Reuters AlertNet Lite - Cigarette prices to rise in Kazakhstan-to 32 cents

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Cigarette prices to rise in Kazakhstan-to 32 cents

06 Apr 2007 09:09:08 GMT
Source: Reuters

ALMATY, April 6 (Reuters) - Cigarette smokers in Kazakhstan will soon have to dig a little deeper when buying a packet after the government introduced a minimum price of 40 tenge ($0.32) per packet.

No reason was given for the new law, published in state media on Friday. The government has restricted cigarette advertising but smoking is widespread, tolerated in most restaurants and bars and there is relatively little discussion about its health implications.

The cheapest cigarettes for sale before the new rule comes into force cost about 35 tenge for a standard pack of 20.

The vast Central Asian state grows tobacco and global cigarette firms like Philip Morris <MO.N>, Gallaher <GLH.L> and Japan Tobacco Inc <2914.T> have set up factories to produce the product for local consumption and export.

The presence of producers and low taxes mean that Kazakhs, earning average monthly salaries of $370, pay less for cigarettes than their poorer ex-Soviet neighbours. ($=123.46 tenge)

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Kazakhstan profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Christian Aid comment on 5 April Gleneagles event
Christian Aid - UK

• Governments must invest to help poor people adapt to climate change
CARE International - UK

• Beware of hidden strings on EU's offer on trade
Christian Aid - UK

• World Tuberculosis Day: Red Cross Red Crescent programmes play key role in global tuberculosis control
IFRC - Switzerland

• Dire needs of Central Asia's street children
IFRC - Switzerland

MORE >>

Latest news

• Cigarette prices to rise in Kazakhstan-to 32 cents

• TURKMENISTAN: President pushes ahead with education and agricultural reform

• TAJIKISTAN: Earthquake and avalanches hit the country

• Amnesty urges EU to raise rights in C.Asia talks

• REFILE-ANALYSIS-Nuclear energy renaissance ignites uranium boom

MORE >>

Last updated:Fri Apr 6 09:10:26 2007