist practice, the information support of tourism activities provides the comfort of tourist services and the attractiveness of the region enhances the motivation of consumers to visit this territory, which leads in the development of entrepreneurship. The development of tourism demand accelerates diversification in the economy creates new types of proposals in entrepreneurship. Non-governmental organizations in Kazakhstan, as well as all over the world, can play an active role in the promotion of regions, the individual settlements and the events. The latest advances of telecommunications, network organizations, the creation and processing of databases and e-marketing provide new business opportunities in the tourism sector. Therefore, the main sphere of changes and innovations in the sphere of tourism is connected with using of information and communication technologies. Kazakhstan with its unique natural resources and original culture of the nomadic people has a huge untapped potential for tourism development in the international and regional markets. Tourism as a type of business in the Republic of Kazakhstan is recognized as one of the priority branches of the economy at the state level. Modern trends in the development of the industry is consisted in the fact that tourists who have studied well the most famous resorts of the world are eager for those countries where the tourism sector is just beginning to develop. At the present stage of tourism development, Kazakhstan is becoming a more attractive country for lovers of extreme species and / or ethnographic tourism. The tourist potential of recreational resources, historical and cultural heritage may allow Kazakhstan to harmoniously integrate into the international tourist market. It can ensure stable employment and income growth, stimulate the development of related industries and lead to an increase in investment flows in the national economy.

In this article assumption is being made that economic structure of economy affects economic security of a country. The main exported goods of Kazakhstan for the period 2000-2015 is the commodity group “Mineral products”, which accounts for no less than 65.8% of total exports of Kazakhstan. And in Kazakhstan’s economy is currently experiencing a clear decline due to the instability and decline in world oil prices. One solution to the government of Kazakhstan has chosen the conduct of the national currency devaluation in February 2014 and August 2015. Down conjuncture of oil prices since 2014 has ceased to be favorable, and in Kazakhstan, only 5% of the oil sold in the domestic market and almost all the oil produced in Kazakhstan is exported at a rate of 95%. In the presented paper authors consider the problem of diversification of the Kazakhstani economy, which actually depends on raw industry. The analysis of the current situation and recommendations for further reforming of economy are provided.