Issues of restraining the growth of food prices are of primary importance — Alikhan Smailov

On Saturday, April 9, in the Digital Office of the Government, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov held a meeting on the measures taken to curb prices for socially important food products, as well as to improve the efficiency of the FEZ.

Speaking with the report, Chairman of the Trade Committee of the Ministry of Trade and Integration Yerzhan Kazanbayev said that over the past week, the price increase for socially important food products amounted to 0.9%. The most expensive were onions — by 7.2%, carrots — 2.6%, cabbage — 2.5%, potatoes — 2.2%, milk — 1.8%, poultry meat and kefir — 1.6% each, sugar - 1.1%. By region, prices rose the most in Mangystau region — by 2%, North Kazakhstan - by 1.9%, Akmola and Kyzylorda — by 1.5%. In total, since the beginning of the year, prices have increased by 12.4%.

"We continue to coordinate local executive bodies to ensure that retail trade facilities comply with the permissible trade allowance. So, raid events over the past week covered 30.8 thousand stores "at home", that is, 73% of retail facilities. 231 violations have been revealed this week. As a result, trade surcharges have been reduced by 25%," Kazanbayev said.

At the same time, it was stressed that the work on increasing the financing of the "revolving scheme" in the regions is at a low level: only 58.3 billion tenge has been allocated out of the planned 100 billion tenge. Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerbol Karashukeyev said that the reserves of socially significant products in the country amount to about 643.5 thousand tons. Sugar reserves have been formed – about 30 thousand tons, excluding the products of sugar factories. At the same time, uninterrupted domestic production has been ensured and a contract has been signed for the supply of additional sugar from India. According to akimats, the stock of potatoes in the republic is 199 thousand tons, cabbage – 17.2 thousand tons, carrots – 43.1 thousand tons, onions – 23.1 thousand tons.

Serik Zhumangarin, Chairman of the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition, reported on antitrust response measures. In 12 regions, the Agency's territorial divisions have completed an analysis of the subjects of wholesale trade in products, and inspections have been scheduled for about 90 trading markets on the facts of establishing monopolistically high prices.

After hearing the reports of the speakers, Alikhan Smailov addressed the akims of the regions where the highest increase in the price of products was recorded during the week.

"In the Mangystau region, onion prices increased by 39.2%, as well as beef by 5.5%. Last year, we repeatedly talked about the need for timely contracting with farmers of the Zhambyl region for the supply of onions to the region. This work has not been done, therefore, such growth. 1.1 billion tenge was allocated for the "revolving scheme" with a plan of 3.6 billion tenge. At the same time, only 177 million tenge was allocated to entrepreneurs from the allocated funds," he said.

The Head of Government noted that over the past two years, significant funds have been allocated in the North Kazakhstan region for the construction of dairy farms. At the same time, there is an increase in dairy products, kefir, cottage cheese and butter in the region, by 14.3%, 9.5% and 5.3%, respectively.

"Issues of price restraint are of primary importance. I have repeatedly instructed to ensure an increase in the financing of the "revolving scheme". However, today the work has not been done properly. I instruct to increase financing to 100 billion tenge by the end of this month. On the eve of the upcoming agricultural season, the priority task of the regions should be the conclusion of forward contracts for the supply of autumn agricultural products. If the moment is missed now, during the off—season we will again face an increase in prices," A. Smailov said.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan instructed the Ministry of Agriculture, together with akimats, to update the balance of production and consumption on a regular basis, to promptly supply agricultural products between regions, taking into account their needs. Also, the Ministry of Agriculture, together with akimats, needs to take measures to diversify sown crops, taking into account the shortage and need for vegetable products. Particular attention should be paid to the control of the trade allowance.

"The rise in food prices negates all the great work to increase wages, pensions, social benefits, and in general to increase the incomes of citizens, which is carried out by the Government on behalf of the Head of State. This causes fair criticism from the population. Akims and ministers need to pay special attention to this issue," A. Smailov stressed.

The second issue of the meeting was the adoption of measures to improve the efficiency of special economic zones. During his speech, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kairbek Uskenbayev, said that in some regions it is planned to expand the territory of the FEZ, optimize, complete the construction of the infrastructure started, reduce non-core activities.

"I instruct the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, together with interested state bodies, to submit an updated Roadmap for the development of the FEZ to the Government by April 25 this year," concluded Alikhan Smailov.

Source: https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/voprosy-sderzhivaniya-rosta-cen-na-produkty-imeyut-pervoocherednoe-znachenie-alihan-smailov-93354

Any use of the materials is allowed only if there is a hyperlink to primeminister.kz