ArmInfo. We want to offer Armenia an alternative logistics route that will significantly reduce time costs for cargo carriers and which has a competitive price. President of the "Astana" Diplomatic Club Kaiyrbolat Sakhmetov said in a conversation with an ArmInfo correspondent Within the framework of the meeting of the business delegation of Kazakhstan with the members of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA).
He said that it is about the Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan route, which is actively used today for cargo transportation between these countries. "Since you border Iran, I think this proposal might be interesting. Diesel fuel is inexpensive in Iran and Turkmenistan. We border on Turkmenistan and Iran and are connected to it by rail. Armenia can load its products onto Iranian trucks or railways, the goods will be delivered to a dry port on the border with Turkmenistan and from there they can be loaded onto our trains in the direction of any point in Kazakhstan, Central Asian countries, China," explained the head of the Club.
He noted that Armenia is of great interest to Kazakhstan in the South Caucasus. Primarily due to its membership in the EAEU. He also pointed out the recent economic achievements of Armenia. In particular, Mr Sakhmetov noted that the high per capita GDP of Armenia ($8.2 thousand in 2023, ed. note) is a good incentive for Kazakh entrepreneurs and investors.
The head of the Club said that the delegation's visit was due precisely to the intention to explore the industrial potential of Armenia, to find niches where mutually beneficial cooperation can be increased. He named the IT sector as one of the key areas, noting that he was impressed by the results of the industry (at the end of 2023, its volume totals $2.2 billion, ed. note.), and the number of startups that, in his opinion, can successfully operate in Kazakhstan. "Kazakhstan is a large country with a population of 20 million people, which has close ties with neighboring countries in Central Asia. We are a digital state where e-commerce is actively developing, with Internet coverage of 95%, exporting various technological solutions to a number of countries. And we could find common ground with Armenia in this matter," Sakhmetov emphasized.
He added that there are also prospects for implementing joint projects, including industrial cooperation. "Unfortunately, our business community is not so well aware of the potential of Armenia. And the purpose of our visit is to give impetus and increase cooperation in small steps. There are already positive dynamics. But our goal is to increase the volume of mutual trade turnover to half a billion dollars within 1-2 years," the head of the Diplomatic Club emphasized. The representative of Kazakhstan said that the delegation will stay in Armenia for 5 days, and in addition to visits to industrial enterprises, meetings are also expected at the Yerevan Municipality, the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, etc. The delegation included entrepreneurs from various sectors of the economy, including IT, logistics, tourism, trade, industry, etc.
Summing up, he confidently noted that this is just the beginning, and the intensity of visits, including mutual ones, will increase. Established in 2018, "Astana" Diplomatic Club is engaged in diplomatic and cultural activities, which is carried out through informational and organizational support of Club members, holding open and closed events.
Among the Club's objectives is to organize a platform for discussing current issues of interaction in the field of culture, business and the development of international relations, as well as assistance in establishing productive relationships with Kazakh and foreign embassies and consulates, representative offices of international organizations and business communities.
According to the RA Statistics Committee, foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Kazakhstan in 2023 reached $100.5 million, demonstrating a 2.4-fold increase over the year. At the same time, exports increased 3.8-fold to $71.3 million, with imports growing by 23.6% to $29.2 million.