Golovchenko: trade between Belarus and Kazakhstan in 2021 for the first time exceeded $1 billion

February 24, Nur-Sultan. The trade turnover between Belarus and Kazakhstan in 2021 for the first time exceeded $1 billion, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko said during a working meeting with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, BelTA has learned.

"We are important trade and economic partners. At the end of 2021, the trade turnover between our countries for the first time exceeded $1 billion. Once this amount seemed unrealistic, but now this milestone has been reached thanks to the hard work of business circles and the governments of the two countries, which created everything for this necessary conditions," said Roman Golovchenko.

According to him, the main growth driver is industrial cooperation. "This is important for the industrialization of Kazakhstan, for the development of our own industrial production. Over the past two years, we have increased the supply of machine kits by more than 2.5 times to Kazakhstan. We are reaping the fruits of this growth in trade. The Belarusian section of the industrial zone in Kostanay is developing successfully. We "We are proud that we are making our contribution to the industrial development of your country. Of course, we will continue to participate in the modernization of the fleet of agricultural, passenger, cargo, municipal, and fire equipment," the Prime Minister said.

In addition, the first project for the construction of a dairy complex in Kazakhstan with Belarusian participation was developed. Another promising project is the creation of an enterprise for the production of veterinary drugs.

Alikhan Smailov, in turn, noted the high dynamics of partnership and constructive dialogue between the two countries. "We are determined to continue the traditions of friendship, trust and partnership. I would like to express my gratitude to the Belarusian people for the assistance rendered to us during the recent tragic events in Kazakhstan. I am sure that this year will be marked by new high results in our cooperation both in the bilateral direction and and in the EAEU," he stressed.

In terms of Belarusian exports, Kazakhstan is among the ten main trading partners and is the third among the CIS countries (after Russia and Ukraine). In 2021, the trade turnover amounted to $1.092.5 billion and increased by 31.9% compared to the corresponding period last year, exports - $911.8 million (an increase of 25%). The balance is positive - $ 731.1 million. The main positions of Belarusian exports in 2021 were specific goods, fresh or chilled beef, milkcondensed and dried cream, parts of rolling stock, combine harvesters, furniture and parts thereof, cheeses and curds, sausages and similar meat products, frozen beef, sugar. The main imports of goods from Kazakhstan in 2021 were specific goods, sulfur, cars, cotton wool fiber, ferroalloys, raw zinc, cold-rolled flat steel from unalloyed steel, fresh melons, watermelons, track and signal equipment, rails. 

The commodity distribution network of Belarusian enterprises in Kazakhstan includes more than 40 companies created with the involvement of Belarusian capital, as well as more than 170 dealer network entities. There are joint assembly plants of Belarusian machinery and equipment (MTZ, Gomselmash, MAZ, Bobruiskagromash and others). There are 54 enterprises with Kazakh capital operating in Belarus, including 19 joint ventures and 35 foreign ones. There are 366 companies with Belarusian participation in Kazakhstan.

Photo by Oksana Manchuk