Kazakhstan, Astana, April 10 / Trend, D. Mukhtarov /
Kazakh Minister of Economic Development and Trade Bakytzhan Sagintayev met with Minister of Economy and Antimonopoly Policy of Kyrgyzstan Temir Sariyev in Astana, the Economy Ministry of Kazakhstan said.
Both sides discussed the main directions of economic development of the two countries and defined priorities for further cooperation and interaction.
Sariev stressed Kazakhstan's special role as a trade and economic partner in the structure of Kyrgyzstan's foreign trade, as well as the dynamic development of trade and economic relations between the two countries.
He said that from 2006 until 2011, Kazakhstan invested about $1 billion in the Kyrgyz economy. In addition, the Kyrgyz minister spoke about the on-going reforms in his country.
"A number of staff working for government departments has reduced by 20 per cent as new methods are introduced to assess activity of state agencies, licences and state services,." Sariyev said.
The Ministry of Economy and Antimonopoly Policy of Kyrgyzstan has developed draft laws including those covering the establishment of the State Development Bank.
"The State Development Bank will allocate funds to implement priority government programmes," the minister said.