Atyrau Oil & Gas
The Unified Registry of Manufacturers to Replace CT-KZ and Industrial Certificates
Kazakhstan is considering a new law establishing a unified registry of manufacturers. The law is set to take effect this year, and previously issued certificates will remain valid until January 1, 2026. In an exclusive interview with Kazinform, Mazhilis deputy and head of the working group on the bill, Mukash Iskandirov, commented on the upcoming changes in Kazakhstan’s local content policy following the law’s adoption.
— What prompted the development of the draft Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Determination of the Country of Origin of Goods"?
— Our country has numerous programs aimed at supporting domestic businesses and manufacturers. Currently, Kazakhstan has three certificates: CT-KZ, Industrial, and Export Certificates of Origin. All of them are issued by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken." If we analyze the latest statistics, we can see that by the end of last year, more than 50,000 CT-KZ certificates, over 1,000 industrial certificates, and 363,000 certificates of origin had been issued.
Unfortunately, many CT-KZ certificates were obtained by fraudulent entrepreneurs and fake manufacturers. This allowed them to participate in state procurements while posing as Kazakhstani manufacturers. As a result, legitimate domestic producers found themselves at a disadvantage. Participating in procurements did not require setting up actual production—one simply had to rent a facility, obtain a CT-KZ certificate, and pass off imported goods as locally produced.
Given these issues, the Head of State, in his 2023 Address, vowed to create a production cycle with a high degree of localization to reduce dependence on imports, facilitate the transfer of modern technologies, and establish new local industries. The Unified Registry of Domestic Manufacturers, which will replace the existing CT-KZ and Industrial Certificates, is designed to address this issue systematically and strategically.
The draft law was submitted to the Mazhilis in May last year, and by autumn, we had begun actively discussing it. We held more than 14 working group meetings during this period and reviewed over 200 amendments. The first reading occurred in January, and we hope the law will be adopted this year. Its provisions will come into force on January 1, 2026, and previously issued certificates will remain valid until then.
— What are the specific advantages of the new registry?
— The introduction of the registry will create a single access point for up-to-date information on Kazakhstani manufacturers. Our primary goal is to identify real domestic producers using clear selection criteria. Currently, more than 3,000 types of goods have been issued certificates of origin. However, after the registry is implemented, we will be able to see the actual number of domestic manufacturers and objectively assess the situation. According to our estimates, that number will be fewer than 1,000.
With the new registry in place, dishonest market participants will no longer be able to pass off imported goods as Kazakhstani simply by changing the packaging or applying the appropriate labeling. Now, to be included in the registry, manufacturers must demonstrate that they perform the full cycle of technological operations. Moreover, this must be confirmed not only through documentation but also with photo and video evidence.
Today, government support measures are often misallocated, reducing their overall effectiveness. The registry will ensure that resources are directed exclusively to genuine Kazakhstani manufacturers, fostering their development and ensuring the rational use of public funds.
Additionally, this initiative will minimize the impact of the human factor and accelerate the registration process. Digital data will reduce the risk of equipment and technology manipulation. Companies will be able to confirm their origin quickly and participate in state procurements.
The registry will also eliminate the shortcomings of the current certification system by shifting from private expertise to state-led certification with business representatives involved. This will minimize direct contact between applicants and administrators, mitigating corruption risks.
