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Georgian external trade turnover reached $3.8 billion in January-March 2022 (up 37.9 percent).
According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, the top trading partners of Georgia in its total external trade turnover in January-March 2022 were Turkey ($562.4 million), China ($461.9 million) and Russia ($383.3 million).
In the reported period Georgia’s exported the most to China ($220 million), Azerbaijan ($125.4 million) and Russia ($109.8 million), and imported the most from Turkey ($463.2 million), Russia ($273.5 million) and China ($241.9 million).
Copper ores and concentrates – $271 million (+71), ferro-alloys – $160 million (+91.3) and motor cars – $94.8 million (+9.6%) were the top export items.
Petroleum and petroleum oils – $244 million (+71.6), copper ores and concentrates – $222 million (+52.6%) and motor cars – $211 million (+7.1%) were the three top import commodities.
Georgian external trade turnover reached $3.8 billion in Q1 2022 (an increase of 37.9 percent).
The rise of the value of exports amounted to 43.3 percent and reached $1.1 billion in the reported period, while imports also showed an increase by 35.7 percent, reaching $2.6 billion.
A measure of the negative balance of trade in which imports exceed exports (trade deficit) amounted to $1.5 billion, while the share of trade turnover reached 39.4 percent.

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According to Akorda press service, the meeting focused on the issues of mutually beneficial cooperation between Kazakh regions and the Omsk Region in trade, mechanical engineering, transport, agriculture, was held. President Tokayev said that productive interregional cooperation had a positive influence on mutual trade indicators. According to the President, great attention is paid to the development of interregional cooperation with the Omsk Region. As a result, trade turnover between the Omsk Region and Kazakhstan exceeded $380mln. Kazakhstan is its most important trade partner. A significant fact is that Kazakhs reside in this border region. the Kazakh diaspora in the Omsk land was called by the Head of State a connecting link and, thanks to Alexander Burkov’s special attention and all-round support to it, it preserves a spiritual link with the historic Homeland. The President also thanked the administration and residents of the Omsk Region for perpetuating the memory of the great sons of the Kazakh people Shokan Valikhanov and Saken Seifullin. The Governor Alexander Burkov told in his turn that the region is ready to cooperate with Kazakh companies in the agro-industrial complex, food production, petrochemistry, and construction.

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The Chamber of Commerce and Industry informs that the main categories of products that can be exported to the Iranian market (corn, flower seeds sunflower oil, sunflower oil, dried fruit) were identified after a meeting between CCI head Sergiu Harea and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Moldova Manouchehr Moradi.
According to the Iranian Ambassador, the Qazvin Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mining in Iran is interested in a meeting with CCI representatives in order to familiarize them with the economic and investment potential of the Republic of Moldova. They decided to organize a business meeting between the representatives of the chamber institutions of both states.
According to Harea, the economic potential between the two countries has not been fully exploited. He said that the involvement of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Moldova and the desire of the business environment to explore new markets made Moldovan-Iranian trade relations grow recently. The CCI head added that both states had sufficient capabilities and their cooperation could be even better.
A Memorandum of Understanding with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture of Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran was signed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova on January 30, 2018.

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The criteria related to the business reputation, financial condition and professional competence of the operator of international passenger and freight transport by road, and the requirements on the level of training of the operator’s drivers are set out by the rules. The maintaining record of operators by the Land Transport Agency of Azerbaijan under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport is also regulated by them.
The rules set out that legal entities or individuals wishing to be registered as an operator must be registered for tax purposes, have vehicles registered with the state on the right of ownership, use or lease, and meet certain criteria related to business reputation, financial standing and professional competence.
The new rules will increase the competitiveness of national road carriers by improving drivers’ knowledge and skills and management development, leading to an increase in their share of the bilateral and third country transport market, as well as their share of the West–East and North–South international transport corridors.
The application of the requirements of the Quality Charter of International Transport Forum (ITF) (the leading regulatory mechanism in the field of road transport) is one of the objectives of introducing the rules for admission of Azerbaijani road carriers to international passenger and freight transport by road. Relevant requirements for the institution, business reputation, financial stability and professional competence are set out and entities that meet these requirements to transport are admitted by the Quality Charter. This makes organization of road transport operations efficient, the development of the industry sustainable and investment attractiveness increased.
The process of entering into force of the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on the “Rules for admission to international passenger and freight transport by road” will take one year after its publication. Appropriate preparations to maintain records of operators will be made by the Land Transport Agency of Azerbaijan during the year. The service Guide for Carriers will organize meetings with carriers and will provide them with necessary explanations and methodological support.

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The presidential decree promises subsidies to exporters to compensate for expenses, including up to 70% of transportation costs. Young entrepreneurs will get loans.
According to the presidential decree “On additional measures to support participants in foreign trade activities” measures to support and stimulate the export activities of domestic business entities will be strengthened.
For example, from April 1, 2022 until April 1, 2023, subsidies to compensate for transportation costs in the amount of up to 70% are provided to domestic enterprises (their authorized representatives), when exporting high value-added products to the countries of the European Union.
Also from April 1:
ꞏ subsidies are provided to compensate for transportation costs in the amount of up to 50% when exporting high value-added products to neighboring countries;
ꞏ the Export Promotion Agency reimburses expenses related to the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies by an accreditation body that is a member of international organizations ILAC/IAF;
ꞏ 50% reduction of the amount of prepayment required when business entities export goods (except for special types of goods), works and services on the basis of invoices without concluding an agreement is announced.
The Unified Exporter Support Portal will regularly publish an approved list of high value-added products, the export of which will be provided with subsidies to compensate for transportation costs.
They will also cancel the procedure for prohibiting the use of benefits on customs payments during customs clearance of goods that are in the customs warehouse regime for a period of more than six months.
The Young Entrepreneurs Support Fund based on decisions of the Government Commission will allocate loans up to $500,000 in order to support youth entrepreneurship, including stimulating activities for the production of export-oriented products and the provision of services based on innovative technologies.
The Export Support Fund will allocate $10 million to Uztrade and Uzsanoatexport JSCs in order to provide foreign trade companies with working capital.

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According to Finprom.kz, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China reached $1.4 billion as of January (53.4% up compared to the previous year).
The Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms reports that China’s share is 16.1 percent of the country’s foreign trade turnover.
In the first month of this year exports to China exceeded imports (77.9 % up over the year) and reached $771.7 million. China’s share of total exports from Kazakhstan reached 12.7%.
Imports reached $648.5 million (31.8 % up). It is 23.8 % of the total volume of imports to Kazakhstan.
The National Bank’s statistics informs that the obligations of Kazakh residents to Chinese investors as of Oct. 1, 2021 reached $13.5 billion (0.4 percent growth compared to a year earlier). After a two-year decline this indicator rose slightly.
The majority of finance ($2.8 billion) was allocated to the manufacturing industry in Kazakhstan by investors from China by October 2021. They also made investments in the sphere of transport and warehousing ($2.6 billion), trade and car repair ($2.1 billion).
In January – September 2021 the gross inflow of Chinese direct investments amounted to $1.5 billion. It is 2.9 times more than a year earlier ($521.8 million in January – September 2020).
1,500 companies with Chinese capital operate in the country as of March 1 (increase 17.4% compared to the previous year).
The wholesale, retail trade, car repair, construction and mining industries are the spheres most of these companies are engaged in.

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According to the Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan Kairbek Uskenbayev, export and transit cargos from Kazakhstan will be redirected to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM) crossing Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, Uskenbayev said that Kazakhstan had reached an agreement with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to create a joint venture on the route as an integrated transport and logistics company.
The Kazakh official said that a container hub on the basis of the free economic zone seaport of Aktau is to be created in order to develop cargo transportation via TMTM.
Kazakhstan has begun working on alternate routes for the transportation of export and transit cargos, along with the authorities’ decision to redirect the freight to Latvian ports due to the war in Ukraine and sanctions imposed against Russia.
The aim of the TMTM, established in October 2016, is to attract transit and foreign trade cargo, as well as develop integrated logistics products via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which runs through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and further to European countries.

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An online trade facilitation tool (ITC-WCO Rules of Origin Facilitator) has been launched by Customs Service. It identifies the information related to trade agreements, customs duties applicable according to the final destination, rules of origin specific to each product and information on certificates of origin. The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the International Trade Center (ITC) launched this online search system.
This tool gives economic operators involved in international trade the opportunity to consult information on rules of origin, price and competitiveness of manufactured products. It helps companies to make the decisions on investment and to identify raw material suppliers.
The country of origin of goods is determined with the help of Rules of origin. Preferential tariff treatment consisting of relief or reduction of customs duty may be applied to their importation depending on the origin of the goods.
This online search system is free and available at the following link: www.findrulesoforigin.org.

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Central Asia has been identified as a new market for expansion and Kazakhstan as a regional hub for Malaysian exporters by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).
According to CEO of MATRADE Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, the agency is planning to strengthen the groundwork in Central Asia, mainly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and facilitate more connections between Malaysian exporters and buyers in these countries.
Kazakhstan and Central Asia could offer each other a lot of products and services.
Speaking about oil and gas and aerospace areas, Abdul Aziz said that Kazakhstan could contribute a lot to the bilateral trade relationships between both countries. From the other side, halal products (food and beverages, cosmetics and Islamic finance) have high potential for export to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Electrical and electronic, rubber, agricultures, palm oil-based manufactures and palm oil-based agricultural products were Malaysia’s top five export products in 2021. They totaled $88.5 billion and accounted for 85.7 percent of the country’s total export to Kazakhstan.
Malaysia imported from Kazakhstan mainly metal manufactures, transport equipment, chemicals and chemical products, machinery, equipment and parts as well as refined petroleum products (totally $10.8 billion).
According to Abdul Aziz, Kazakhstan can become the central distribution hub for Malaysian palm oil and other products in Central Asia.
He said that it was important to look again at the opportunities available in Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region. The closure of borders in Malaysia made it impossible to undertake trade relation opportunities in that region. He added that it was necessary to be really aggressive in making Malaysia’s presence felt and heard in Kazakhstan.
MATRADE is planning to use the upcoming Kazakhstan International Building and Exhibition (KazBuild) and Kazakhstan International Oil & Gas Exhibition (KIOGE) in September 2022 as part of its strategy to explore opportunities in Central Asia.
Export missions to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in November 2022 are also planned by the Malaysian national trade promotion agency.
This way, interest from Malaysian companies to further exploration of those regions was demonstrated. MATRADE should ensure that the right companies are brought, so that they will be matched perfectly with their potential partners in both countries.
A full-fledge trade office in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2015 and a marketing office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2010 have been established by MATRADE in order to facilitate market access for Malaysia products and services in Central Asia.
Kazakh and Uzbek business communities who are keen to source from Malaysia have access to the offices. Kazakhstan’s private sector is also encouraged by MATRADE to leverage Malaysia as a strategic hub to source or distribute their products and services in ASEAN.
In 2021 Kazakhstan was Malaysia’s largest trading partner, export destination and source of imports in the Central Asia region (the 94th largest trading partner).
According to Abdul Aziz, in 2021 Malaysia’s total trade with Kazakhstan was 7.7 times higher than the total trade recorded over the past 20 years since the two countries established their bilateral relationship and totally valued at $99.3 million.
He said that the trade trends for the past 20 years had shown that trade linkages between both countries were in line with their initiatives to boost their trades with the Central Asia region, particularly with Kazakhstan.
The 30th Kazakhstan and Malaysia diplomatic relations anniversary is celebrated this month, and when the pandemic-related restrictions are lifted, high-level visits between both countries are likely to be organized to further strengthen their political, economic, and people-to-people ties.

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According to the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan and Slovakia decided to increase cooperation in water management, automotive industry, waste recycling and green technology. The ninth meeting of the Kazakh- Slovak intergovernmental commission on economic and scientific and technical cooperation was held on the 11th of March in Bratislava.
Kazakh students are expected to be trained at Slovak universities. The event was attended by Karol Galek, the second State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Slovak investors. Kazakh delegation was represented by Talgat Momyshev, the Vice-Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan.
The proposition of the Kazakh officials was to strengthen cooperation in management and monitoring of forestry, environmental control, construction and production of building materials, and to launch the transit container traffic.
During the event Kazakh delegation presented new measures and government policy in the field of investment support, opportunities of special economic and industrial zones, as well as the country’s potential in the field of mechanical engineering and metallurgy.
According to the Slovak authorities, a favorable investment climate was created by the fact that Kazakhstan opened the door for foreign investment and that the government promised to fulfill all obligations to investors.
The agenda of the meeting contained cooperation in all sectors of industry, including trade, energy, aviation, innovations and modern technologies.
After the meeting, the memorandum of understanding was signed by Talgat Mukhanov, the head of department of the Investment Committee and Osim Mamatkulov, who represented the Slovak company Heneken. The majority of secondary aluminum and zinc alloys in Slovakia is produced by Heneken, the largest company of the country, specializing in metallurgy, logistics, machinery, building materials and energy. An aluminum smelter, a cable factory and a zinc alloys factory are also included in the group.

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