16.05.2024, 09:41

Trade without borders: Kazakhstan's plans to expand trade turnover with Central Asia

 

Within the XIII Central Asian Trade Forum held in Almaty, Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Torebayev announced ambitious plans to increase trade with Central Asian states. In the next decade, trade with Uzbekistan is expected to grow to 10 billion dollars, with Kyrgyzstan to 3 billion dollars, with Tajikistan to 2 billion dollars, while trade with Turkmenistan has already shown significant volumes last year, reaching 563 million dollars.

 

Strengthening trade relations will be a key factor for economic and political rapprochement of the region's countries. Torebayev emphasized that intra-regional trade is of particular importance for landlocked countries and expressed hope for accelerated ratification of agreements on the creation of trade hubs with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, which will become new points of growth.

 

He also noted that the development of so-called hard and soft infrastructure remains a priority, given that current border crossing points are operating at the limits of their capacity. Construction of new railroad lines and renovation of existing checkpoints is already underway.

 

A trade exhibition was held in parallel with the forum, where 40 companies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan presented a wide range of products, including agricultural, textile, clothing and food products.

 

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