Volume of sales turnover between Russia and Kazakhstan decreased 31% in 1999 down to $2.6 bln - Ministry of trade of Russia

/IRBIS, Feb.15, 00/ - PRIME-TASS informs, with the reference to the public relations department of the Ministry of trade of Russian Federation, that volume of trades between Russia and Kazakhstan decreased 31% relative to last year and 2 times less than in 1995. Kazakhstan was in the eleventh place by trade volumes with Russia, with 2.6% of all trades. Kazakhstan also accounts for 14% /11% exports and 17% imports/ of all trade relations of Russia with CIS countries. Russia, in turn, accounts for 30% of Kazakhstan's external trades. Last year Russian exports to Kazakhstan decreased 36%, at $1.2 bln, and imports fell 26%, at $1.4 bln. Experts of the Ministry of trade of Russia note that reduction in export-import operations touched all items. They believe passing the major exporting companies of Kazakhstan under the management of foreign investors caused the flow of goods to switch to the markets of the third world countries with the purpose of increasing hard currency receipts. It is also said Kazakhstan conducts tariff and tax policy in favor of the third world countries. However, the Ministry of trade of Russia believes the trade between two countries will increase both due to a growth in Russian exports after Kazakhstan removes import restrictions on Russian goods, annuls oil transportation restrictions etc, and due to a growth in imports - increase in supply of grain to Russia, and settlement of matters on supply of coal to Russia. The latter relates to stabilization of "Severnyi" coal mine that belongs to RJSC "EES of Russia" and coordination of railroad tariffs on coal transportation from Kazakhstan to Russia.