The Kazakhstan Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Erik Utembayev on Dec 23 announced that Uzbek and Kazakh authorities are working on simplification of border crossing procedure, Turkistan Press IA said.
We are talking about Syrdarya and Celinniy points, which are located on M-39 highway. Also, the status of Tashkent-Kazygurt, Gulistan-Atameken and Zangiata-Kaplanbek crossing points will also change, the Ambassador added.
According to him, given the size of the two economies, it is necessary to set an entirely new system of inter-regional and cross-border links and to open up the border.
According to the Uzbek Statistics Committee, in nine months of 2016 the bilateral trade with Kazakhstan reached 1.548 billion dollars, accounting for 8.7% of total turnover, ranking third after China (17.7%) and Russia (17.2%).
"However the bilateral trade potential is still unexhausted, - Erik Utembayev said. - Therefore, during the September meeting [of the two presidents] of Nursultan Nazarbayev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev a decision was taken to raise the annual turnover to $ 5 billion."
This decision laid the basis for an agreement on basic vectors of trade and economic cooperation, signed on September 22. The document provides for creation of a network of trading houses for sale of oil and oil products, electrical equipment, machine building, automotive, pharmaceutical and agricultural products.
It is planned to establish cooperation between Baiterek, Kazakh National Holding and Uzbekistan National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity.
