OECD Peer Reviews of Competition Law and Policy

This OECD Peer Review assesses the evolution of Kazakhstan's competition regime over the past decade since its first review in 2016. It examines the legal and institutional reforms undertaken, including six successive antimonopoly packages and the re-establishment of the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition (AZRK) as an independent authority. The review identifies ongoing challenges such as fragmented legislation, reliance on soft-law tools, limited use of market inquiries and persistent state involvement in the economy. It highlights the need to improve enforcement effectiveness, judicial specialisation, and legal certainty for businesses. The review also explores Kazakhstan's merger control regime, the regulation of state monopolies and single operators, and the role of competition advocacy. Targeted recommendations are provided to enhance AZRK's institutional capacity and various aspects of Kazakhstan's competition regime, including prioritisation mechanisms and the agency's analytical capabilities, to support the country's broader efforts in aligning its competition policy with international best practices and foster a more dynamic, transparent and market-oriented economy.