President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the 19th Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is also participating, stated that the two countries should not compete in the EAEU fertilizer market, Zakon.kz reports.
According to Tokayev, a significant problem for Kazakhstan is the insufficient use of mineral fertilizers in agriculture. In Kazakhstan, only 25% of the scientifically substantiated demand is produced, while in Russia, it is three times more.
"It is necessary to critically acknowledge that for such key crops as potatoes, sugar beets, the share of domestic breeding in Kazakhstan does not reach even 10%. The current situation needs to be urgently corrected. In this regard, Kazakhstan is developing a comprehensive plan for the development of breeding and seed production until 2028. (...) For most crops, the yield in Kazakhstan is significantly lower than in other advanced agricultural states. Russia is one of the world's largest exporters of organic fertilizers," says Tokayev.
Due to the reorientation of the sales market, the import of Russian fertilizers into Kazakhstan has significantly increased, with corresponding consequences for Kazakhstani enterprises.
"I believe that our countries should not compete with each other in the EAEU internal market. We need to jointly find ways to increase the availability of fertilizers for our farmers and enter external markets. A good example exists – it is the construction in Kazakhstan, jointly with Uralhim, of a plant for the production of mineral fertilizers with a capacity of four million tons," Tokayev said.
He emphasized the importance of the chemical industry providing farmers of both countries with quality fertilizers in full and at an affordable price.
"Kazakhstan adheres to the position that, for the strengthening of global food security, food, fertilizers, and seeds should be exempt from the effects of international sanctions," according to the President of Kazakhstan.
Tokayev also noted that the construction of a Kazakhstani-Russian plant for the production of butadiene with a capacity of up to 340 thousand tons per year with Tatneft has begun. Negotiations on the construction of a plant producing polyethylene have been completed. Since 2019, the joint action program in the field of industrial cooperation has been successfully operating. Under this program, 30 projects worth $3.2 billion have already been implemented. Another 60 projects with a total value of over $27 billion are in the stage of implementation and elaboration.
President Vladimir Putin arrived in Akorda to participate in the work of the 19th Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia. The presidents are participating in the work of the 19th Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia, held in Kostanay, via video conference.
Putin's plane landed early in the morning on November 9, 2023, at the Astana airport. He was personally met by President Tokayev at the airport.
As reported earlier, during the visit, negotiations between the leaders of the two countries are planned, during which current issues of Kazakhstani-Russian strategic partnership will be discussed.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 9, 2023