BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct. 30
Trend:
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Askar Mamin held a meeting in the Digital Office of the Government with the participation of the heads of central state bodies and heads of the regions on the regulation of prices for socially significant food products (SSFPs), Trend reports.
Minister of Trade and Integration Bakhyt Sultanov, Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Karashukeyev, Deputy Chairman of the National Bank Akylzhan Baimagambetov, Chairman of the Agency for Protection and Development of Competition Serik Zhumangarin, heads of the North Kazakhstan region - Kumar Aksakalov, Almaty region - Amandyk Batalov, Aktobe region - Ondasyn Urazalin and others informed about the current situation and the work underway.
Over the past week, the growth in prices for SSFPs amounted to 0.1 percent due to the rise in prices for eggs by 0.7 percent and cabbage by 0.8 percent. At the same time, prices declined for onions (by 0.9 percent), buckwheat groats (by 0.6 percent), beef and horns (by 0.1 percent). Prices for cottage cheese, carrots, sunflower oil, rice and sugar remained unchanged.
The total dynamics of prices for SSFPs in October of this year is demonstrating a slower pace (0.7 percent) compared to the average values for the same month in 2016-2020 (one percent). Financing of the "turnaround scheme" in the regions reached 46.1 billion tenge ($110 million). The target level has been accomplished by 92.2 percent. There were purchased 373,000 tons of socially important goods, which is 22 percent more compared to the previous week.
The provision level of SSFPs for a three-month period in the country made up 115.7 percent (an increase of 23 pp per week). During the week, a significant increase in reserves was recorded in Pavlodar, Mangistau and Turkestan regions.
Within the framework of the forward purchase in 2021, 769,300 tons of products, including 684,000 tons of soft wheat, was contracted. To date, 442,800 tons or 57.5 percent of the contracted volume have been delivered to Food Contract Corporation NC JSC. There were delivered 427,600 tons of wheat or 62.5 percent of the purchase volume.
Over the past week, the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition has ordered an investigation into the seller of chicken eggs in the Turkestan region.
Ten acts of antimonopoly compliance were concluded with regional retail chains and a large wholesale supplier of sunflower oil to reduce trade markups for SSFPs. In general, 135 acts of antimonopoly compliance were concluded in the country. In regions where prices are increasing, the analysis of commodity markets is being completed and an investigation into producers of chicken meat and eggs begins.
The prime minister instructed the regional authorities to strengthen work to increase funding for the "turnaround" scheme, to bring three-month stocks of products to the recommended volumes, and to increase the rate of grain supply to the Food Contract Corporation within the framework of the forward purchase, as well as to promptly respond to the facts of excess trade margins by subjects of trade.
The head of government also emphasized the importance of carrying out systematic work to curb prices for socially significant food products and, in general, effective implementation of the Anti-Inflationary Response Package.