Today, a meeting of the Public Council was held at the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, chaired by Minister Arman Shakkaliyev and Council Chairman Ruslan Shayekin.

The event was attended by the senior management of the MTI RK, representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Construction, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken," as well as heads of relevant industry associations and the business community.

As part of the discussion on state support for the "convenience store" format, Public Council member Marlen Smailov raised the issue of improving the Rules for providing support measures for private entrepreneurship. The current version of the rules lacks the possibility of subsidizing loans for the acquisition of already operating retail outlets within walking distance.

The Public Council proposed including in the Rules the possibility of subsidizing and guaranteeing loans for the purchase of existing "convenience" stores, as well as allowing entrepreneurs to combine an investment loan with a working capital replenishment loan within a single project.

"Trade is the most important stimulus for the development of domestic production. I never tire of repeating that about 1.5 million people are employed in the trade sector, and the industry itself ranks second in the structure of GDP. Therefore, state support is the most important tool for the further development of our sector, increasing its efficiency, and creating new opportunities for business," noted Arman Shakkaliyev.

On the block of digitalization and the functioning of the National Product Catalog, a representative of the Trade Promotion Association, Nurlan Nurmagambetov, voiced the problems of importers and SME entities in obtaining information about foreign manufacturers for previously imported products.

To avoid financial losses for businesses, a reduction in the range of non-food products, and excessive administrative burden, the Council recommended introducing a transition period until January 1, 2027. The initiative provides for simplified registration in the NPC for previously imported goods, non-application of penalties on remaining stock until 2027, and temporary preservation of the right to indicate importer data.

"As a member of the Public Council, I want to note that we do not often talk about what actually yields practical results in the work of government bodies. The implementation of the National Product Catalog is just such an example. For the catering industry, this means more transparency, traceability, and order in working with suppliers, as well as fewer risks for business. Of course, implementation requires time and refinement, but it is important that the system is gradually becoming a working tool for the industry. For this, I would like to thank the government bodies and everyone involved in the development of the NPC," noted Catering Industry Chairperson Veronika Daugaliyeva.

The leadership of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, NCE "Atameken," and the Department of Digital Transformation and Product Labeling of the MTI RK participated in the discussion.

Regarding the metrological support of wastewater accounting, a representative of the SRO "Kazakhstan Register," Vasily Mikhalchenko, pointed out the problems of the lack of accurate measurement methods in non-pressure environments, which leads to financial disputes between water users and water utilities.

A set of measures was developed, including the harmonization of the norms of the Water Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan with legislation in the field of ensuring the uniformity of measurements, the development of measurement procedures for non-pressure systems, and the updating of the Rules for the Use of Water Supply Systems. Representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, JSC "KazCenter for Housing and Communal Services," the Kazakhstan Water Association, and the Chairman of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the MTI RK, Bauyrzhan Kasymov, participated in the discussion.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1278383?lang=ru