BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Exports from Kazakhstan to Tajikistan in the first quarter of this year increased by 21.74 percent and amounted to $197.5 million, Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration, said during the Kazakh-Tajik Business Forum, Trend reports via the Kazakh media.
"The trade between the countries increased by 18.5 percent last year and amounted to $1.4 billion. Kazakhstan's exports last year increased by 9.7 percent and amounted to $877.6 million," Serik Zhumangarin said.
It was noted that this is due to the increase in the supply of products such as:
- wheat - by 29.3 percent or $70.2 million (from $239.7 million to $309.9 million);
- margarine - an increase of 7.6 times or $15.7 million (from $2.4 million to $18.1 million);
- sunflower oil - by 42.2 percent or by $13 million (from $30.8 million to $43.8 million);
- barley - an increase of 2.3 times or $9.1 million (from $7 to $16.2 million);
He noted that this increasing tendency is observed also this year, since the trade turnover, and Kazakh exports in particular, keeps growing.
Furthermore, it was noted that Kazakhstan and Tajikistan intend to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The minister noted that Tajikistan is one of the key partners of Kazakhstan in the region and that trade between the two countries has been growing steadily in recent years.