Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin discussed with Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev the establishment of the International center for industrial cooperation (ICIC) "Central Asia" at the border of the two countries. This was reported on Monday by the press service of the cabinet of ministers of Kazakhstan.
"At the end of January, the parties preliminarily coordinated the location of the ICIC, the object is supposed to be built in the area of international checkpoints "Atameken" (Kazakhstan) and "Gulistan" (Uzbekistan). It is planned to confirm the agreements in the near future", the message says.
According to Zhumangarin, the parties intend to accelerate the signing of the investment agreement. "Serious interest in the project is expected," he said, referring to the participants of the first meeting of the working group on monitoring the implementation of cooperative projects and systematic work on import substitution.
The deputy prime minister of Kazakhstan also told the Uzbek partners about the construction of a similar trade and logistics hub on the border with Kyrgyzstan and invited investors and entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan to participate in this project.
"In turn, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev expressed interest in its joint implementation," the press service explained.
According to the press service, the sides noted with satisfaction the progress of some projects. In particular, a contract on the construction of a multimodal logistics center in the Tashkent region was signed to develop a feasibility study and early next month a contract will be signed for the development of design specifications and estimates. The first phase of the project realization till 2026 envisages attracting investments of $70 mln.
In addition, the meeting approved the concept of creating a joint foreign trade company to organize system supplies of substituted products.
"Participants of the working group reviewed the implementation of cooperation and investment projects in the energy, transport, agriculture, electrical and mechanical engineering, infrastructure construction, pharmaceuticals and chemical industry. In the process of implementation, some of them required changes," the government of Kazakhstan specified.
The next meeting of the joint working group to monitor the implementation of cooperative projects and systematic work on import substitution will be held in March in Shymkent.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on materials from TASS