Alikhan Smailov held talks with Mikhail Mishustin at the meeting of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council

During the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov held bilateral talks with the head of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin.

The parties discussed a number of topical issues, in particular, those related to the areas of trade and economic, transit and transport cooperation, the industrial and fuel and energy complex, digitalization and the space industry, etc.

The Russian Federation is the main trade and economic partner of Kazakhstan. In 2021, the growth of trade between the two countries amounted to 29%.

Smailov noted the dynamic growth in the agro-industrial complex.

“Over the past year, interaction in the agro-industrial complex has grown by 32%. However, there is great potential in this area. We propose to continue work on increasing mutual trade, increasing its structure, expanding the range of goods supplied. We invite the Russian agro-industrial business to close cooperation,” said Smailov.

Discussing the issues of transit and transport cooperation, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan noted a large-scale project to develop the international transport route "Europe - Western China". The Kazakh and Chinese sections of construction have been completed. Completion of work on the Russian side is expected.

The Kazakh side provides for the reconstruction of a section of the road from the city of Aktobe to the Russian border to Samara through the city of Uralsk as a continuation of the Meridian highway project. As traffic intensity increases over time, it is planned to expand the road category in 2025-2030 to 4 lanes.

Particular attention was also paid to the issue of establishing air communication between Kazakhstan and Russia. Currently, there are 54 flights a week between neighboring countries on 21 routes. In general, there is a gradual resumption of flights. However, the existing demand is not fully satisfied.

In addition, Smailov and Mishustin discussed options for gas supply to the northern and eastern regions of Kazakhstan, including from the Russian Federation.

By the end of the first quarter of this year, Gazprom and QazaqGaz companies must evaluate the gasification project for the northern and eastern regions of Kazakhstan. The parties will determine the volume of consumption and routes for the construction of gas pipelines. Smailov expressed interest in intensifying work in this area in order to make a specific decision in the short term.

In turn, Mikhail Mishustin expressed hope for strengthening integration ties in the format of the Eurasian Economic Union and ensuring trade and economic cooperation in mutual interests.

“I want to note with satisfaction that our trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan is developing quite successfully. In 2021, the trade turnover increased by a third compared to 2020 and exceeded $25 billion. This is a record indicator of mutual trade in our history,” said the Head of the Russian Government.

At the end of the meeting, representatives of the Kazakh and Russian sides signed the Action Plan for the implementation of the Comprehensive Program for Economic Cooperation between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2021-2025.

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