Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — To boost trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Uzbek side intends to launch four additional trade corridors, according to Kazinform.

This initiative was announced by the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan, Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, during a meeting with entrepreneurs from the Zhetysu region.

The diplomat outlined Uzbekistan’s efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted that Tashkent is undertaking large-scale reconstruction of border checkpoints, which, in his view, will directly contribute to the growth of mutual trade.

Earlier reports suggested that a Kazakh trade center may open in Tashkent, while a similar Uzbek trade center could be established in Astana.

Currently, more than a thousand enterprises with Kazakh investment are operating successfully in Uzbekistan, and interregional ties between the two countries continue to develop actively.

Last year, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan exceeded US$4.2 billion. Uzbekistan’s exports to Kazakhstan amounted to US$1.4 billion, while imports from Kazakhstan surpassed US$2.8 billion.

Additionally, over the past five months, Kazakhstan has supplied Uzbekistan with 2 million tons of grain.