World Monitor Magazine, №1/2020 WM_March 2020_FOR WEB (12.03.) | Page 8

DESTINATION KAZAKHSTAN
Trade and integration in 2020
In his interview to World Monitor Magazine Minister Sultanov discussed
challenges of the ministry in 2020, export possibilities and government
support measures and e-trade.
What are the main challenges that the
Ministry faces in 2020?
bakhyt Sultanov,
Minister of Trade and
Integration of the Republic
of Kazakhstan
The Ministry of Trade and Integration of
the Republic of Kazakhstan carries out the
formation and implementation of state policy
in the field of development and regulation of
foreign trade activities, international trade and
economic relations, including the development
and promotion of exports of non-primary
goods and services, the regulation of domestic
trade, as well as the improvement of trade
infrastructure, development exchange and
electronic commerce.
At the same time, the Ministry is engaged in
the intersectoral coordination of activities for
state bodies in the areas of consumer pro-
tection, technical regulation, standardization,
ensuring the uniformity of measurements, in-
cluding strategic, control, implementation and
regulatory functions.
The main task of the ministry is to develop
effective approaches to state trade policy. In
order to support business within the framework
of domestic and foreign trade, the Ministry
developed the Concept of the State Program
for the Development of Trade for 2021-2025.
It contains a multi-format and multi-vector
development system for the entire trading
industry. It also provides a wide range of tools
to support business entities. Until August 1, the
draft state program is planned to be submitted
to the Government for approval.
Also, in 2020, it is planned to sign the bill on
Technical Regulation. It is aimed at solving
large-scale problems of product safety,
processes of human life and health and the
environment.
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At the same time, before the end of the
current session, it is planned to complete the
coordination the draft law on strengthening
consumer protection within Parliament. The
bill gives particular attention to the issue of
strengthening the role of NGOs, the institution
of self-regulation and the inevitability of
responding to consumer complaints.
An equally important task of the Ministry
this year is to hold the 12th WTO Ministerial
Conference. The main negotiating areas
of the agenda of the 12th WTO Ministerial
Conference includes issues of WTO reform,
new global rules in the field of regulation of
services, investment promotion and electronic
commerce, as well as negotiations on fisheries
subsidies
This conference is the highest governing body
of the WTO, whose meetings are held every
two years. The Ministry expects the arrival
of high-level delegates from more than 160
WTO countries and 20 observer countries, as
well as international and non-governmental
organizations, TNCs, and the world media.
Also, one of the significant tasks is the
participation of Kazakhstan in the World
Exhibition ‘EXPO 2020 Dubai’ on the theme
‘Uniting the minds – creating the future’. It will
be held from October 2020 to April 2021. The
Pavilion of Kazakhstan will be located in the
thematic cluster ‘Opportunities’, next to the
pavilions of the USA, Switzerland, Italy, and
Turkey. It is anticipated that more than two
million people will visit the pavilion will within
six months.
What are the prospects for increasing
exports to foreign markets?