One, Kazakhstan increases trade ties with Turkmenistan
[Source document] https://astanatimes.com/2024/10/kazakhstan-increases-trade-ties-with-turkmenistan/, October 10, 2024.
According to Akorda, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during an expanded meeting with Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on October 10 that Kazakhstan plans to increase its exports to Turkmenistan by nearly $120 million, covering 80 commodity items.
Tokayev emphasized the importance of strengthening trade ties and noted that small and medium-sized enterprises have huge investment potential. He encouraged promoting business activities through the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan Business Council and stated that businesses "should be the main driving force."
He also stressed that large commercial and state-owned companies should focus on launching practical projects in the industrial, construction, logistics, communication, and other economic sectors. Tokayev believes that the signing of the Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will further boost these efforts.
Berdymukhamedov emphasized the significance of Tokayev's visit, aimed at further strengthening the good-neighborly relations and close cooperation between the two countries, expanding the scope of cooperation, and exploring new potential opportunities.
Tokayev highlighted the steady development of cultural and humanitarian ties and the potential for cooperation in higher education. The two presidents also discussed joint initiatives in the gas sector, systematic growth in mutual trade and cargo transport volumes, and plans to enhance regional cooperation.
After the talks, the two leaders signed the Declaration of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on Strengthening Friendly Relations and Deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also signed a number of important agreements, including the Comprehensive Program for Strengthening Friendly Relations and Deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan for 2025-2027, Agreement on Promoting and Protecting Investments between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Agreement on Strategic Cooperation in Transport, Logistics and Transit between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and the amendment and supplement to the International Agreement on Passenger and Goods Transportation for 1997.
In addition, the two sides also reached cooperation agreements on combating crimes, plant quarantine, tourism, archives, development in the natural gas sector, international postal delivery, oilfield services in the Caspian Sea-Turkmenistan area, and a plan for trade, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural cooperation in 2025. The signed documents also include seven memoranda of understanding between the financial, transportation, sports, digital, aviation, media, and international relations departments of the two countries, as well as a memorandum of understanding on maritime cooperation.
The Chairman of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, Nurlan Zhakupov, said: "The Samruk Kazyna Group has signed four agreements that will enhance our bilateral cooperation in these areas (shipping, natural gas, postal services) and further strengthen our friendly and allied relations with the United States."
Two, the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have set priorities for cooperation.
Source: https://astanatimes.com/2024/10/kazakh-turkmen-presidents-set-priorities-for-cooperation/, 11th October 2024.
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, issued a joint statement to the media expressing satisfaction with the results of their bilateral talks held on October 10 in Ashgabat.
Tokayev noted that the official visit to Turkmenistan and the bilateral agreements reached during the visit had significant meaning, particularly the Joint Declaration of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on Strengthening Friendly Relations and Deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which aims to bring the peoples of the two countries closer together and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Tokayev said, "We also adopted a comprehensive plan for the period up to 2027, where we agreed to carry out significant activities beneficial to our peoples in the coming period, with a particular focus on the trade sector. Thanks to our joint efforts, last year, bilateral trade increased by 28%, exceeding $500 million."
The two heads of state agreed to consider expanding the scope of commodity supply to create favorable conditions for further development of mutual trade. Kazakhstan expressed its willingness to increase the supply of agricultural products, including wheat.
"Turkmen enterprises also have a significant stockpile, which can increase exports to Kazakhstan and establish a long-term presence in our market. We believe that in the near future, bilateral trade turnover will reach $1 billion," Tokayev said.
Both sides intend to explore the prospect of establishing joint ventures in key economic sectors, with priority given to the energy sector.
"Kazakhstan intends to actively participate in the development project of Turkmenistan's gas condensate fields and expand pipeline infrastructure. Today, Kazakhstan's QazaqGaz gas company and Turkmenistan's Turkmengas State Concern signed an agreement on cooperation in the development of the gas industry, and Kazakhstan's oil and gas company is interested in establishing cooperation with Turkmenistan's counterparts in the field of oilfield services in the Caspian Sea." he said.
Tokayev emphasized at the press conference that last year the volume of railway transportation between the two countries increased by 20%, reaching 1.5 million tons, and the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway played a key role in this, being an important link in the north-south transport corridor. The task of constructing road infrastructure connecting the two countries' borders in the direction of Turkmenbashi-Garabogaz-Kazakhstan border is being carried out in an orderly manner.
Both sides also explored the vast prospects of building the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Afghanistan railway line and the possibility of resuming regular flights between the two countries at an early date.
One of the main topics of the negotiations was to strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties. The parties reached a preliminary agreement on deepening educational cooperation and opening a branch of a Kazakhstan university in Turkmenistan. Berdymukhamedov spoke about the current and future areas of cooperation in his report and noted that the talks were constructive and practical.
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