Azerbaijan,Kazakhstan work on increasing trade turnover
By Sara Israfilbayova
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are working on increasing the bilateral trade turnover and searching for possibilities to expand the economic interaction.
To fulfill the tasks of increasing the trade turnover between the two countries, set during the last meeting of the two countries’ presidents, Azerbaijani Ambassador Rashad Mammadov met with National Economy Minister of Kazakhstan Timur Suleimenov.
Hailing the relations between the two nations, Suleimenov noted that Kazakhstan is interested in developing relations with Azerbaijan in all areas.
Mammadov, in turn, assured that the relations between the two brotherly countries will always be at the highest level, as evidenced by the awarding of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev with the “Heydar Aliyev” Order, which is the supreme order of Azerbaijan.
The sides further highlighted the importance of encouraging e-commerce to achieve the set goals. In addition, the parties agreed to consider the issue of establishing cooperation between Azexport.com and the relevant portal of Kazakhstan.
The portal Azexport was created in accordance with the order of the head of state “On creation of a unified database of goods produced in Azerbaijan Republic” dated September 21, 2016. The aim of the portal is to provide information about Azerbaijani-made goods and offer a beneficial platform for their sale in the domestic and foreign markets.
Mammadov and Suleimenov also agreed that expansion of cooperation between major cities of the two countries will also positively affect the bilateral relations, including the trade turnover.
They noted the necessity of defining potential of bilateral trade between Shymkent [Kazakhstan] and Ganja [Azerbaijan] and holding of business forums and trade missions with the participation of the business communities.
Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan attach great importance to the development of bilateral trade and economic ties.
The main export items from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan are mineral resources (oil and gas), chemical raw materials, grain, barley, tobacco products, carbon steel and electrical equipment.
Today, 37 Kazakh companies involved in different sectors of economy are successfully doing their business in Azerbaijan. In a western region of Kazakhstan alone, a total of 46 companies with Azerbaijani capital are registered.
The two countries have already signed over 100 agreements, which constitute legal basis for negotiations between the countries. More than 20 of those are in the field of economy.
Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan amounted to almost $124.4 million in 2016, including more than $26 million that accounted for the export to Kazakhstan, according to Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee.
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