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A possible increase in VAT in Kazakhstan from 12% to 20% will lead to higher prices, lower real incomes and higher inflation. This forecast was made by Askar Kysykov, director of the Talap Center for Applied Research, on the Rossiya 24 TV channel. The Government of Kazakhstan is discussing tax reform in order to solve the problem of the state budget deficit. The reform involves an increase in VAT from 12% to 20%.
An expanded government meeting was held today with the participation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Opening the meeting, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that global processes can have a strong impact on the republic, which must be prepared for. At the same time, at the meeting, the Head of State emphasized that it is necessary to start living within your means, spending money only on solving the most important tasks. For more information, see the talk show "Results".
A regular meeting of the economic club was held at the site of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where the draft National Development Plan "Kazakhstan-2029", developed by the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan (ASPIR), was discussed. The Agency has done a lot of work on the formation of this strategy, however, experts expressed interest in reviewing and finalizing it.
The sociological service of the TALAP Center conducted a unique study on the health of Kazakhstani people.
Only 16% of Kazakhstanis consider themselves healthy. A unique study on the health of Kazakhstanis was conducted by the TALAP Center for Applied Research. In Almaty, people move less and sleep less, in Astana, they are more stressed and eat fast food, in Shymkent, there is a greater emphasis on fruits and vegetables, but only 7.3% of Kazakhstanis regularly visit a doctor for preventive examinations.
This is the fourth paper in the Kazakhstan Economic Radar, Q2 2026 series. It presents the International Radar, based on an analysis of external reports on Kazakhstan's economy.
This is the fifth paper in the Kazakhstan Economic Radar, Q2 2026 series. It presents the Integrated Radar, which brings together the three underlying radars, compares their similarities and differences, and identifies cross-cutting responses.
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz became the largest oil supply disruption in history. But the global market did not go into an uncontrolled price spiral. The shock was sharp, but shorter than the most severe forecasts had anticipated. This is a story not only about oil, but also about which forecasting methods work better under conditions of war, physical supply shortage, and high uncertainty.
