Bakhyt Sultanov: Proposed legislative amendments to modernize trade markets

Today, at a briefing at the Central Communications Service, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov spoke about the work done on inspections of the country's trade markets.

So, on behalf of the Head of State, the Prosecutor General's Office completed inspections in May this year
122 markets.

As it turned out, among the systemic problems there is a lack of regulation of the activities of the owners and administration of the markets; high rental rates for a trading place (up to 15 thousand tenge per day); imposition by the administration of the market of affiliated suppliers to provide additional services: certification tests, packaging, transportation, etc.

In addition, during the inspections, cases of creation by market participants of an artificial shortage for goods and manipulation of prices were noted.

In conclusion, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that in order to solve the existing problems and in order to modernize the activities of the markets, the Ministry of Trade and Integration, together with the Prosecutor General's Office, interested state and local executive bodies, will propose the following legislative amendments:

1) giving the owner of the market personal responsibility for the organization of trade;

2) establishment of qualification and infrastructure requirements for the markets;

3) creation of an information system that will ensure competitive and free access of domestic producers to retail space.

These norms are included in the draft law on the implementation of certain instructions of the Head of State, which is currently under consideration by the Majilis of the Parliament.