Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are discussing the creation of a single commodity distribution system

Within the framework of the III Forum of Interregional Cooperation of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the prospects of creating a unified commodity distribution system of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were discussed.

The participants of the panel session, representatives of government agencies and businesses of the two countries discussed the possibility of forming a single trade and transport space and strengthening the role of Central Asian countries in the system of transcontinental and interstate economic corridors.

Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Torebayev and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan Adham Ikramov addressed the participants of the event with a welcoming speech.

During the discussions, Azamat Askaruly, General Director of JSC "QazTrade", informed about the development of the ORC network on the territory of Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries. Representatives of the developer company of the first stage of the project to create a network of ORCS in the Republic of Kazakhstan - LLP "National Trade and Distribution Network" (NTRS) - presented information about the trends in the market of agricultural products and trends in the development of storage technologies.

Within the framework of the panel session, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan Habibullayev Bakhitzhan, as well as deputy khokims of certain regions of Uzbekistan presented investment opportunities of their regions.

During the meeting, the participants also discussed issues of technical regulation in cross-border trade, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan Utkirjon Kodirov presented information on the specifics of customs regulation in Uzbekistan.

One of the key topics of discussion was the creation and development of cross-border hubs.

According to Gulzhan Argynbayeva, Advisor to the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, "already today, Kazakhstan's share in the Eurasian route in the direction of China – Europe – China significantly exceeds other routes, such as the Trans-Siberian Railway or through the Far East." Over the past ten years, more than 33 thousand container trains have traveled from China to Europe and back, 53 percent of them through the Dostyk–Alashankou and Altynkol–Khorgos border crossings. In total, 11 international transport routes (5 railways and 6 cars) pass through the territory of Kazakhstan, which form the most important Trans-Eurasian trade corridors. They connect key economic centers (Asia-Pacific, China, EU, CAR) and connect Central Asia with global markets.

"Now a network of cross-border trade and economic hubs is being created, which will serve as reference points of the Unified Commodity Distribution System of the EAEU and Central Asian countries with further prospects for expansion. ICPC "Central Asia", the Dry port "Khorgos" and the port of Kuryk act as counter-regulators of overland cargo transportation within the framework of the international corridors "North-South" and "East-West"," Argynbayeva said. At the same time, clusters of international trade and logistics services will be comprehensively developed on the basis of hubs in accordance with the best international practices, production clusters will develop, which will ensure the formation of cooperative ties at the international level.

As the participants of the panel session noted, the International Industrial Cooperation Center "Central Asia" being created on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan has prospects of becoming the largest center of industrial cooperation in the region, as well as consolidation, processing and distribution of cargo flows within the developing Central Asian economic corridor "North - South". And access to the promising markets of South Asia and the EAEU.

In general, it was noted that our countries found themselves in the center of the part of the world that manages almost two-thirds of global GDP. And the region is becoming a major part of the new geo-order, which will promote economic relations between Asia and Europe, as well as within Asia itself. And the main issue facing the countries is to successfully realize the existing potential.

The organizers of the panel session "Creation of a unified commodity distribution system of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan" were from the Kazakh side: the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Fund for the Development of the North-South Economic Corridor, from the Uzbek side: the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.