Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 17
By Rashid Shirinov – Trend:
As many as 16 documents on the implementation of joint projects were signed during the First Interregional Forum Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan, according to the official website of the prime minister of Kazakhstan.
The meeting was chaired by First Deputy Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Askar Mamin and Ochilboy Ramatov. The forum was also attended by the heads of the regions of the two countries.
In particular, agreements were signed on the mutual recognition of visa regimes and creation of a joint venture between KTZ Express and Uzavtotranstekhnika Scientific and Production Center. Also, KazTransGas and Uztransgas signed an agreement on the transportation of natural gas through the territory of Uzbekistan.
Mamin noted that 2018 was successful in bringing the two peoples closer together in cultural, trade and economic areas.
"Mutual trade is growing at an accelerated pace. The trade turnover for the first 9 months of 2018 amounted to more than $2 billion, which is more than 40 percent higher year-on-year," he said.
Mamin added that the most important areas of cooperation between the two countries should be industry, construction, transport, transit, tourism, etc.
Ramatov, in turn, noted that the partnership between the two countries has a solid foundation and a long-term perspective.
"Currently, there are 260 enterprises in Uzbekistan with Kazakh capital in various sectors of the economy. The holding of the year of Uzbekistan in Kazakhstan will be the starting point for increasing cooperation in all spheres," the first deputy PM of Uzbekistan said.
It is worth noting that the trade turnover between the two countries in 2017 increased by 31.2 percent and amounted to $2 billion. Exports from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan grew by 35 percent to $1.3 billion in 2017, while imports from Uzbekistan increased by 25.1 percent to $735.2 million.
Presidents of the two countries set a task to increase the trade turnover to $5 billion by 2020.
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