Marat Kozhakhanovich, it seems that logistics is one of the most popular areas of the economy and at the same time the most ‘undeveloped’ in terms of regulatory and legislative tools. Why do you think this is happening and how can this issue be comprehensively resolved?

I do not agree with this wording. In the field of logistics, the provision of logistics services, regulatory and legal documents have been developed, such as the Civil Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as laws like ‘On Railway Transport’ and ‘On Road Transport’, while rules are also well developed for the transportation of passengers, baggage and cargo by air transport and many others. The regulatory and legal framework for logistics is constantly being improved in connection with the development of transit potential and the implementation of large infrastructure projects.

You probably very often participate in dialogues with representatives of legislative bodies. What measures are being taken today to increase the transit attractiveness of Kazakhstan for foreign carriers in terms of legislative measures?

The dialogue with representatives of legislative bodies is mainly held at sites organized by specialized associations, which include our company. Atasu Group specialists participate in working groups that are helping to form transport legislation, amendments and additions to the main regulatory acts of the legislative and legal framework related to transport services and forwarding are considered.

Do you think that we will soon come to an absolute digitalization of services in the field of logistics, when people at customs will be needed only to comply with control and monitor all electronic processes?

Perhaps when people’s approach to work changes, then digitalization will begin. This is not just the work of the railway, or the company that figures, or government agencies. Now the participation of customs authorities is minimized as the CIC has been set up and documents can be checked in advance. But I think we will come to this anyway. We will definitely not turn back. If we want to increase our transit, and this is mainly with China and Europe, they will demand that there be maximum digitalization on the transit route.

Do you have analytical data on how much and what Kazakhstan exports and what goods are brought into our country? That is, what are the most popular goods for export from Kazakhstan and what is imported here the most?

About what we export: raw materials such as oil, refined copper, ore, coke, coal. A variety of grains are also exported – wheat, barley, for example. Kazakhstan primarily imports mass consumer goods like food products, auto parts, building materials, yarn as well as raw materials for carpet factories, and then steel and pipes are also actively imported.

How do you understand Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) today? That is, what kind of company today can be honestly called socially responsible?

In my mind, social responsibility is not only the payment of taxes, timely payment of salary, provision of jobs, but also a contribution to the development of the country through the implementation of various social projects. Our company is actively implementing a number of initiatives that are related to the support of these creative industries of Kazakhstan.

Marat Kozhakhanovich, today a new trend has appeared in business – the reputation of the head as a brand of the company. How do you feel about this and do you agree that it is much easier to promote a company on the market with a ‘face’?

In the Internet age, there is no way forward without having a personal brand, as people now associate the company with its head. My belief is that there should be a leader at the head of any group. Each member of any association has his own opinion, his own direction, and this group should have a leader who will gather everyone, set the right mood and lead them along the path to development. It has always been so and will always be so.