Kazakhstan calls Tatarstan for broader business cooperation.

Kazakhstan-Tatarstan business forum is held in Astana.

The two countries reiterated interest in further expansion of trade, economic and investment cooperation.

Minister of Investments and Development of Kazakhstan Jenis Kasymbek noted interest of Kazakhstan in experience of Tatarstan in development of oil processing, machine building, agriculture, education, science and innovations. Jenis Kasymbek urged business of Tatarstan to implement joint projects. He also invited businesses of Tatarstan to participate in projects of special economic zones and said Kazakhstan is ready to participate in establishment of a free economic zone in Kazan.

Kazakhstan is also interested in high-tech, digitization projects, he added.

"Kazakhstan is among top partners of Tatarstan. Industry of Tatarstan is steadily developing, it is one of the mostly economically sustainable and prosperous regions of Russia. There are several directions alongside machine building and aviation industry that we would like to develop together with Kazakhstan," Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan Albert Karimov said.

The bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Tatarstan grew almost 1.7 times and made $702.9 million in 2017 ($425.3 million in 2016). The bilateral trade in the first quarter of 2018 made $201.7 million (+4.7%).

The goods were exported for $175.8 million, which is for 49.4% more than in the first quarter of 2017.

Imports amounted to $25.8 million, which is 4.7 times more than in 2017.

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