ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 24. Kazakhstan is ready to increase its exports to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) across 100 product categories, amounting to approximately $400 million, as soon as possible, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, Beibut Atamkulov, said, Trend reports.
He made the remark during a roundtable discussion themed "Central Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council: Priorities and Prospects" in Tashkent. The round was attended by leaders of diplomatic missions, senior diplomats from Gulf countries, and representatives of national analytical centers and research institutions from Saudi Arabia.
Atamkulov emphasized the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as one of Kazakhstan's major trade partners in the Middle East, with mutual trade surpassing $700 million. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reported a 40 percent increase in foreign direct investment inflows to Central Asia, reaching $10 billion last year.
"We are committed to systematically increasing the cargo flow along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, aiming to reach 500,000 containers annually by 2030. Moreover, Kazakhstan is actively developing the North-South International Transport Corridor," added Atamkulov.
During the roundtable, participants also discussed the prospects of deepening energy cooperation. Central Asia is home to more than 30 billion tons of proven oil reserves and over 20 trillion cubic meters of gas, making it the world's second-largest oil and gas resource region after the Arabian Peninsula.
The Gulf Cooperation Council comprises Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait.