A Government meeting on October 7, chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, discussed measures to reduce the shadow economy.
“The Head of State has set the goal of reducing the share of the shadow economy in GDP to 15% this year. We must continue striving for a consistent decline in this indicator. We need a transparent economy. All government bodies and business entities must intensify their efforts in this direction. This work should not be limited to correspondence and reports. We need qualitative and comprehensive solutions in the areas of economic and tax sustainability, digitalization, and business simplification,” noted Bektenov.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in his recent Address to the Nation, emphasized that all sectors of the economy must be modernized through digitalization and the introduction of artificial intelligence.
At the same time, digitalization levels remain insufficient in several sectors, such as trade, construction, and agriculture. All relevant ministries have been instructed to ensure full-scale digitalization.
As part of the digital transformation of the economy, the State Revenue Committee should become a flagship of digitalization among government agencies. Only systemic steps can create a fundamentally new service model of state–business interaction, stressed the Prime Minister.
The implementation of digital initiatives requires proper infrastructure and resources. In this regard, the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development was instructed to establish a dedicated Data Processing Center for the State Revenue Committee next year.
Several digital projects in Kazakhstan have already proven effective. For example, cashless payments play an important role in combating the shadow economy.
Pilot projects using the digital tenge are being implemented in the regions — including in road and railway construction, subsidizing the purchase of livestock and agricultural machinery, and VAT refunds.
“To scale up this project, the Ministry of Finance together with the National Bank must ensure the use of the digital tenge within the national and local budgets, as well as the budgets of state holdings,” Bektenov instructed.
The Ministries of Finance and Trade must strengthen monitoring of export and import operations. Updating risk profiles and creating green corridor transit conditions should eliminate the human factor.
In addition, artificial intelligence must be introduced in cargo inspection data analysis. This will help prevent corruption offenses and accelerate border clearance processes. The Ministry of Finance, together with the Financial Monitoring Agency, was instructed to strengthen coordination in combating the shadow economy.
