Regions AIRR and Kazakhstan: vector of Eurasian integration

Of the 89 subjects of the Federation, 76 have trade and economic ties with Kazakh partners, including subjects of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia. The subjects of the Russian Federation that directly border Kazakhstan are most actively developing cooperation, in particular, on the basis of cross-border economic schemes: Kazakhstan supplies Ekibastuz coal to power plants in the Urals and Siberia with electricity sent in the opposite direction, supplies of Kazakhstan mineral raw materials to mining and metallurgical enterprises of the Southern Urals in exchange for their finished products, supplies of oil and gas condensate by Kazakhstan to processing enterprises in the Samara region and Bashkiria against counter receipts of oil products and gas.

In 2023, trade turnover between Russia and Kazakhstan increased to a record 2.5 trillion rubles. Russia ranks first among Kazakhstan's foreign trade partners. About 70% of bilateral Russian-Kazakh trade turnover falls on interregional and border trade.

“Russia and Kazakhstan are joining forces to jointly conduct research in the field of artificial intelligence, creating a common infrastructure for data processing and analysis. As part of the Digital Almaty 2024 digital forum, which took place in February this year, it was proposed to create a digital platform for the exchange of patents and innovative ideas. The business visit of the delegation of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia to the Republic of Kazakhstan took place in the spring of 2023. Guests were introduced to the infrastructure for supporting innovation and technological entrepreneurship. Representatives of all regions who took part in the trip found opportunities for cooperation with Kazakh business,” noted AIRR Director Alexander Smekalin.

Republic of Bashkortostan

At the beginning of 2024, the “Kazakhstan-Bashkortostan” forum took place, which was held in the capital of Kazakhstan, the city of Astana, with the participation of the head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov.

Representatives of Kazakh companies were introduced to the investment climate of Bashkortostan, businessmen of the Republic of Kazakhstan who managed to organize successful projects in Bashkiria shared their personal experiences. As a result of the event, 8 agreements on cooperation in various fields were signed.

Forum participants note that a single customs space and economic structures with similar functionality help the partnership. For example, to attract investors and develop new industries in the Kazakh capital, the Special Economic Zone “Astana - New City” is functioning - an analogue of the Bashkir “Alga”. There are also tax and customs benefits.

Radiy Khabirov noted, “if some time ago we were talking about a few Bashkir enterprises operating in Kazakhstan, now they appear literally every month.” This speaks primarily of a high degree of trust in relations between the two republics.

The foreign trade turnover of Bashkiria with Kazakhstan for January-November 2023 amounted to $440 million, which is 3.1% more than for the same period in 2022. The export component showed an increase of 6.1% during this period.

It is worth noting that in September 2023, on the sidelines of the Innoprom. Kazakhstan” the parties signed an action plan for the development of cooperation for 2023–2024. The road map includes 57 activities in five areas, which are being consistently implemented. Over the past year, together with Kazakhstan, Bashkiria held 15 business events, including business missions. This allowed exporters to conclude contracts worth 1.4 billion rubles.

Samara Region

At the end of 2023, speaking at the plenary session of the XIX Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, in which the presidents of the two states Vladimir Putin and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part, the Governor of the Samara Region Dmitry Azarov presented the successful experience of cooperation between the Samara Region and the Republic and outlined the prospects for the development of relations. Based on the results of the 1st half of 2023, Kazakhstan took 2nd place in terms of export volume from the region.

The head of the Samara region said that one of the key areas of cooperation is cooperation in the fertilizer supply industry. It is worth noting that the region is the country's leader in the production of ammonia and mineral fertilizers.

In the Samara region, productive interaction between the scientific community and agricultural producers has been built. “We are confident that our developments will be of interest to our Kazakh partners here, and we invite you to cooperation,” noted Dmitry Azarov.

An important area of ​​cooperation between the Samara region and Kazakhstan is the supply of agricultural machinery produced in the region. There are currently 7 agricultural machinery enterprises operating in the Samara region. The largest of them are: Pegas-Agro, Eurotekhnika, Selmash.

Due to the high transport and logistics potential of the region, the initiative to create a federal port and logistics hub within the North-South corridor in the Samara region was supported at the federal level. Thus, the Samara region can be attractive for Kazakhstan not only as a trading partner, but also as a transport and logistics hub, opening up wide opportunities for trade with other regions of Russia and the world.

The Samara region supplies Kazakhstan with aluminum and aluminum products, mineral fuels, equipment and mechanical devices, ferrous metal products, plastics, and inorganic chemical products.

Equipment, electrical machines, optical instruments, mineral fuels, as well as plants and trees are imported into the region from a neighboring country.

The Samara region and Kazakhstan intend to establish active cooperation in the area of ​​unmanned aircraft. The Minister of Economic Development and Investment of the Samara Region, Dmitry Bogdanov, announced this at a meeting with representatives of the delegation from Kazakhstan.

Let us recall that a cluster has been created in the Samara region for the development and production of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which includes leading universities, high-tech companies, residents of the Zhigulevskaya Dolina technology park, and enterprises in the aerospace sector. Already at the end of this year, at the site of the Tolyatti special economic zone, it is planned to launch serial production of UAS, including agrodrones, which are intended for monitoring agricultural land and performing agrochemical work.

Novosibirsk region

The Novosibirsk region and the Republic of Kazakhstan are actively strengthening bilateral ties. One of the important steps in this direction was the establishment of the position of honorary consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the city of Novosibirsk.

Kazakhstan is one of the main partners of the Novosibirsk region, occupying second place in the trade turnover of the Novosibirsk region after China. At the same time, trade turnover indicators are constantly increasing. Cooperation is actively developing between the region and the Republic in industry, agriculture, medicine, education, science and culture. At the beginning of November 2023, the delegation of the Novosibirsk region, headed by Governor Andrei Travnikov, took part in the XIX Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan with the participation of heads of state in the city of Kostanay, Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Novosibirsk region is a major scientific and educational center. The region's universities have always been famous for their high quality of education. Currently, over 5 thousand Kazakhstani students are studying there.

Altai region

The AIRR region - Altai Territory borders on the Abay, East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. There are 11 border districts of the Altai Territory. The areas of cooperation between the Altai Territory and the border regions of Kazakhstan are regulated by agreements on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.
In 2023, a representative of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Altai Territory took part in the trip of the AIRR delegation to Kazakhstan.

In the development of relations with the East Kazakhstan region, a separate promising direction is interaction within the framework of the International Coordination Council “Our Common Home - Altai”, created in 2003.

In September 2023, the Altai SME Fund and the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a business mission to Almaty for their entrepreneurs. In November, enterprises of the Altai Territory took part in the 25th Central Asian International Food Industry Exhibition “FoodExpo Qazaqstan 2023” in Almaty.

For the Altai Territory, Kazakhstan is the main foreign trade partner in the agricultural sector. Over the five years, starting in 2018, the export of Altai agricultural products and food to the neighboring state has increased almost sixfold. Vegetables, fruits, fish, confectionery, and canned food are supplied from Kazakhstan to the Altai Territory. This year our trade turnover continues to grow.

Tyumen region

The development and strengthening of trade ties and business contacts with enterprises of a neighboring state is one of the priorities of the Tyumen region.

The region has concluded six cooperation agreements with the akimats of Kazakhstan. Mutual visits are organized.

Kazakhstan is the main foreign trade partner of the Tyumen region among the CIS countries; over the nine months of 2023, trade turnover increased by almost one and a half times. According to the region's governor, Alexander Moor, there is room for further growth.

The government of the Tyumen region pays special attention to the development of cross-border cooperation. The Kazanskoye automobile cargo and passenger multilateral checkpoint operates in the region.


Tatyana Ryazapova
Photo: https://cis.minsk.by/news/23497/rossija_i_kazahstan_sotrudnichestvo_rasshirjaetsja