Kazakhstan's Internet infrastructure ready for e-commerce - Vice Minister Sarsenov

According to the Vice Minister, as of the beginning of April, 65.9% of Kazakhstanis are Internet users. More than 10 million of our citizens surf the Internet through their mobile phones. At the end of 2012 average Internet speed in Kazakhstan was 18.3 Mb/s, external Internet access - 7.4 Mbit/s.He noted that for the further development of e-commerce it was necessary to adopt a law on e-commerce, introduce payment and logistics systems.

"The Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning is working on this issue. I think that in the coming year the law will be adopted. Of course Kazakhstan should introduce a single payment system. The Ministry together with the National Bank is working on this issue as well. And no less important question is the creation of the logistics system. "Samruk-Kazyna" is working on this. This structure will be created on the basis of JSC "NC "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy", "Kazpochta" and air carriers," Sarsenov informed.

According to the Deputy Minister, all of these three systems will give a major impetus to the development of e-commerce in Kazakhstan.

"Analysts predict that by 2016, the e-commerce market could reach 2.4 billion U.S. dollars, or 2.5% of total retail sales in Kazakhstan. I invite all businessmen to engage in e-commerce. This is a very lucrative and exciting business," Sarsenov concluded.