Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan mull creating a special trade zone on the border of the Balkan province of Turkmenistan and the Mangystau province of Kazakhstan to boost trade and economic ties. The project was discussed at the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Mammethan Chakiyev and the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin in Astana on March 11.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the issues of expanding trade, economic and cross-border cooperation, the use of the transit-transport potentials of the two neighboring countries, and the intensification of collaboration in the scientific, technical, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The priority is the project to create a special border trade zone on the border of Mangystau region and Balkan velayat, according to the press service of the Kazakhstan’s government.
“The Heads of our States - President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov - have instructed to achieve the billion mark in mutual trade. It is necessary to intensify the work of the joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation,” the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin said.
The head of the Kazakh government noted the need to increase bilateral trade in such industries as metallurgy, engineering, construction materials, food, chemical products, light industry, and pharmaceuticals.
The meeting was a part of the 10th session of the Joint Intergovernmental Turkmen-Kazakh Commission on Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural Cooperation in Astana.
