Digital Trade - The Times Of Central Asia

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e-Commerce

Kazakhstan to Ban Untrustworthy Sellers from E-Commerce Marketplaces

Kazakh authorities are moving to strengthen regulations for sellers operating on online marketplaces. According to Bolat Tanabergenov, chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee under the Ministry of Trade and Integration, sellers found to have violated consumer rights could be banned from conducting business on online platforms. A surge in complaints related to online commerce is driving the proposed reforms. Between 2022 and 2024, the number of consumer complaints rose 5.5 times, from 2,500 to 14,500, according to ministry data. In the first ten months of 2025 alone, over 15,000 complaints were filed against sellers in the e-commerce sector. With digital trade expanding rapidly, Tanabergenov warned that the volume of complaints is likely to increase further. The committee has proposed legal amendments that would require marketplaces to sign agreements with sellers that mandate compliance with the Consumer Protection Law. This would make both the seller and the hosting platform jointly liable for any violations. Under the new framework, businesses that break consumer protection rules could be barred from accessing e-commerce platforms altogether. The expanding role of digital trade in Kazakhstan’s economy underpins the urgency of the reforms. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the country’s e-commerce turnover exceeded $4.2 billion in 2023, rising to $6.1 billion in 2024, according to the National Statistics Bureau. Meanwhile, total consumer complaints continue to rise. Tanabergenov reported that in 2020, authorities registered around 21,000 complaints. That number climbed to 62,500 in 2024, and in the first ten months of 2025, approximately 68,000 complaints had already been recorded. In offline retail, consumers most commonly report refusals to exchange goods or issue refunds for defective products. Online complaints tend to focus on a lack of product or seller information, discrepancies between advertised and delivered goods, refusal to refund payments, and fraudulent activity. According to the Consumer Protection Committee, 37% of complaints were fully resolved, with one in three consumers receiving compensation. Another 34% received legal advice or clarification, while 23% of complaints were transferred to other government bodies for further investigation.

QazTrade

Kazakh Food Exports to China Grow After CIIE 2025 Deal

At the China International Import Expo (CIIE 2025) in Shanghai, Kazakhstan’s Trade Policy Development Center, QazTrade, signed a partnership agreement with Optimize Integration Group (OIG), one of China’s leading food importers responsible for 18% of all frozen meat imports into the country. The agreement aims to promote digital trade and create online platforms that will facilitate the entry of Kazakhstani food products into the Chinese market. Under the terms of the agreement, both sides will jointly promote Kazakh agricultural and food products, improve logistics infrastructure, and develop digital trade technologies and payment systems. “This partnership with OIG, one of the most technologically advanced and influential trading platforms in China, opens up significant opportunities,” said QazTrade CEO Aitmukhamed Aldazharov. “Kazakhstani producers will not only increase their exports to China but will also integrate into advanced digital supply chains. This is a major step forward for e-commerce and mutual trust between our countries.” At CIIE 2025, QazTrade also showcased the growing potential of Kazakhstan’s agricultural cooperatives. In collaboration with the National Association of Cooperatives of Kazakhstan and China Coop, China’s largest cooperative retail network, Kazakh products such as honey, kumis, and confectionery are set to enter the Chinese retail market. China Coop encompasses over 340,000 retail outlets with annual turnover exceeding 7 trillion yuan. Aldazharov expressed confidence in the cooperatives' prospects, noting that joint market research has been conducted, trial shipments arranged, and priority export categories identified. These include vegetable oil, meat, honey, dairy beverages, and confectionery. In parallel, QazTrade is launching an acceleration and training program aimed at Chinese companies seeking to expand their operations in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia.

China-Europe Trade

Kazakhstan Emerges as Key Overland Gateway for China-Europe Trade

Trade between China and Central Asia reached $95 billion in 2024, with Kazakhstan accounting for nearly half of that total, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin announced at the Second Meeting of the Central Asia-China Business Council in Astana on June 17. According to Zhumangarin, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China hit a record $44 billion, and both countries aim to double this volume in the coming years. He emphasized Central Asia’s strategic role as a key transit hub for China, sitting at the crossroads of major trade and transport corridors connecting East and West, as well as North and South. Currently, over 80% of overland cargo traffic from China to Europe passes through Kazakhstan. Middle Corridor Sees Sharp Growth In 2024, cargo volume along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, increased by 60%, reaching 4.5 million tons. Plans are in place to double that figure to 10 million tons by 2030. The TITR links China and Europe through Central Asia, bypassing Russian territory. Kazakhstan’s national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), reported that railway freight between China and Kazakhstan totaled 14.2 million tons in the first five months of 2025, an 11% increase year-on-year. A significant step in logistics development came on June 10 with the opening of the Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty. Jointly developed by Kazakhstan and China, the terminal is expected to serve as a key hub for the consolidation and distribution of Chinese goods transported by rail and road. It is poised to become a vital node along the Middle Corridor. Digital Trade Expands Zhumangarin also highlighted e-commerce as a key area of bilateral cooperation. Kazakhstan has already established national pavilions on major Chinese platforms such as Alibaba and JD.com. He confirmed Kazakhstan’s interest in participating in China’s initiative to launch a pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce, aimed at facilitating digital trade across the region.

e-Commerce

Kazakhstan’s E-Commerce Sector Expands Fivefold Since 2020

Kazakhstan’s e-commerce sector reached a volume of approximately KZT 3.2 trillion ($6.2 billion) in 2024, marking a fivefold increase since 2020, according to Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Aset Nusupov. The announcement was made at the Astana International Trade Forum. Nusupov emphasized that digital trade has become a strategic pillar of Kazakhstan’s economic development, export diversification, and integration into global value chains. “At the end of 2024, e-commerce in Kazakhstan amounted to about KZT 3.2 trillion, with volumes increasing fivefold since 2020,” he stated. “The potential for growth remains high, given our strong digital infrastructure, advanced fintech ecosystem, and more than 8 million young, active users.” E-commerce currently accounts for 14.1% of Kazakhstan’s total retail trade. The Ministry aims to raise this figure to 18.5% by 2029, more than double the current level. Authorities acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic served as a major catalyst for growth in the sector, as lockdowns and social distancing measures accelerated the shift toward contactless commerce. Nusupov highlighted the sector’s global trajectory, noting that roughly 30% of the world’s population now shops online. The global e-commerce market is valued at $6.3 trillion as of 2024 and is expected to grow to $8.3 trillion in the coming years. Kazakhstan’s participation in this trend has had tangible economic benefits. According to the deputy minister, the country's trade deficit in services, reflecting a surplus of imports over exports, fell from $3.65 billion in 2016 to $1.81 billion in 2023, partly due to the expansion of e-commerce. To maintain momentum, Kazakhstan has adopted a national plan for e-commerce development through 2027. The strategy prioritizes legislative reform, educational programs, financial support for entrepreneurs, and investment in logistics infrastructure. Legislative initiatives aim to strengthen consumer protection and establish regulatory parity between online and offline retail sectors. Kazakhstan is also engaged in international efforts to expand cross-border e-commerce. Meanwhile, as previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, domestic debates continue over increasing taxation on foreign e-commerce platforms, an issue that has gained traction in recent years.