He emphasized the importance of open discussions regarding such processes.
“When effective control mechanisms are introduced, businesses typically exhibit certain resistance. They do not always support such initiatives from the very beginning,” noted Akmatov.
According to him, some concerns are indeed justified, but there are also unfounded claims.
“There are objective concerns, but there are also subjective ones, which are often related to the unwillingness of certain market participants to operate in full compliance with transparency,” he added.
Akmatov reminded that in 2023, an excise stamp on beer was introduced in Kyrgyzstan. At that time, domestic producers actively opposed this measure, claiming that labeling was unnecessary. However, two years after its implementation, a threefold increase in indicators in this sector was observed.
He stated that a similar situation occurred with the labeling of sugar-containing beverages. Producers and importers also expressed dissatisfaction, considering this measure excessive, but subsequently, an annual increase in legal turnover and tax revenues was recorded.
Akmatov added that similar trends are observed in the market for petroleum products, where legal sales volumes are also increasing and revenues to the state budget are growing.
