Kazakhstan opens door for free trade within EEU

According to the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), Kazakhstan has eliminated the last barrier that prevented suppliers from the Eurasian Economic Union from participating in the public procurement of certain goods in Kazakhstan. Previously, only those companies registered in the country were allowed to take part in public procurement.

As the EEC reported on its website, Kazakhstani companies used to be the only businesses eligible for taking part in public procurement because they were able to obtain an industrial certificate from Atameken, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. The chamber issued this certificate only to local companies. In addition, suppliers of electronics and software were obliged to meet some localization requirements.

According to the EEU data, there are still three barriers left within the organization: two in Belarus and one in Kyrgyzstan. In 2021, Kazakhstan was a leader of the EEU in terms of different obstacles, including three barriers (out of eight throughout the EEU).

As of February 2023, there were nine barriers to free trade within the EEU. At the time, Kazakhstan’s government said that the country won six legal cases against acknowledging some local rules as trade barriers and defended the right to protect national businesses.