Digital Trade Could Raise Kazakhstan’s Turnover by 15%, EU Study Shows
Kazakhstan could boost its trade turnover by up to 15% through full digitalization of trade procedures, according to a CART.IS study presented in Astana. The research, supported by the European Union and the International Trade Centre (ITC), outlines measures to streamline foreign trade and enhance efficiency.
The study found that 81% of Kazakhstan’s 27 trade-related services are already electronic, while 19% remain paper-based, reported the Ministry of Trade and Integration. However, limited interoperability among 15 government IT systems, only 11 of which are interconnected, continues to hinder progress.
Roughly 60% of cross-border procedures also require digital integration with neighboring countries — including Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan — to eliminate duplication, delays, and costs.
Vice Minister Aidar Abildabekov stressed that the next phase must focus on interoperability, while EU Ambassador Aleska Simkic praised Kazakhstan’s advancements in e-government.
The study highlighted that only five of twelve trade institutions have dedicated digitalization units, calling for stronger institutional capacity.
Conducted under the Ready4Trade: Fostering Prosperity through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor project, the research supports efforts to modernize trade, enhance regional connectivity, and empower small and medium-sized enterprises in Central Asia.
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