09:21, 10 сентября 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Tatyana KUDRYAVTSEVA
The second meeting of the working group on trade and economic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan was held. Press service of the Cabinet of Ministers reported.
The meeting was chaired by the First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev and the Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin. The parties discussed topical issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
«I believe that today’s meeting will be another important step leading to the achievement of common goals of development and deepening of the Kyrgyz-Kazakh cooperation and partnership. We have every opportunity to increase bilateral trade, but for this we need to review the existing trade policy and remove the existing problems and obstacles in the field of transit,» Adylbek Kasymaliev said.
The trade turnover between the two countries for the first half of 2022 reached $568 million, having increased by 23.9 percent compared to the same period in 2021.
«The presidents of the two countries have set the task of increasing the level of trade between the countries to $2 billion. This task is also indicated in the minutes of the tenth meeting of the Intergovernmental Council and in the joint statement of the heads of state. We have something to strive for,» he said.
In turn, Serik Zhumangarin expressed interest in building up trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The parties discussed the situation on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh section of the state border, related to the strengthening of control and inspection activities by the state bodies of Kazakhstan.
The commitment was reaffirmed to fulfill the previously reached agreements and take measures to eliminate inspection measures in relation to cargo vehicles with electronic invoices, as well as to work out the issue of resuming the use of navigation seals between the two states.
The parties also discussed the progress of the project for the construction of a joint industrial trade and logistics complex in the area of Ak-Tilek and Karasu road checkpoints.
As a result of the meeting, the minutes of the second meeting of the working group on trade and economic cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan on the intentions to organize supplies of fruits and vegetables were signed.