Uzbekistan, Tashkent, 9 July / corr. Trend T.Zhukov / Umirzak Shukeyev, the deputy premier of Kazakhstan, visited Tashkent on 8 July.
The Kazakh Embassy in Uzbekistan told Trend that a range of problems regarding bilateral relations would be discussed during the meeting between Shukeyev and officials of the Uzbek Government in Tashkent. The issues, dealing with implementation of tasks, set at the end of the meeting between Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev and Islam Kerimov, include cooperation in oil and gas sector, water, as well as, establishment of free trade zone in border regions.
Kazakhstan is the second trade and economic partner of Uzbekistan following Russia. The Foreign Economical Relations, Investment and Trade Ministry said that the share of Kazakhstan amounted to 8.4% in the lump volume of goods turnover of Uzbekistan. Goods turnover increased by 63.3% to $1bln between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 2007. The volume of foreign-trade turnover is expected to increase by 30% in 2008.
According to the Kazakh embassy, Shukeyev and Rustam Azimov, first Uzbek Deputy Premier, the Finance Minister and the head of the Economy and Foreign Economical Relations Complex have launched the relevant talks.
The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]