Enhancing Public Oversight over Consumer Protections
Bolstering Consumer Protection in Kazakhstan: Focus Areas, Challenges, and Solutions
Kazakhstan takes a step towards enhancing consumer protection as it aims to streamline oversight of enforcement. As per Almaty.tv's report, during a government meeting, Bakhyt Sultanov, the head of the Ministry of Trade and Integration, highlighted the surge in complaints in sectors like housing, utilities, retail trade, medicine, and transportation [1].
Sultanov mentioned that three years ago, about 23,000 complaints were made, but this number escalated to 30,000 last year [1]. He suggested evaluating officials' performance based on the public's satisfaction levels.
In the meantime, Saparkhan Omarov, head of the Ministry of Agriculture, discussed the forthcoming harvest. He proposed wheat purchase prices in the range of 83-87 thousand tenge, depending on quality. The prices for wheat of the IV class were set at 78 thousand tenge, and for barley of the II class, at 50 thousand tenge [1]. Price determinations for sunflower and buckwheat will be made later after concluding their harvest [1].
While Kazakhstan tackles these issues head-on, there are other concerns that warrant attention. For instance, businesses encounter operational challenges with the new Keden customs data system introduced in November 2024 to facilitate imports. Reportedly, 47.2% of users have experienced frequent system errors, and 23.1% require over 24 hours to submit documentation, which impacts logistics and raises costs [2].
A possible cause of this issue seems to be the insufficient testing of the system and the lack of information about its launch. Stakeholders reported that only 35.8% of businesses participated in system testing or training, and 43.4% were uninformed of the system’s impending launch [2]. To improve the situation, it's essential to upgrade the infrastructure, stabilize the Keden system, and expand user education programs.
Another pressing matter is escalating inflationary pressures. In April 2025, annual inflation reached 10.7%, with services, non-food goods, and food items contributing significantly to this rise [4][5]. Notably, cold-water tariffs have seen an increase of 89.1%, local resort vacations have grown by 70.1%, and vegetable prices, such as potatoes (+79%) and onions (+63.8%), have spiked [5].
Factors contributing to this inflation spike include ambitious costs for housing, internet, medical, and entertainment services, along with external pressures from global trade uncertainties and currency fluctuations [3]. To mitigate inflation’s impact, it's advisable to offer targeted subsidies for essential goods like utilities and vegetables and maintain elevated interest rates until inflation is contained within the 10–12% target range [1][3].
Last but not least, it's crucial to address regional disparities in inflation rates. For instance, both Astana and Karaganda are experiencing inflation rates above 12.8% [5]. Strategies to tackle this disparity include implementing localized price controls in high-inflation regions and improving cross-regional logistics for food and essential goods.
By focusing on streamlining trade infrastructure, controlling inflation, and bridging regional gaps, Kazakhstan can hopefully alleviate consumer dissatisfaction caused by rising costs and administrative obstacles.
Source:[1] Almaty.tv[2] Delo.kz[3] Tengrinews.kz[4] Capital.kz[5] Akorda.kz
- The surge in consumer complaints in various sectors, such as housing, utilities, retail trade, medicine, and transportation, in Kazakhstan has been strengthened over the past three years, reaching 30,000 last year, according to Bakhyt Sultanov, the head of the Ministry of Trade and Integration.
- Kazakhstan's efforts to bolster consumer protection also encompass addressing operational challenges faced by businesses due to the Keden customs data system, which was introduced in November 2024 to facilitate imports. A significant number of users have reported experiencing frequent system errors and document submission delays, which impacts logistics and raises costs.
- In addition to the above concerns, inflationary pressures are escalating in Kazakhstan, with annual inflation reaching 10.7% in April 2025. By offering targeted subsidies for essential goods like utilities and vegetables, and maintaining elevated interest rates, the government aims to contain inflation within the 10–12% target range.
- In light of regional disparities in inflation rates, strategies to tackle this issue include implementing localized price controls in high-inflation regions and improving cross-regional logistics for food and essential goods, to ensure equitable access for consumers across Kazakhstan.
