This became known during a meeting of the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliev with his First Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Kazim Niaz.

The parties discussed topical issues and prospects for Kazakh-Pakistani cooperation, including further increase in bilateral trade, investment attraction, use of transit and transport potential.

As Arman Shakkaliyev noted, Pakistan is an important trading partner of Kazakhstan.

"Kazakhstan has great opportunities to export processed products with high added value. These are products of petrochemical, metallurgical, food, chemical, machine-building, pharmaceutical industries, as well as transport vehicles. In total, this is 40 processed goods worth $21.5 million," said Arman Shakkaliyev.

The Minister of Trade and Integration emphasised that the ports of Pakistan - Gwadar, Karachi, Qasim are of great interest to Kazakhstan both from the position of promoting exports to the markets of Pakistan and South Asia, and from the position of increasing the attractiveness of the transit potential of our countries in terms of access to the markets of the Persian Gulf and East Africa.

Today there is a possibility of mutual deliveries by land routes through the territories of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, and with the use of sea ports through the North-South corridor, the territory of Iran or through China. Another direction of transport may go through the Karakoram Highway through the territories of Kyrgyzstan, China and further to Pakistan.

Pakistan is ready to export seafood, construction materials, sports equipment, textiles and agricultural products to Kazakhstan, First Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Kazim Niaz said.

Kazim Niaz invited Kazakhstani business to assess investment opportunities of Pakistan and noted the interest of his country in foreign investment.

The parties also discussed the progress of agreement of the draft Roadmap on trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Pakistan and agreed to sign it next year.

Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Pakistan in January-October 2023 totalled $38.7 million. THE TRADE TURNOVER BETWEEN KAZAKHSTAN AND PAKISTAN IN JANUARY-OCTOBER 2023 TOTALLED $38.7M.

Kazakhstan exports to Pakistan mainly dried leguminous vegetables, oats, onions, garlic, flax seeds, buckwheat, millet and other cereal grains.

The main goods of Pakistani imports are citrus fruits, potatoes, medicines, clothing and others.