Almaty, Kazakhstan--Shelves in supermarkets across the ex-Soviet republic of Kazakhstan teem with bright signs championing locally-produced goods over Russian alternatives.
The push to buy local is part of the government's "Made in Kazakhstan" initiative to support domestic producers struggling to match cheap imports from neighbouring Russia, which have enjoyed the competitive benefits of the sanction-battered ruble's dramatic slide in value.
The campaign was launched despite Kazakhstan and Russia having entered the Eurasian Economic Union earlier this year -- the trade bloc backed by both countries' authoritarian presidents.
The blue "KZ" labels of the Buy Kazakh campaign appear to be achieving their objective with some patriotic shoppers.
"I prefer to buy our local goods," said Dina Kim, 29, as she browsed in a supermarket in downtown Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city.
"I try not to feed my family Russian and Turkish products," she told AFP.
Others, such as Vera, 45, are unconvinced.
"The government told us integration with Russia would make products cheaper," she said.
"When it finally happens, they're telling us to buy something that is more expensive."
AFP
