Businesses complain about new data system by the Customs Service in Kazakhstan

Importers claim that they’re losing money because of the new information system / Collage by Kursiv.media, photo editor: Dastan Shanay

Kazakhstani businesses lashed out at the new information system Keden, describing it as imperfect. The system was developed by the Customs Service and was supposed to simplify the import of goods to Kazakhstan. According to market participants, because of the system’s flaws, in some cases, it takes more than a day to simply submit necessary documents, causing financial losses.

These responses are the result of a survey by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Atameken. Among those who took part in the survey are customs brokers (50%), carriers and forwarders (46.3%), and those who are engaged in independent declaration (3.7%).

Authorities had been developing the Keden system since 2023 and officially introduced it in November 2024. Before that, the government relied on the Astana-1 system that emerged in 2018. The vast majority of respondents (75.9%) surveyed by the chamber did not see any advantages of the new system compared to the old one.

According to 23.1% of respondents, collecting and submitting the necessary preliminary information within the new system takes more than 24 hours, which «significantly exceeds reasonable timeframes and negatively affects logistics chains and business expenses.» Another 11.5% noted that they spend more than eight hours on this.

In addition, 42.3% of businessmen reported an increase in direct and indirect costs after the implementation of the new system. Only 13.5% of respondents believe that Keden helps them earn more.

Nearly half of the system users (47.2%) said they regularly encounter errors on the side of customs. Another 39.6% believe that the system infrastructure is not technically prepared. Almost 9 out of 10 respondents reported system failures that interfere with the smooth operation of their businesses. Also, 43.4% of respondents said that they did not receive any information about the launch and operation of the new system, as only 35.8% of the surveyed entrepreneurs participated in testing the system functionality or training after its inception.