Kazakhstan's trade turnover with Central Asian countries reached $7.7 bn in 2023, according to Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev at the 13th Central Asia Trade Forum in Almaty on May 14. Torebayev highlighted the economic benefits of strengthening trade ties within Central Asia, citing contributions to economic growth, job creation, and improved living standards in the region.
He also referenced the National Export Review, assessing Kazakhstan's trade facilitation efforts since joining the World Trade Organization and progress in developing paperless cross-border trade.
The forum highlighted that Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover with 131 countries hit $139.8 bn in 2023, a 3.2% increase from the previous year, attributed to simplified trade procedures boosting foreign economic activity.
Zeinah Salahi, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Asia Bureau in Washington, expressed gratitude for the forum's support in promoting trade cooperation among Central Asian countries for over a decade. She highlighted the forum's role in promoting stability, and prosperity, and strengthened ties among participating nations.
The Central Asia Trade Forum facilitated the signing of contracts exceeding $32 mn and attracted over 10,000 representatives from government and commercial sectors across 25 countries over the years. This year, the event brought together over 300 representatives from businesses and government agencies from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The forum featured a trade exhibition showcasing agricultural, textile, clothing, and food products from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, providing a platform for businesses to explore potential trade opportunities within the region.
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