Kazakhstan ready to increase export to Central Asian countries, Russia by $1 bln - Tokayev

ASTANA. Oct 14 (Interfax) - The Central Asian countries need to intensify their efforts to develop intra-regional trade, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

"We currently can substitute many types of foreign products for each other with the development of our production on a mutually profitable basis. For example, Kazakhstan is ready to increase export to the Central Asian countries by $1 billion, we can also increase by more than $1 billion the supply of Kazakh products to the Russian Federation. I am confident that all states of the region have such capabilities as well," Tokayev said at the Central Asia-Russia summit in Astana on Friday.

The existing trade-economic relations are important in the current reality, he said.

"For this purpose, it is proposed to develop and adopt a new model of economic cooperation between the Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation. The emphasis should be on measures to support small and medium-sized businesses, the launch of joint projects in the energy sector, industry, transport and logistics, in agriculture," Tokayev said.

It is also important to eliminate trade barriers and avoid protectionist measures, he said. Besides, it is necessary to intensify the efforts aimed at developing intra-regional trade, he said.

"Here it is necessary to pay attention to the improvement of the trade structure and expansion of its nomenclature," Tokayev said.