Caspian food hub will provide opportunities for farmers

During the Sixth Caspian Summit, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev suggested creating a Caspian food hub which would allow an increase of mutual trade turnover with minimum costs, World of NAN reports referring to Akorda.

Following the results of five months of this year, the volume of transportation of Kazakh cargo through the trans-Caspian route has increased by 2,5 times and the total cargo turnover with the Caspian countries increased by more than 9%.

"In order to increase the volume of cargo flows by sea, we have started modernizing its port infrastructure and expanding the maritime fleet. I believe we have to jointly and promptly solve urgent organizational issues," noted the Head of State.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the issue of strengthening food security in the region. He said that last year the volume of mutual trade in food between Kazakhstan and the Caspian countries amounted to about $3.5 billion, of which about 70% was with Russia via the overland route.

"It is encouraging that there is a significant increase in the trade turnover of Kazakhstan with Azerbaijan - 2.3 times, with Iran and Turkmenistan - 2 times. Our export of high-quality wheat (about 5 million tons) and food flour (about 1.5 million tons) takes a significant share here. At the same time, we have reserves for oilseeds in the amount of more than 1 million tons. In addition, Kazakhstan has significant potential to increase exports of meat and dairy products. In order to strengthen trade cooperation between our states, we have to sequentially develop modern logistics infrastructure. Therefore, we propose to create a Caspian food hub, which will allow increasing mutual trade turnover with minimal costs, "- said the President of Kazakhstan.

He said that the construction of modern wholesale and distribution centers with a technologically advanced system of warehousing, storage and sale of food products has begun in Kazakhstan.

"The system integration of these centers with the Caspian food hub will create new opportunities for effective cooperation of farmers, buyers, carriers, sellers and consumers. And, most importantly, it will provide reliable guarantees for the sale of all products supplied," Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes.

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