25 Feb 2022 18:39

EAEU external trade with third countries up 34.3% in 2021, export up 42.5% - Kyrgyz PM

NUR-SULTAN. Feb 25 (Interfax) - The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)'s trade volume with third countries went up 34.4% in 2021, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov said at a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on Friday.

"The foreign trade volume with third countries went up 34.3 %, including a 42.5% increase in export. The mutual trade volume went up one-third, and export volumes have increased in all EAEU states," Japarov said.

The total GDP in the EAEU went up 4.4% in January-November 2021, which is more than the average global indicators, he said.

"In the same period, industrial production in the EAEU went up 5.1%," he said.

Japarov also said successful implementation of the agreement on the use of navigation seals and the agreement on the mechanism for tracking goods brought into the EAEU customs territory will help solve the problems with the move of goods inside the integration association and their unimpeded transit.

"Dynamic development of e-commerce and the absence of common regulatory mechanisms require the development of close approaches between our countries both in mutual and in foreign trade in goods on electronic sites," Japarov said.

"The issue of changes to the Union Treaty regarding the determination of indirect taxation in the provision of services in electronic form, which is being considered today, is being considered at a very good time. But it is only the start of our work. The commission needs to determine further joint steps for cooperation in the development and regulation of e-commerce," the Kyrgyz prime minister said.

"Another important issue that requires a prompt solution is the recognition of vaccination documents, including the Covid-19 vaccines that are used on the territory of the Eurasian economic space. There is currently the practice of mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates in the EAEU states, Russia and Kazakhstan have agreed to recognize Covid-19 certificates on a bilateral basis," he said.

This experience could be expanded for use in all of the five countries for effective formation of a system of target assistance in the recovery of the economies in the post-Covid period and further economic development of the member states, Japarov said.