Trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan should be brought up to $1 bln – Kyrgyz PM

Bishkek, July 12, 2019. /Kabar/. The potential to increase bilateral trade and economic ties between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is enormous, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev said during the extended-format talks with his Kazakh counterpart Askar Mamin, who has arrived in Bishkek for an official visit.
He noted that Kazakhstan is one of the main trade partners of Kyrgyzstan.
"Kazakhstan's share in Kyrgyzstan's trade turnover exceeds 11%, including 14% in exports. In 2018, the volume of trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, according to our data, amounted to USD 843 million. Today, we have discussed in a narrow format that we will soon bring it to $ 1 billion," Prime Minister Abylgaziev said.
"In January-April 2019, trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan amounted to 284 USD million and increased by 13%, compared to 2018, including exports amounted to USD 95 million with growth of more than 6%. For the countries with common borders, historical ties, common past and good neighborly relations, cooperation of which affects almost all spheres of life, these figures are all low," the prime minister said.
Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev noted, that today Kyrgyzstan has a great opportunity to produce and export environmentally friendly products and is ready to create favorable conditions for mutual supply of industrial and technical products, raw materials, consumer goods, food, chemical products and equipment.
"The Kyrgyz side is interested in establishing joint ventures on the territory of Kyrgyzstan for joint export of agricultural and livestock products to other countries," he added.