In a recent statement from the Ministry of Trade and Integration on March 20th, it was highlighted that the share of Russian products on the shelves of Kazakhstani stores is increasing. This issue was raised during a briefing at the Central Communications Service, where a journalist questioned a representative of the Ministry about the growing presence of Russian goods displacing local Kazakhstani products.
The journalist pointed out that experts believe this trend puts pressure on domestic producers, leading to a decrease in the share of Kazakhstani products to 38%. However, the Chairman of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of Trade and Integration, Kuanysh Elikbayev, disagreed with this assessment.
Elikbayev mentioned that during inspections in four regions, especially border areas, it was observed that 90-95% of mass consumption products such as dairy and meat products are of Kazakhstani origin. He clarified that while the percentage may drop to 55% for certain items like cheese due to processing limitations, the overall claim of a significant decrease in local products is inaccurate.
He attributed the gradual increase in the share of domestic production in Kazakhstan to the support provided to local manufacturers and the subsidies allocated to them. Additionally, a situational headquarters was established last year to ensure the quality of imported products aligns with technical regulations. This led to the prohibition of specific imported goods from neighboring countries, including milk.
Furthermore, Kazakhstan recently excluded several imported products from state procurement for two years. Details on the specific items affected can be found through the provided link.
