Astana, Kazakhstan, May 13
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Eurasian integration for Kazakhstan is an opportunity to get away from continental isolation, the head of the International Economic Integration Department of the Kazakh Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning Ernar Bakenov said.
"Eurasian integration for Kazakhstan is a way to get away from our continental isolation," he said at a press-conference held in Astana.
He reminded the audience that Kazakhstan is removed from the open seas.
"In order to involve the national economy into the world trade, integration is the undisputed format that we can use in these conditions," Bakenov added.
He recalled that the distance from Almaty - the largest metropolis of the country to the nearest seaport is more than 3,000 kilometers.
"Hence, high transport costs, which reduce the competitiveness of our products in foreign markets, which, in turn, do not allow us to diversify the economy as soon as possible," Bakenov said.
Kazakh market is too small and does not create conditions for the growth of domestic enterprises, according to the department head.
"And with the creation of the Common Economic Space (CES) the republic gets a capacious market population of almost 180 million people, giving domestic producers more options for implementation and expansion," he said.
The Eurasian Economic Union agreement is scheduled to be signed in Astana in late May.
Edited by C.N.