Kazakhstan: VAT is the problem?

Talk about a drastic hike in the main consumption tax has precipitated a torrent of indignation. As ever, officials are floundering in their attempts to sell the public on their ideas.

Life may be about to get even more expensive in Kazakhstan.

Talk in Kazakhstan about plans to radically hike the value-added tax rate has gone down like a plate of sick.

The indignation is almost universal.

And the government has done itself few favours in rolling out the mooted policy in its trademark flat-footed style.

The idea of abandoning the present 1…