Vice-Minister of MTI of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kazanbayev spoke about the development of domestic trade in 2021
Nur-Sultan - February 8, 2021. Today, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov, an expanded board of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the results of work for 2020 and tasks for 2021 was held in an Online format.
The board considered the main sectoral initiatives of the Ministry, which are aimed at creating the necessary environment for the development of domestic trade, foreign trade and integration, export promotion, as well as the development of digitalization in trade activities. In addition, issues related to the development of technical regulation and consumer protection were discussed.
The meeting's participants were the representatives of the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan "Atameken", the Public Council under the MIT RK, independent economists in the field of socio - economic reforms, interested state bodies, the center of social entrepreneurship.
In turn, the Vice-Minister of trade and integration MIT Yerzhan Kazanbaev reported on the development of domestic trade in 2020 and objectives for 2021, as well as on the adoption of reforms in the development of technical regulation and consumer protection.
Thus, in the current issue of restraining prices for socially important food products, the Ministry, together with the akimats, is constantly working to monitor prices. At the end of last year, prices for socially important food products increased by 11%.
According to Yerzhan Kazanbayev, the largest increase in prices was recorded
for 5 import-dependent and export-oriented goods, the share of which was 8.9%. Moreover, in order to stabilize prices, the Government has set maximum prices for 9 goods, introduced a ban on the export of 7 goods and a monthly quota for the export of 6 goods.
"At the same time, the most effective market mechanism for restraining prices was the provision of concessional loans under the "revolving scheme". If in 2019, 2.1 billion tenge was allocated from local budgets for this mechanism, then in 2020, the financial resources were increased to 18.6 billion tenge. Food reserves were formed in the stabilization funds in the amount of 31.5 thousand tons" - the Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration said.
The second equally important component of the development of domestic trade was the reform of the sphere of technical regulation.
Recall that in 2020, the Law "On Technical Regulation" was adopted in a new version, aimed at protecting consumers from unsafe products, introducing a rapid response mechanism under state control and improving compliance assessment procedures, digitizing certification processes.
"The innovation of this law is the transition from the control of subjects to the control of objects. Thus, the product itself will be checked, and not the manufacturer or seller. For this purpose, a procedure is being introduced for sampling unsafe products for the purpose of conducting laboratory tests, " Yerzhan Kazanbayev said.
In addition, the Ministry's priority is the protection of consumer rights. On June 25, 2020, the Law "On Consumer Protection" was adopted, which is aimed at building a unified system for handling complaints - starting from its submission and ending with a comprehensive review. It is noted that the novelties of the Law were developed taking into account the experience of developed countries and the UN guidelines for consumer protection.
Yerzhan Kazanbayev said that entrepreneurs will be interested in avoiding disputes, and in case of their occurrence, act on the principle of "decide here and now". The Ministry has introduced "public" control on the principle of "correct, not punish". The role of human rights defenders from among professionals is also formed, since the outcome of a consumer dispute depends on their qualifications, competence and moral principles.
It should also be noted that since January 1, 2021, a Unified Information System has been launched e-tutynushy.kz. This platform allows you to track consumer complaints in the context of industries and the subject of the dispute. Today, access to the system is provided to all participants of the consumer protection system.
Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration, the tasks of the development of domestic trade for 2021 were announced. Thus, the Ministry provides for the formation of a National Commodity Distribution System in the form of infrastructure-a network of wholesale and distribution centers, it is planned to build 24 ORCS."
As previously reported, the infrastructure of the National Commodity Distribution System will allow for the acceptance, storage and transshipment of more than 2.1 million tons of goods, including fruit and vegetable products-625.0 thousand tons, meat, fish, chicken-300.0 thousand tons, groceries-700.0 thousand tons, other-520 thousand tons. The nomenclature of the ORC will be more than 20.0 thousand product names.
"This system of distribution of goods will provide free access of producers to sales markets "from the field to the counter", and consumers with high-quality products. Already this year, it is planned to start construction of 7 ORCS in the cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Shymkent, Almaty, Zhambyl and Pavlodar regions, " Yerzhan Kazanbayev said.
Moreover, the start of the project of construction of the ORC is planned in 2021, completion in 2024 in 3 stages: at the first stage, 7 objects: 4 ORC storage and 3 ORC distribution. Initiated on October 5, 2020, at the second stage there are 7 facilities: 4 storage ORC, 1 distribution ORC and 2 trade ORC. The planned initiation period is spring-2021, at the third stage there are 10 objects: 7 storage ORC, 1 distribution ORC and 2 trade ORC. The planned initiation period is autumn-2021.
Also, on behalf of the Head of State, the Ministry has started work on improving the legislation in the field of exchange trading. This draft Law provides for increasing the requirements and increasing the transparency of the activities of commodity exchanges, creating a competitive environment and conditions for the development of exchange trading, as well as increasing the volume of exchange trading.
Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration Kazanbayev E. said that work will continue to improve legislation in the areas of technical regulation and consumer protection. The second stage of reforms in the field of technical regulation and standardization is the draft law "On Conformity Assessment". The concept of the draft law provides for harmonization with international law and the requirements of international organizations, as well as the EAEU.
He added that in the field of consumer protection, a second package of legislative changes is also being prepared. The bill will be aimed at increasing the involvement of civil society in the system of consumer protection, the introduction of the institution of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman will represent, ensure and protect the rights and legitimate interests of consumers .He will take on the role of the "speaker" of civil society.
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