A. Shakkaliev spoke about the roadmap for modernisation of markets until 2025

Arman Shakkaliev, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a press conference, during which he spoke about the modernisation of markets in the country.

In Kazakhstan in 2024 it is planned to modernise 24 markets. This year the work on reconstruction of 16 trading platforms is being finalised. In 2025, the plans include 35 markets.

«The need for modernisation was identified together with the business community. According to official data, there are 262 specialised, 460 universal markets in Kazakhstan. Modernisation is planned for 2023 in cities of national importance, in the capital, in the regions. And to date, according to available information, about 16 markets are actively completing modernisation», - said Arman Shakaliyev.

The trade minister noted that recent years have been particularly challenging for business activity - both the pandemic and the geopolitical environment - and therefore the modernisation dates have been postponed twice.

«Now we have developed a roadmap, taking into account the current situation and the capabilities of market players. I would like to note that the roadmap is not some dogma, a hardened document, it is a living document, we adjust it taking into account the capabilities of business, taking into account the current situation in terms of timing. There are objective reasons for postponement somewhere, somewhere it is necessary to determine the sources of investment», - said Arman Shakkaliev.

The minister stressed that the ministry is in constant co-operation with business owners, markets, and the administration of local executive bodies.

«We receive many complaints about the lack of regulations of markets, increase in rent, imposition of additional services. Some of the problems have been solved at the legislative level, i.e. personal responsibility of the owners for the organisation of trade has been introduced, requirements for markets have been established and now we are carrying out digitalisation of markets», - the minister stressed.