Kazakhstan's Trade and Integration Minister Arman Shakkaliev at a government briefing explained why domestically produced goods often cost more than foreign counterparts, reports infohub.kz.
According to the minister, for a number of items Kazakh goods are quite price-competitive, even compared with partners in the Eurasian Economic Union. However, there are categories where the cost of domestic products is higher. For example, this applies to paper and soap products, but prices are comparable with other producers.
Shakkaliev stressed that the price largely depends on the quality of materials used. He noted that the "Made in KZ" label, especially in food products, often means natural, organic products made without fat substitutes and rapeseed oil. In light industry, he said, some Kazakh suits are significantly cheaper than Turkish analogues. As for school uniforms, Chinese analogues are often made of polystyrene and artificial fibers, while Kazakh producers use natural cotton.
The minister called on Kazakhs to show economic patriotism and buy domestic goods, emphasizing the importance of supporting local production.