ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 6. Kazakhstan has
presented the results of its CART.IS (Cross-border Assessment of
Readiness for Trade Information Systems) analysis, Trend reports via the
Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan.
The event in Astana gathered representatives from the Ministry
of Trade and Integration, QazTrade, various government agencies,
the EU, and the International Trade Centre (ITC). Participants
discussed progress in trade digitalization and outlined further
steps to enhance interagency and cross-border cooperation.
The analysis showed that while Kazakhstan has made significant
progress, 60 percent of trade-related services still require
cross-border integration, and 52 percent of electronic services
remain disconnected from the national data exchange system.
“Further simplification of trade procedures requires not only
digitalization but also ensuring architectural compatibility
between government agency systems. The creation of a unified
information space through the national system for interagency data
exchange will open up opportunities for real-time exchange of data,
rather than documents, reduce the burden of compliance for
businesses, and increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s
exporters in international markets,” said Vice Minister of Trade
and Integration Aidar Abildabekov.
EU Ambassador Aleska Simkic highlighted Kazakhstan’s leadership
in digital transformation and its role as a strategic EU partner in
advancing paperless trade and e-government, noting that these
achievements provide a strong foundation for deeper regional
integration and closer ties with Europe.
The study also found that only five of the twelve institutions
involved in trade processes have dedicated digitalization
departments, underscoring the need to strengthen institutional
capacity and coordination.
“Digitalization and the transition to completely paperless trade
in the midterm period will increase Kazakhstan’s trade turnover by
10–15 percent annually by reducing costs for entrepreneurs in
Kazakhstan,” said Nurlan Kulbatyr, Deputy Director General of
QazTrade.
The assessment was carried out under the Ready4Trade Central
Asia: Fostering Prosperity through the Trans-Caspian Transport
Corridor project, funded by the EU and implemented by ITC. The
project aims to modernize trade procedures, improve regional
connectivity, and support inclusive economic growth.
Developed by ITC, the CART.IS methodology helps governments
assess and coordinate their digital ecosystems for cross-border
trade, providing evidence-based data to enhance digital cooperation
across Central Asia.
The Cross-border Assessment of Readiness for Trade Information
Systems (CART.IS) is a technique created by the International Trade
Centre (ITC) to assist countries in assessing and coordinating
their digital ecosystems for cross-border commerce. The major
objective is to evaluate a nation’s readiness to electronically
communicate trade data and documents (i.e., “paperless trade”) with
its trading partners.
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