$4 billion worth of food imported in Kazakhstan in 2013

Kazakhstan imported $4 billion worth of food products last year, Tengrinews reports citing the Chairman of Kazakhstan's Statistics Agency Alikhan Smailov. "Food import was at a little over $4 billion last year. This is 5% more than in 2012," Smailov said during the government meeting in the Majilis (Lower Chamber of Parlaiment). He pointed out that the recent devaluation of the tenge by almost 20% would reduce the share of imported food. The government is planing to keep an eye of food prices in 2014 and even set ceiling retail prices for some food products. "Amid the adjustment of the exchange rate, the government in cooperation with Akims (Governors) of Kazakhstan’s regions is taking steps to reduce the impact of the devaluation on the well-being of the people and increase the competitiveness of the domestic goods," the Prime-Minister Serik Akhmetov said. Heads of Kazakhstan’s cities and oblasts (Mayors and Governors) were instructed to use all the capacities of regional stabilisation funds to harness prices and make interventions into the food market. By Altynai Zhumzhumina