The mobile group has started round-the-clock duty at the "Altyn Orda" market
Images | Ministry of Trade and Integration
Last Saturday, at the weekly meeting on price stabilization for socially important food products chaired by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin, the price situation in the country and in the "Altyn Orda" market was reviewed, press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration reports.
As the Acting Chairman of the Trade Committee of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aidar Abildabekov noted, a mobile group was created at the "Altyn Orda" market, which included representatives of the Financial Monitoring Agency, the Agency for Development and Protection of Competition, the Ministry of Trade and Integration, the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Agriculture, Akimat of Almaty region. The group has already started on duty at the market around the clock. A telegram chat "Алтын Орда Open" and a single call center have been created to receive requests from sellers, suppliers, drivers and citizens visiting the market, and to respond promptly (8 7273 195 160, 8 747 059 7054). 100 free places for farmers' trucks have been identified, which will sell their vegetable products directly to market visitors. The places of sale are equipped with umbrellas, cameras are installed for constant monitoring. This will enable farmers to sell agricultural products directly to consumers without intermediaries. To access the market, farmers need to provide a certificate from the rural akimat.
Akimat of Almaty region needs to keep the work of the mobile group under daily control. 100 places for trucks are operational measures, suitable for the summer season. It is necessary to allocate stationary objects of trade on the territory of "Altyn Orda". And this applies not only to this market. I instruct all akimats to carry out similar work on markets and large retail facilities in their regions",- Serik Zhumangarin stressed.
Separately, the situation with the liquidation of intermediary schemes was considered at the meeting. According to the Trade Committee, 859 commission meetings have been held since the beginning of the year, 176 unproductive intermediaries have been excluded. During the week, 22 facts of excess of the trade allowance and exclusion of unproductive intermediaries were established. In particular, pasta, flour and rice were sold in Zhambyl region with a trade mark-up above 15%. After the explanatory work, the price of these products decreased by 10-25%. In the region of Ulytau, a warning was issued to an entrepreneur for exceeding the trade allowance.As a result, prices for sunflower oil and cabbage have been reduced by 25%", - Aidar Abildabekov said.
In general, over the past week, the increase in prices for socially important food products amounted to 0.1%. The highest increase in prices occurred for carrots (4.4%), potatoes (3.5%). At the same time, there is a decrease in prices for cabbage (-5.4%), onions (-1.6%). The price of sunflower oil (-1.7%), buckwheat (-1.5%), eggs (-1.4%), poultry meat and salt (-0.1%) continues to fall.
Separately, we analyzed the situation with the increase in prices for carrots, for which the highest growth index was recorded in 18 regions. As it became known, earlier the regions were offered to buy carrots from the producer of Taraz for 110 tenge. However, only Astana and Almaty made the purchase.
Vice minister of Agriculture Yerbol Taszhurekov presented the results of the work on the formation of reserves of regional stabilizing funds for the winter period. We have concluded agreements on the storage of grain potatoes in the amount of 77.6 thousand tons. tons, or 85% of the norm of demand for the present osenne-winter period, carrots - 23.5 thousand. tonne (91%), Luka - 22.3 out. tonne (152%), capers - 16 out. tonne (74 %).
Taking into account the recent changes in the Standard Rules for the implementation of price stabilization mechanisms for socially important food products, the free funds of the SEC should be allocated for forward financing of agricultural producers and processing enterprises. Regions with the smallest volumes of contracts need to take measures to conclude forward contracts with farmers. The list of potato, carrot, onion and cabbage producers has been sent to akimats",- the Vice Minister of Agriculture said.
Summing up the meeting, Serik Zhumangarin instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to check all contracts concluded by akimats for the autumn harvest for compliance with changes in standard rules and financial flows.
The changes require purchasing 9 commodity items only from manufacturers. The results of the inspection should be reported within a week", - Serik Zhumangarin said.
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Olzhas Bektenov and First Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia Levan Davitashvili discuss trade and economic cooperation issues
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Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov met with First Deputy Minister - Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Levan Davitashvili, who arrived in Astana to participate in the 12th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Georgia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, primeminister.kz reports.
The issues of interaction in the spheres of transport and logistics, agro-industrial complex, energy, tourism, aviation industry, as well as strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties were considered.
Georgia is an important and reliable partner in the South Caucasus. In the first quarter of this year, Georgian investors invested $88.5 million in Kazakhstan's economy, while the total investment volume has exceeded $500 million over 10 years.
The parties emphasised the prospects in the transit and transport sphere. Major transcontinental transport corridors pass through the territories of the two countries as the shortest routes from Europe to China and South-East Asia.
Kazakhstan and Georgia are actively co-operating within the framework of the development of the Trans-Caspian international transport route. Cargo transshipment along this route grew by 65% last year and by 69% in the first 8 months of this year, reaching 2.9 million tonnes.
The Head of State pays great attention to the development of the Middle Corridor, and we aim to increase the volume of traffic along this route to 10 million tonnes of cargo. For this purpose, the Government is taking consistent measures to improve transit conditions," Olzhas Bektenov stressed.
Head of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted the importance of continuing joint work on establishing competitive tariff conditions, reducing delivery time and increasing the volume of transportations along the TMTM route, including the line Baku - Tbilisi - Kars. Along with this, the need for active digitalisation of the transport corridor, which will increase its attractiveness for international carriers.
In turn, Levan Davitashvili expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan and noted the special role of the Intergovernmental Commission, which is called to give a new impetus to the development of bilateral relations.
The participants of the meeting confirmed the intention to continue multidimensional work to ensure the dynamic development of trade and economic partnership.
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Olzhas Bektenov and Deputy Managing Director of the IMF Bo Li discuss financial and economic cooperation issues
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The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov met with the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Bo Li, primeminister.kz reports.
The meeting focused on cooperating in the financial and economic areas.
Kazakhstan has been a member of the IMF since 1992. Long-term partnership with the Fund is important to ensure economic stability of the country and quality sustainable growth of the national economy.
The participants of the meeting emphasized the strategic nature of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the IMF.
Positive results of joint work on structural reforms, development of fiscal policy and financial market of Kazakhstan testify to the high importance of cooperation.
The opening of the IMF's Regional Capacity Development Center for the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia in Almaty last year gave new impetus to bilateral and regional dialogue on maintaining international financial stability.
It was noted that as a result of the systematic policy of the head of state on comprehensive modernization of the economy on September 9 this year Moody's rating agency upgraded Kazakhstan's sovereign rating to Baa1 with stable outlook.
The assigned rating is the highest for all years of the country's independence, and confirms the continued improvement of the institutional environment and the sustainability of the pace of economic diversification.
Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that the Government of Kazakhstan, together with the National Bank and the Agency for Development and Regulation of the Financial Market, intends to pursue a consistent policy aimed at achieving high-quality economic growth.
Ongoing reforms aim to further improve the effectiveness of fiscal policy, financial accountability and tax administration.
In turn, IMF Deputy Managing Director Bo Li noted that the Fund is committed to continuing the strong and constructive partnership with Kazakhstan aimed at growing Kazakhstan's economy and enhancing the welfare of its people.
To this end, regular policy advice on priority reforms and technical assistance provided by the IMF to the government agencies contribute to strengthening the institutional frameworks and private sector development.
At the end of the meeting, the parties confirmed their intention to strengthen the partnership across the entire spectrum of cooperation.
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Ant Group sees 300% rise in international users adopting mobile payment in China in 2024
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Ant Group today announced the number of international visitors who have used its mobile payment services in China quadrupled over the past six months, following the launch of the International Consumer Friendly Zones program in March that has now expanded to 70 Chinese cities, Ant Group reports.
Speaking at the 2024 INCLUSION·Conference on the Bund, Cyril Han, President and CFO of Ant Group, said transaction volumes of inbound tourists using Ant-supported mobile payment services grew by sixfold between March and August 2024 year-on-year. This surge has created significant business opportunities for local merchants. The number of Chinese merchants regularly servicing overseas travelers through the company’s mobile payment solutions have tripled during the same period.
Since 2019, Ant Group, with the support of the People’s Bank of China, has collaborated with international card networks and overseas digital wallets to drive innovation in inbound mobile payments, a collective effort known as the China Payment Facilitation Partnership. During the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Ant introduced two mobile payment solutions for international visitors, and the number of supported international payment partners has continued to grow since then.
Through Alipay+, the cross-border mobile payment and digitalization solutions operated by Ant International, international visitors can pay with their home e-wallets across China. Alipay+ now supports 13 leading e-wallets and payment apps in Asia for use across an 80-million-strong merchant network in China, an increase from 10 payment partners in 2023. Those include AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), Kaspi.kz (Kazakhstan), MPay (Macao SAR, China), Touch 'n Go eWallet (Malaysia), Hipay (Mongolia), NayaPay (Pakistan), Changi Pay (Singapore), OCBC Digital (Singapore), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Naver Pay (South Korea), Toss Pay (South Korea), TrueMoney (Thailand), and GCash (the Philippines).
The other option allows visitors to bind major international bank cards - Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover®, Diners Club International, and UnionPay International - to the Alipay app to access to a rich array of local services, including shopping, dining, ride-hailing and public transportation, without needing a Chinese-mainland bank account or phone number. The number of card networks supported on Alipay is expected to increase to 7 as American Express has recently received an approval for an inbound wallet solution in China.
In addition to increased payment volumes, inbound tourists are embracing value-added services available on digital wallets for more immersive local experience. The number of Alipay+ partner wallet users redeeming digital coupons increased by 105% quarter-on-quarter over the past six months. Alipay+ wallet partners also introduced over 160 China-travel mini-programs to help visitors access services such as luggage storage, power-bank rentals, massage chairs, and even claw machines.
Inbound tourism to China is experiencing a robust recovery, driven by a combination of government policies and private-sector initiatives like the International Consumer Friendly Zones program. These efforts have significantly alleviated challenges such as visa requirements, payment accessibility, and transportation capacity, making it easier for people to explore China," says Liu Yufeng, Deputy Secretary-General, World Tourism Alliance, a China-based international tourism organization that currently has 253 members from 45 countries and regions.
Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services, American Express, said "American Express and Alipay have discussed potential areas of collaboration to deepen our partnership and we recently received approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange for an inbound wallet solution, which we very much appreciate. Both American Express and Alipay will share more information with our customers, stay tuned."
OCBC was the first Singaporean bank to offer global cross-border payment services through our own app via Alipay+, enabling our Singaporean customers to make payments easily at millions of merchants within Alipay+'s global ecosystem, including those in the Chinese mainland. As Alipay+ continues to expand its global services, we will keep improving our products and enhancing user experience, striving to gain recognition in even broader markets," says Ang Eng Siong, Chief Executive Officer, OCBC China.
In first half of 2024, the number of users utilizing Alipay+ via the OCBC app doubled on year, with the transaction amount nearly tripling, said Mr. Siong.
We've been encouraged by the substantial growth in mobile payment adoption among international visitors and the resulting boost in transactions for our merchant partners, especially since the launch of the International Consumer Friendly Zones program. Ant Group is committed to further elevating inbound travel experience through technological innovation and partnerships," says, Cyril Han Xinyi, President and CFO, Ant Group.
Ant Group alongside its partners launched the International Consumer Friendly Zones program in Beijing in March 2024 to improve digital payment options' accessibility and ease of use for international travelers and has since expanded it to 70 cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, and Chengdu. The program also covers 500 tourist hot spots, such as the Bund in Shanghai and Hangzhou’s famed West Lake.
At the main forum of the Conference, Peng Yang, CEO of Ant International, noted the impact of digital innovations on opening low-cost growth paths for SMEs across main businesses of the Singapore-based company. "Alipay+ has established a global network of 90 million merchant partners across 57 markets to make global travel seamless; while WorldFirst and Antom offer secure and fast digital payment solutions tailored to the needs of SMEs, global merchants and platforms. We look forward to expanding our partnership for digitalization and inclusion in all regions."
About Ant Group
Ant Group traces its roots back to Alipay, which was established in 2004 to create trust between online sellers and buyers. Over the years, Ant Group has grown to become one of the world's leading open Internet platforms. Through technological innovation, Ant Group supports its partners in providing inclusive, convenient digital life and digital financial services to consumers and SMEs. In addition, it has been introducing new technologies and products to support the digital transformation of industries and facilitate industrial collaboration. Working together with global partners, the company enables merchants and consumers to make and receive payments and remit around the world.
About Ant International
Headquartered in Singapore, Ant International powers the future of global commerce with digital innovation for everyone and every business to thrive. In close collaboration with partners, we support merchants of all sizes worldwide to realize their growth aspirations through a comprehensive range of tech-driven digital payment and financial services solutions.
About Alipay+
Alipay+ is a suite of cross-border digital payment, marketing and digitalization solutions that help connect global merchants to consumers. Consumers enjoy seamless payment and a broad choice of deals using their preferred payment methods while travelling abroad. Small and medium-sized businesses may use Alipay+ digital tools to enhance efficiency and achieve omni-channel growth.
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Olzhas Bektenov and Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand discuss prospects for trade and economic and investment cooperation
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During the meeting of Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov with Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Phumtham Wechayachai discussed key issues of bilateral relations concerning the development of trade, cooperation in tourism and sports, as well as prospects for the implementation of joint investment projects and increasing exports of Kazakh products, primeminister.kz reports.
In 2023, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Thailand reached $367 million. The parties considered the possibility of expanding the range of domestic agro-industrial goods supplied to the Kingdom. In particular, Kazakhstan is interested in exporting meat, fruits and vegetables, cereals, flour products, vegetable oils and other agro-industrial products.
On the instructions of the Head of State, we are developing a national commodity distribution system with an appropriate infrastructure for storage and distribution of agricultural products. This will create the necessary conditions for the formation of an agro-food hub in our country. Deepening cooperation between Kazakhstan and Thailand in this matter is mutually beneficial and promising," Olzhas Bektenov stressed, noting the wide opportunities of Kazakhstan and Thailand in the implementation of relevant investment projects.
In turn, Phumtham Wechayachai expressed confidence in strengthening trade and economic ties between Thailand and Kazakhstan.
This morning we signed an agreement on economic interaction. I believe that this document contributes to the expansion of co-operation in various fields, including trade, economy and investment," Phumtham Wechayachai said.
During the meeting the positive dynamics of development of relations in the sphere of tourism, including granting by the Government of Thailand visa-free regime for citizens of Kazakhstan was noted. Opening of the Consular office in Phuket will provide the necessary support for Kazakhstani citizens staying in Thailand.
In addition, the possibility of using the transit potential of Kazakhstan in the context of the development of the Trans-Caspian route was discussed.
At the end of the meeting, the parties expressed their intentions to deepen economic co-operation between the two countries.
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Volume of domestic pharmaceutical production increased to 95 billion tenge - Ministry of Healthcare
At the Government session, Minister of Healthcare Akmaral Alnazarova reported on the measures taken to support domestic manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, primeminister.kz reports.
The industry continues to work on import substitution. Thus, at the end of the first half of 2024 the volume of production of domestic pharmaceutical products increased to 95 billion tenge, the growth was 14.5%. 94 long-term contracts with 35 domestic manufacturers for the supply of about 4 thousand items have been concluded. By the end of this year it is planned to conclude a new pool of long-term contracts with 24 potential manufacturers for the supply of 1,412 units of medicines and medical instruments. Within three years it is planned to gradually reach the specified volumes of long-term contracts.
When purchasing medicines, preferences for domestic manufacturers are actively used. With the use of this mechanism in the current year, the supply of 196 items of medicines in the amount of 29.5 billion tenge is carried out. TOP-10 manufacturers in the first half of this year increased the output of finished products under the purchase of the Unified Distributor. The total growth was 21%," Alnazarova said.
The Ministry of Healthcare has formed a list of priority medicines for treatment of the most common diseases based on the WHO list. A total of 283 items have been selected, of which 107 or 37.5% are produced in Kazakhstan. The head of the agency stressed that in the short term it is necessary to establish production of the remaining 178 priority drugs. This will ensure a sustainable basic level of drug security in the country.
As part of the National Project "Modernisation of Rural Health Care" in the design and construction of PHC facilities, domestic products are included in the list of mandatory equipment (more than 72%).
The Minister voiced a number of proposals for further support of domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers:
- To resume the financial leasing mechanism on the basis of KazMedTech JSC with priority purchase of domestically produced medical equipment.
- To increase the competitiveness of domestic pharmaceutical products, to exempt them from excise duties on ethyl alcohol used for the production of pharmaceutical products.
At the same time, in order to stimulate domestic manufacturers, the Ministry will implement the following measures:
- use of the mechanism of conditional discount for domestic pharmaceutical companies with a higher share of local content when procuring by "tender" method;
- determination of the terms of validity of long-term contracts depending on the depth of localisation.
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