Kazakhstan closed its trade representative office in Russia, continues from the text decrees Country Government “On Some Issues of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. The decree enters into force from the date of its signing.
The document states: “Dissolve the state agency of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Trade Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation”.
The decision to close the sales office was made on 1 February. The Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan explained this with the “optimization of the work of state bodies” and a high level of mutual cooperation with Russia.
The Ministry is currently For Kazakhstan business there are all institutional conditions for working in the Russian direction. In this context, trade delegation staff will be sent to strengthen Astana’s diplomatic presence in other countries.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the establishment of representative offices in October 1992. The trade representation of Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation was opened in Moscow in 2009, it also has a branch in Kazan. The duties of the trade representative of the Republic in Russia are performed by Damir Adilbekov.
The Trade Representative helps Kazakhstan businesses to operate in the Russian market and attract foreign investment to Kazakhstan.
Cooperation will continue
Yerulan Zhamaubayev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan, announced the decision to close the representative office with optimization. According to him, working within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Commission allows countries to fully interact.
“The representation of Kazakhstan there is sufficient, there are competent people in every field, including commercial activities, who can close questions while in Moscow,” said Zhamaubayev.
He reminded that the Embassy of Kazakhstan operates in Moscow and the number of employees is sufficient to solve the necessary problems.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Commerce assured that the decision to close the trade delegation will not affect the development of trade and economic cooperation in general.
“Work on commercial and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation will also continue through the partner network of QazTrade Trade Policy Development Center JSC established in all major cities and regions,” the ministry said.
They reminded that Russia is the main commercial and economic partner of the republic and that there are approximately 8 thousand companies with Russian participation and 3 thousand 348 joint ventures operating in Kazakhstan.
The trade mission of the Russian Federation in Kazakhstan will continue to work
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that the Russian side does not plan to close the trade representation in the republic in response to Kazakhstan’s actions.
“This topic was not discussed and not discussed,” he said. “There is an understanding that this decision of the Kazakh authorities will not affect the functioning of the trade mission of the Russian Federation in Kazakhstan.”
According to the representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obligations regarding the implementation of the agreement on the establishment of mutual representations will be fully fulfilled. He also promised that the Russian authorities will use “all available interstate mechanisms to create the necessary conditions for Russian enterprises to operate in Kazakhstan.”
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk on February 3 urged not to dramatize the closure of the Kazakh trade mission.
There is absolutely no need to dramatize, because each country decides for itself how to structure relations. <…> It’s their decision and I’m sure it’s aimed at making the relationship even more effective,” Overchuk said.
In January-November 2022, the trade turnover between Russia and Kazakhstan amounted to $23.6 billion, an increase of 6.8% compared to the same period of 2021 ($22.1 billion).