Journalists asked the Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, when Kazakhs will stop spending more than half of their income on food. According to informburo.kz, he replied that to reduce food prices in Kazakhstan, domestic production must be increased.
"There is one good saying: 'Do not be afraid of large expenses, be afraid of small incomes.' We need to earn more, produce more", said the minister.
At the same time, he emphasised that prices for food baskets and consumer goods in the country are volatile.
"As for the food basket and consumer goods, prices are volatile. Where we provide for ourselves, where we have stable supplies and a high level of competition, the price will be fair and market-driven", Shakkaliyev stated.
Furthermore, the Minister of Trade stressed that the government is actively working on increasing both revenue and production.
It is worth recalling that a similar statement from high-ranking officials, suggesting that Kazakhs simply need to earn more to improve their lives, was made in November last year.
At that time, Majilis Deputy Daulet Mukayev questioned whether young people could save the half of a property's cost required for a preferential bank loan when their salary does not exceed 200,000 tenge.
He appealed to the Minister of Industry and Construction, Kanat Sharlapayev, pointing out that more than half of this amount is spent on food and other essential goods.
To which Mr Sharlapayev replied that the state should primarily help people in more difficult situations. He also believes that young people "need to be financially literate and save money, and try to get a mortgage within the framework of programmes that already exist".