Kazakhstan proposes launching an E-permit system to Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan proposes launching a system for electronic exchange of permit forms (E-permit) to Uzbekistan. Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense and Security of the Mazhilis of Kazakhstan Aigul Kuspan said this in an interview with the Kazinform news agency.

According to her, at the end of last year, bilateral trade turnover amounted to $4.4 billion, having decreased by 10% over the year. One of the reasons for this was the reduction in exports of Kazakh passenger cars, as Uzbeks began to buy more Chinese cars, including electric cars.

“However, our priority is not trade, but industrial cooperation. In general, our principle is not to compete, but to complement. We are allies, we must complement each other. To do this, we can supply our goods to the markets of third countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan, India. These are huge markets. It is for this purpose that a special joint foreign trade company UzKazTrade was created last year,” Aygul Kuspan said.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also created a special working group at the level of deputy prime ministers to monitor all cooperation projects and a working group to eliminate barriers to mutual trade.

It is planned to launch production sites on the territory of the international center for industrial cooperation “Central Asia”. In particular, deep processing of agricultural products will be established there, warehouses will be located, and transport infrastructure will be provided. Construction of the site is scheduled for August, and launch is scheduled for the end of 2026.

Kazakhstan proposes creating an international water and energy consortium in Central Asia, and also shows interest in the joint construction of the Kambarata HPP-1 in Kyrgyzstan.

Kuspan noted that in the transport sector, construction of the Darbaza-Maktaaral railway line has now begun, and the project of the Uchkuduk-Kyzylorda railway line and highway is also being worked out.

Uzbekistan is interested in joint exploration, mining and processing of uranium in border areas with Kazakhstan. If all the above projects work, the volume of trade between the countries will exceed $10 billion.