From Kazakhstan's AI-powered push to curb the shadow economy to concerns over Romania's fuel supplies following disruptions to Kazakh crude exports and the launch of a new Morocco-Kazakhstan business council, Qazinform News Agency presents its weekly review of foreign media coverage.
The Times of Central Asia: Kazakhstan targets further reduction in shadow economy with AI-driven monitoring Kazakhstan has approved a 2026–2028 plan to reduce the shadow economy through artificial intelligence, the digital tenge and wider digitalization, The Times of Central Asia reports.
The government aims to cut the shadow economy’s share of GDP from 16.7% in 2025 to 13.8% by 2028. “The main objective of the Action Plan is to reduce the shadow economy, ensure fair competition, increase business transparency, and boost budget revenues without imposing new obligations on entrepreneurs,” the government said.
A unified AI-powered platform will combine data from state agencies to detect hidden economic activity and flag risks in real time. The plan includes 53 measures covering trade, construction, transport, agriculture, healthcare and education. It also calls for tighter oversight of online marketplaces, broader digital labeling, expanded use of the Digital Bazaar, and greater use of the digital tenge to track public spending.
Officials say earlier reforms helped reduce the shadow economy from 24% in 2019 to 16.7% in 2025. Stiripesurse: Romania risks major fuel market crisis after Kazakhstan halts crude oil supplies According to Stiripesurse, Romania could face a fuel market crisis after Kazakhstan, which supplies 63% of the country's crude oil imports, suspended oil deliveries through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), economic consultant Adrian Negrescu warned.
"Romania risks a major fuel market crisis after Kazakhstan, which accounts for 63% of our crude oil imports, suspended deliveries," Negrescu wrote on Facebook. The CPC halted crude oil loadings at its Black Sea terminal earlier this week following attacks on vessels, disrupting Kazakhstan's main export route.