Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan bilateral trade may reach $1bln – President Tokayev
Following the bilateral talks, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Serdar Berdimuhamedov made a joint statement to the representatives of mass media, Kazinform News Agency reports citing the Akorda press office.
The Kazakh President noted the importance of the agreements signed and bilateral documents adopted during his official visit to Turkmenistan. According to him, the Declaration of Strengthening Friendship and Multifaceted Strategic Partnership holds a central place among them.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, in this declaration the sides reaffirmed their mutual aspiration to the reproachment of the fraternal nations, and to bringing the Kazakh-Turkmen relations to a brand new level.
The Kazakh President also informed about adoption of the 2024 comprehensive program.
“We have agreed to fill in the upcoming period with landmark events for the benefit of the two close nations. Particular attention was given to the bilateral issues. Thanks to joint efforts, trade turnover between our countries rose by 28% having exceeded $500 million. Positive dynamics is observed this year as well,” he said.
“We have also agreed to consider the opportunity of expanding the range of supplied goods and creating favorable conditions for further development of the mutual trade. An increase in supplies of home-produced agricultural products, primarily wheat, seems promising. Turkmen business also has large reserves for increasing exports to Kazakhstan and for a long-term presence in our market. We believe that the bilateral trade may be raised to $1 billion in the near term,” stressed he.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that the Kazakh side proposed to jointly strengthen the interregional interaction, adding that the administration of Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region signed a cooperation plan with the administration of Turkmenistan’s Balkan Velayat.
In his words, the sides agreed to explore the prospects for establishing joint ventures in the key sectors of economy.
“Expanding cooperation in the energy sector has been identified as a priority. Significant progress has been reached here in recent years. Kazakhstan intends to actively participate in the projects to develop gas condensate fields in Turkmenistan, as well as in expanding the pipeline infrastructure,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said reminding that QazaqGaz and Türkmengaz had signed today an agreement on development of cooperation in gas sector.
According to him, the governments were set a task to ensure high-quality and timely implementation of the agreements in this essential sphere.
“Kazakhstan’s oil and gas companies are interested in establishing cooperation with the Turkmen colleagues in oil field services on the Caspian Sea. Thanks to joint efforts, favorable conditions for transit and transport interaction are being created. We see a steady increase in the volumes of cargo transportation across the territories of our countries,” said he.
In his words, the volume of railroad transportations between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan increased by 20% and reached almost 1.5 million tenge. He also emphasized the role of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railroad which serves as an important link within the North-South transport corridor.
“The tasks of connecting the road infrastructure on the border of the two states towards Turkmenbashi - Garabogaz - the Border of Kazakhstan are being systematically implemented. We have discussed the prospects for the construction of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Afghanistan railway route. The sides are currently carrying out substantive negotiations on this topic. We also agreed to discuss the opportunity of soonest resumption of regular flights between our countries. All these steps provide conditions for further strengthening of transport connectivity of our countries,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
The talks also focused on strengthening the cultural-humanitarian ties. The sides agreed to explore the prospects of opening the branches of Kazakhstani universities in Turkmenistan. Special attention was given to the issues of ensuring stability and security in Central Asia.
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov told mass media about the current and promising areas of cooperation and noted constructive character of the Turkmen-Kazakh dialogue.
“At today’s meeting we discussed the state and prospects of the bilateral relations, the issues of regional and international policy, representing mutual interest. We have defined the areas of our interaction. I would like to point out constructive and substantive character of the talks held in an atmosphere of mutual trust and openness. The current level of the bilateral dialogue in the political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres was highly estimated,” the Turkmen President said.
The presidents expressed satisfaction with the results of the negotiations aimed at further strengthening the Kazakh-Turkmen relations.