Envoy: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan eye to increase trade up to $1 billion

Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Serzhan Abdikarimov has said that the two countries intend to increase the trade turnover by up to $1 billion a year.

Abdikarimov made the remarks at a press conference in Baku on November 16, Report informs.

He noted that new projects are being developed today, and trading houses of the two countries are operating.

“The possibilities of creating the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, a transport and communication corridor from East to West along the historical "Great Silk Road" and many other projects are also important aspects of the development of bilateral relations,” the ambassador said.

“The 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan has been marked this year. As an embassy, we have implemented a number of initiatives in connection with this event. The work on a documentary film on this topic is currently underway and a book is also being prepared for publication,” Abdikarimov said.

The ambassador said that the countries have a long history of relations, a common language and a culture.

“A new level of partnership, a stable political dialogue, economic ties, mutual support in the international arena, has been established over the years,” he noted.

“President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid the first visit to Azerbaijan in August 2022. The Kazakh leader emphasised that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are strategic partners and allies. This visit, marked by the adoption of a joint declaration, summed up the results of 30 years of relations and laid the foundation for their new stage,” he noted.

The ambassador said that there are also broad ties in the humanitarian sphere between the two countries.

“The Azerbaijani diaspora consisting of many thousands in our country is part of Kazakhstan’s nation, which greatly prioritises these ties,” he said.

The Azerbaijan Tourism Board organised seminars in Kazakhstan’s Almaty and Astana cities to promote the possibilities of Kazakhstan’s winter and medical tourism on November 14-16, Report informs citing the Azerbaijan Tourism Board.

The tourist trips are made from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan’s capital Baku for the weekend and to the medical and winter ski resorts. Currently, there are direct flights from Almaty and Aktau to Baku.

Some 25,434 Kazakh citizens visited Azerbaijan from January through October 2022, which is 5.3 times more compared to the same period last year.