ASTANA. March 6. KAZINFORM. /Sara Kabikyzy/ A regular session of the Space Council under the Government of Kazakhstan chaired by Vice Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev took place on March 3; Kazinform refers to the press service of «KazCosmos» JSC. Chairman of the National Space Agency of Kazakhstan Talgat Mussabayev made a report on the draft state program «Development of space activities in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2009-2020». «The document envisages establishing a new space branch in Kazakhstan that will become one of the knowledge-intensive and hi-tech sectors of the country’s economy», the head of KazCosmos said. T. Mussabayev emphasized the development of space activities was the issue of Kazakhstan’s global competitiveness and one of the most powerful factors of implementation of the Industrial and Innovation Development Strategy. The problem of KazSat satellite communication system was also discussed at the session. The Council decided to upgrade the KazSat-2 satellite control system. Upon the results of the sitting the Space Council decided to approve the draft State Program «Development of space activities in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2009-2020» and later submit it for the Government’s consideration.