Rant: The Nature of the State
This is a quick rant regarding something i’ve come across while exploring business opportunities in other jurisdictions. Kazakhstan (which we’ll be writing about soon) has in some ways become the Switzerland of Central Asia since the many sanctions of Russians.
Kazakhstan, while still poor, has opened up to foreign businesses with many large business incentives using financial centres, free trade zones and special economic zones–much of these are tailored towards innovative technologies, large production and manufacturing and warehouse plants. Nevertheless, economically, their country will surely benefit, especially given that they are a hotbed of resources like THIS ONE–> URANIUM.
The business ideas I was inquiring about pertained to gold. In short, they said that my idea would pertain to the import laws of Kazakhstan (rather than the separate laws of their free zone with all the benefits)–so I went searching in greater depth. Interestingly, investment gold is exempt from VAT in Kazakhstan (otherwise 12%), but you need to get the gold into the country first!
Don’t have gold in your portfolio? That’s okay. We’ll help you get started (even if its a small amount). Email [email protected] for assistance!
While trying to find the import tariff rates I came across this under PROHIBITED ITEMS from the customs tariff segment of the Kazakh government:
Categories
The category that precious metals (gold or silver; including silver spoons) & precious stones or valuable collectibles such as jewelry fits, is the SAME category as print/video/audio of terrorism, pornography, radiological material, weapons, stuffed strange animals & toxins. Even cash beyond a certain point or “new items” that are unique to the country are prohibited!
It’s funny to note that there’s no books before 1961 allowed, nor any Nazi symbols, attributes (wouldn’t you want to know how bad they were?), and any info which can harm state security, health, morals, politics, propaganda, elections (all of which are deemed by the state itself). No truth before 1961, please.
You take cash, new gadgets, gold coins, and maybe funny satirical videos for common–but most of the world do not value these sorts of possessions because they're not allowed to do so
International Great; Local Sucks
For you and I looking to do business in a country, there are tremendous opportunities either by streamlining processes, providing tax breaks or investment incentives. The Central Asian countries in particular are in a very good position to witness lots of foreign investment which I think will shock a lot of investors/businessmen
However, if we’re just looking on the individual level, it’s terrible. This country in particular ensures that people are not exposed to important historical information, or a freedom of ideas & concepts. The place ensures that cash or new items unseen to the territory are forbidden, lest they bring more wealth an opportunity to the population… It’s a place where gold, silver or valuable wealth is penalized to bring to the peoples in the country. Overall, any item that will give rise to personal liberty, freedom, independent thought and possibility is forbidden. The case by the government is that individualism itself has a loosening effect to the iron grip of the state over its people.
I don’t mean to single out Kazakhstan here–this is just one of many examples. The point of writing this is to show the nature of the state itself as an entity that operates independently from its people via monopolized violence, coercion and laws to impede on ones ability to live freely.
Closing
I fear that we’re headed into violent and tough times for most of the world for the next decade (predict the future with our TOL BRIDGE PAGE!). This is partly due to the fact that people will fail to grasp that the core of the world’s issues are due to the plethora ways that the state itself limits people to reaching their full potential. Regardless of your country, the state is not your friend.
#StayOnTheBall
