The “Central Asia” International Trade Center for Economic Cooperation is planned to be established on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Kayrat Torebayev, Kazinform reported.

According to the ministry, Uzbekistan is the main strategic partner of Kazakhstan in Central Asia. To Uzbekistan, export of goods can be increased by 70 items, the total amount of which is $210 million. 

At the same time, as Kayrat Torebayev noted, within the framework of cooperation with Uzbekistan, it is planned to implement a project – the “Central Asia” International Trade Center for Economic Cooperation. 

“Negotiations are already underway, we have held several rounds of negotiations and picked up 5 locations for this international center. The international center is being created to introduce a new format of small wholesale and retail trade on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, develop international tourism, improve logistics services and establish cross-border business cooperation,” Kayrat Torebayev said at a press conference. 

"At the initial stage of the project, we have planned to open 10,000 jobs, and then at the operational stage – already 40,000 jobs," the Kazakh Deputy Minister added.