Today at a press conference following the meeting of the Government, the Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov spoke about preventive measures to curb inflation in the planned corridor of 5-7% by the end of 2018.

Timur Suleimenov recalled that in 2017 inflation was 7.1%. According to preliminary forecasts, in 2018 the inflation rate will be in the corridor of 5-7%.

Answering the journalists' question about high prices for some types of vegetables and fruits in winter, the minister agreed that there is still a problem of seasonal changes of supply and demand in Kazakhstan.

"We cannot provide the same volume of proposals for vegetables and fruits in December, January, February and March, as in July, August and September. Therefore, this particular seasonal surge has always been in our country," T. Suleimenov said.

At the same time, he noted that the MNE RK together with the MA RK are actively engaged in expanding the supply of fruit and vegetable products. In particular, a lot of work is carried out to increase inventories, increase the number of warehouses, wholesale distribution and trade and wholesale centers in all key cities and towns.

Another solution to the problem proposed by the Ministry of National Economy is the reduction of intermediary links. At the same time, T. Suleimenov stressed that it is not necessary to get rid of all agents.

"Trade intermediation is absolutely normal economic activity. Because not every farmer, not every peasant farm is able to deliver and get its products on the shelves of bazaars and shopping centers that are 100-200 km far. Intermediary is just right for this," Timur Suleimenov said.

The main thing, according to the minister, is that it does not acquire a dependent character.

"Right now our Committee for the Regulation of Rural Monopolies and the Protection of Competition has legal levers: these are turn-over penalties and the withdrawal of monopoly income. This year we did not open a criminal case by now. We will closely monitor the situation," the Minister summed up.