11 декабря 2025

Kazakhstan strives to increase the export production of oil and fat industry to 1 billion US dollars by 2028

10 декабря 2025

In the Aktobe region, 116 entrepreneurs were held responsible for price violations

Since the beginning of 2025, the Department of Trade and Protection of Consumer Rights in the Aktobe region has conducted a series of unscheduled inspections of trade enterprises that violated the requirements of the law on the application of marginal trade surcharges to socially significant food products. As a result of these measures, 116 entrepreneurs were brought to administrative responsibility.

A detailed analysis of the formation of prices for basic social products was carried out in cooperation with the Department of Analytical Developments of the DER in the Aktobe region. Monitoring revealed serious violations. "Elit Product" LLP sold butter, eggs and flour with an excess of the maximum allowable trade markup more than five times. For repeated violations during the year, the company was fined 10 MRP under article 204-4, part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Individual entrepreneur "Kazbergenova" also increased the trade allowance - 3.5 times higher than the established norm. As a repeat offender, the entrepreneur is held liable under the same article and fined 10 MRP. LLP "NuroptTorg" allowed an excess of trade allowance by 3.5 times, for which it received a fine in the amount of 5 MRP according to article 204-4, part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

For each identified fact, an administrative protocol was drawn up, a fine was imposed and mandatory instructions were issued to bring the price in line with the legislation. The department notes that compliance with the requirements for limiting the trade allowance is an absolute obligation of all trade entities, and any violations will be stopped in accordance with the established procedure.

According to the results of 11 months of 2025, the amount of imposed fines amounted to 412,860 tenge under article 204-4 parts 1 and 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses and 141,552 tenge under article 193 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. The Department continues to monitor the retail market and reminds that the protection of consumer rights and prevention of unreasonable price increases remain the priority of its activities.

09 декабря 2025

Karaganda opens "personal office" for exports in China

Karaganda region has opened its "personal office" in China - a representative office based on QazTrade infrastructure in Urumqi.

During the working trip of regional akim Ermaganbeta Bulekpaeva to China, a tripartite memorandum was signed between Akimatom, SPK "Saryarka" and QazTrade. After that, the regional representative office was opened in the QazTrade office and showroom in Urumqi.

"This solution is not simply an extension of external relations. It changes the approach to work with the world's largest market and forms a new standard for Kazakhstan's regional presence in China. Trade between Kazakhstan and China is growing, but the potential of the regions is not fully revealed. "Cooperation of regional productions strengthens Kazakhstan's country presence in China," says General Director of QazTrade Aitmuhammed Aldazharov.

In January-October 2025, mutual trade between Kazakhstan and China amounted to $39.8 billion, increasing by 8.8% compared to the same period in 2024.
• Exports: $15.8 billion (+18%)
• Imports: $24.0 billion (+3.6%)
• Trade balance: improved from -$9.8 billion to -$8.2 billion

Why this step became iconic

Despite the active growth of trade between Kazakhstan and China, regional exports have been developing sporadically for a long time. The company entered the Chinese market sporadically, without systematic support on the spot. Most often, promising niches were occupied by large or foreign players.

New competition between the regions of Kazakhstan

Now opening a representative office in Urumqi creates a new reality:
• The best niche borrowers will be the first to go to China. Polki, distributor and investors are distributed among early players.
• Chinese investors choose regions with a real presence. For them, the office is an indicator of seriousness of intentions and willingness to work for a long time.
• Regional export becomes an independent task. Now each region can form its share of the Chinese market through its own representative office.

Erkhan Yerkin, the official representative of QazTrade in China, has already told what is important to do in other regions:
• use the infrastructure and support of QazTrade;
• determine the export portfolio: top-20 goods, ready-made products, volume, certification;
• to form high-quality investment projects for submission to Chinese partners;
• transitions from formal visits to effective B2B missions with clear KPIs.

In the future, it is planned to scale this model to other socio-entrepreneurial corporations and regions of Kazakhstan to strengthen the export potential of the regions. The opening of the representative office of SPK "Saryarka" is not a one-time action, but the beginning of a new model of regional integration of Kazakhstan into the Chinese market.

China is moving to a decentralized model of trade, where provinces and cities play a key role, forming their own procurement plans and working directly with foreign suppliers. In order for the region of Kazakhstan to participate in these processes, it needs a physical presence in the PRC, a local negotiation channel, access to procurement structures and operational work with local partners.

Karaganda region has already integrated into this new architecture of cooperation, setting the pace for other regions. Who will join next?

09 декабря 2025

The Department of Commerce is seeking a refund for Akmal's cancelled concert

Since November 18, 2025, the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection for the North Kazakhstan Region has received over 100 complaints from citizens regarding the cancelled concert of singer Akmal, scheduled for October 25, 2025, in Kostanay.

The customers purchased tickets through the eventticket.kz online service, confirming the conclusion of a contract for the provision of paid services electronically. However, the concert never took place, and the organizer has not refunded the consumers.

After reviewing the complaints, the Department identified violations of consumer protection laws. An official notice was sent to the individual entrepreneur who organized the concert, demanding a full refund of the ticket price to all affected consumers. The organizer must refund over 6 million tenge to the consumers.

"If the refund request is not met, the Department will file a lawsuit in accordance with Article 5, Clause 8, of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan 'On the Protection of Consumer Rights' for a refund for purchased tickets," noted Kanat Zhenisbekuly, Head of the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection for the North Kazakhstan Region.

The Department continues to monitor the situation and encourages consumers to promptly file complaints if their rights are violated.

09 декабря 2025

A 70-year-old resident of the Akmola region received a refund for a non-working phone from Wildberries

The Akmola Region continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of its consumer protection agencies. In 2025, the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection of the Akmola Region reviewed 983 citizen complaints, over 80% of which were satisfied, and refunds exceeded 82 million tenge.

The department's specialists actively resolve disputes out of court, allowing citizens to promptly protect their rights and receive refunds. For example, a resident of the region was able to get 8.1 million tenge back for a used car thanks to a complaint prepared by the Department against the dealership. In another case, a buyer refused a new car due to discovered damage, after which the seller returned 28.3 million tenge.

Disputes over household goods and electronics also involve the Department's intervention. A resident of the region experienced delays and defects in delivery of furniture worth 1,000,200 tenge under a contract. Specialists provided explanatory information, and the entrepreneur rectified the violations.

A 70-year-old resident of the region received a refund of 34,840 tenge for a phone purchased on Wildberries. He ordered a phone advertised as a Redmi 14 for his daughter, but the product he received was not what he expected. The phone failed IMEI verification, making it unusable in Kazakhstan. Attempts to return the money directly to the seller were unsuccessful, and only a timely appeal to the Department yielded results.

In another case, a consumer who was wronged when booking a resort where a deposit refund was denied was able to reach a settlement with the Department's assistance: the money was returned and an additional day of stay was provided at a discount. A resident of Kokshetau received a refund of 22,500 tenge for a poorly repaired phone, the defect of which appeared during the warranty period.

The Department's effectiveness is also confirmed by judicial practice: during the first 11 months of 2025, the agency participated in 15 court cases as a third party, which allowed it to recover more than 9.9 million tenge in favor of individuals.

09 декабря 2025

Entrepreneurs in Akmola region fined for selling products of dubious origin

In the Akmola region, during regular inspections of the food market, instances of exceeding the permissible markup on socially important products were discovered. The inspections were carried out by the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the Akmola region.

For example, individual entrepreneur Yuldashev sold carrots with a 33.3% markup, significantly exceeding the legally permitted level. Similar violations were found at individual entrepreneur Gulyaeva T.M. at the Khutorok store for selling buckwheat with a 27% markup, at individual entrepreneur Zhanalinova at the Produkty store for selling cabbage with a 72.7% markup, and at individual entrepreneur Mirmakhmud for selling onions with a 60% markup.

In each of these cases, the entrepreneurs were held administratively liable under Article 204-4 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Offenses, with fines imposed. These measures are aimed at preventing unfair practices, ensuring trade transparency, and protecting the interests of citizens.

Furthermore, in the Shortandy District, a case was discovered where prices were listed in foreign currency—products in the store were listed in rubles, which violates the law requiring prices to be listed exclusively in tenge. The entrepreneur was also fined for this violation.

During the 2025 period analyzed, 216 entrepreneurs were held administratively liable in the Akmola Region, 99 of whom received warnings and 117 were fined a total of over 2.2 million tenge. The violations identified included exceeding the trade markup at the SZPT, selling goods in foreign currency, the absence of a consumer corner, and failure to respond to consumer complaints within the prescribed timeframe.

"We also conducted 21 purchases of products of questionable origin, and found labeling violations in 17 cases. Entrepreneurs received fines totaling over 1 million tenge. Our work continues, monitoring retail outlets throughout the region and preventing unfair practices," noted Yerlan Aubakirov, Head of the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection for the Akmola Region.

09 декабря 2025

On the introduction of a permit-based procedure for the export of certain types of goods

The Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan announces the adoption of a joint order of the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 17, 2025, No. 325-НҚ, the Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 20, 2025, No. 494, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 20, 2025, No. 586/НҚ, the Acting Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 20, 2025, No. 717, and the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 20, 2025, No. 391 "On the implementation of the pilot project 'On certain issues of regulating the export of certain types of goods.'" This order comes into force on December 5, 2025.

This joint order introduces a permit-based procedure for the export of certain types of goods, which applies exclusively to goods exported to CIS member states. The permit-based procedure applies to certain types of industrial goods, telecommunications and computer equipment, their parts and materials, as well as certain types of aviation industry goods.

The lists of goods subject to the permit-based procedure are approved in Appendices 1, 2, and 3. The rules for issuing permits and the list of required documents are approved in Appendix 4 to the joint order.

Contacts for consultations
1. For questions regarding the export of telecommunications and computer equipment, its parts, and materials:
Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
Tel.: 64-95-13, 64-95-19.
2. For questions regarding the export of aviation industry goods:
Department of Digitalization and Public Services of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Tel.: 98-33-34;
Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Tel.: 57-23-06.
3. For questions regarding the export of industrial goods:
Industry Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Tel.: 57-23-53.
4. For questions regarding customs operations:
State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Tel.: 71-84-16, 71-79-51.

08 декабря 2025

At the Astana market: a moment the Chairman of the Trade Committee couldn't ignore

Last Saturday, Yernur Zhautikbayev, Chairman of the Trade Committee, toured Astana's capital markets. Ahead of the holidays, he monitored prices and uncovered instances of unjustified markups.

For example, at one grocery store in the city market, buckwheat was listed for 500 tenge. This price immediately caught the Committee Chairman's attention. According to Yernur Zhautikbayev, the actual price of buckwheat could not possibly be 500 tenge. The store purchased the product for 275 tenge and sold it with an 82 percent markup. Given the maximum allowable markup of 15 percent for socially significant goods, the price of buckwheat in this store should not have exceeded 316 tenge.

The Committee Chairman instructed the Astana Department of Trade and Consumer Protection to conduct an investigation into this matter.

During his tour, Yernur Zhautikbayev visited the Sauran, Shankhay-Kok Bazar, Sharyn, Saryarka, Asem, Astanalyk, and Ulzhan markets, as well as the Keruen Zholy site, where the Sogym Fest meat fair is taking place. During meetings with market owners and importers supplying fruits and vegetables to the capital, the Committee Chairman emphasized the need to prevent unjustified price increases ahead of the holidays and to ensure direct supplies of meat products from farmers without intermediaries.

"The Ministry of Trade is working comprehensively to maintain price stability in the market ahead of the holidays. Not only retail chains but also markets are under strict control. We are working specifically with major importers. Thanks to this, prices for socially important food products remained stable in November." "In anticipation of the holidays, we will take measures to stabilize the prices of not only socially significant goods but also everyday products," emphasized Yernur Zhautikbayev, Chairman of the Trade Committee.

08 декабря 2025

A Kostanay resident was compensated 1.2 million tenge after receiving services from an unlicensed salon

In the summer of 2025, a Kostanay resident paid 1,200,000 tenge for consultative, diagnostic, and dermatological cosmetology services. However, she did not receive the promised results and requested termination of the contract. The salon ignored her complaint, after which she contacted the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection.

The Department's investigation revealed a lack of response to the complaint, for which the salon was subject to administrative liability. An order was also issued to amend the contract and remove any terms that infringe on consumer rights, including the prohibition on refunds. The consumer was advised to file a lawsuit.

During the trial, it was established that the salon was performing dermatological cosmetology procedures without a mandatory license, as they are considered medical procedures. The court ordered a full refund to the consumer.

"This case once again demonstrates that entrepreneurs are obligated to comply with the law, and consumers have the right to high-quality and safe services." "The Department consistently protects the rights of the region's residents and strengthens market oversight," noted K. Akizhanov, Acting Head of the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection for Kostanay Region.

Since the beginning of this year, the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection for Kostanay Region has received 1,452 complaints. Of these, 717 were written, 106 were received via a Telegram bot, 269 were received via a hotline, and 360 were seen in person by specialists. Consumers have received reimbursement of over 62.7 million tenge.

Seventy-three inspections were conducted as part of state oversight. As a result of these unscheduled inspections, 16 entrepreneurs received warnings and 44 entrepreneurs were fined a total of 1,397,000 tenge.

05 декабря 2025

First Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aizhan Bizhanova visited the Zhetisu region on a working visit

First Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aizhan Bizhanova conducted a working visit to the Zhetisu region, during which she visited trade infrastructure facilities and met with business representatives and residents of the region.

During the visit, Aizhan Bizhanova visited vegetable storage facilities in Taldykorgan. The region has 10 vegetable storage facilities, one of which, a large facility commissioned in 2024, was inspected by the Vice Minister. Currently, it stores 1,200 tons of local potatoes, helping to stabilize the region's food balance.

Furthermore, it was noted that the region holds weekly agricultural fairs on Saturdays, allowing residents to purchase food directly from producers at affordable prices.

During the visit, Bizhanova examined the storage and availability of socially important food products, pricing, logistics, and ensuring the regional food balance.

During the meeting with entrepreneurs and the public, current aspects of domestic trade development, business support measures, price stabilization mechanisms, shelf space for domestic goods, rental conditions, and interactions between producers and retail chains were discussed.

The First Vice Minister presented up-to-date data on the state of trade in Kazakhstan and the Zhetisu region, noting the region's low trade turnover, the expansion of modern retail formats, the introduction of state support instruments, measures to protect the domestic market, and the promotion of non-resource exports.

Aizhan Bizhanova emphasized that the Ministry continues its systematic work to support domestic producers, improve the availability of goods for the population, and create a level playing field for all domestic market participants.

At the meeting with representatives of local executive bodies, Aizhan Bizhanova focused on the creation of a regional map of deposits and industrial enterprises, including information on production volumes, opportunities to attract investors, and exports. She also noted the need to build logistics infrastructure, open laboratories, increase trade turnover in the Zhetisu region, and strengthen close cooperation with China through the Khorgos International Centre of Boundary Cooperation.

Following the meeting, the First Vice Minister answered questions from entrepreneurs and citizens, noting the importance of open dialogue and joint resolution of regional development issues.