On January 1, 2021, the Republic of Kazakhstan assumed
its chairmanship in the Eurasian Economic Union's governing bodies.
Following the first five years of our association's
functioning one can safely state that the Eurasian Economic Union has proved
itself to be a successful and attractive integration project.
At the same time, the world today is going through
troubled times. The ongoing volatility of the global economy and financial
markets is worsened by the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It has
brought to light many problems in international relations, and caused to
rethink the established models, principles and tools of economic interaction.
In this context, we, as a Union, should focus on
long-term priorities: maintaining the sustainability of our economic and social
systems, increasing the citizens' well-being, and ensuring the progress of the
EAEU and its Member States.
Efficient and full-fledged implementation of the
Strategic Directions for Developing the Eurasian Economic Integration until
2025 will definitely contribute to achieving these objectives.
In the year of Kazakhstan's chairmanship, we propose
to pay special attention to the following issues.
First, a new impetus should be given to industrial cooperation.
To achieve this objective, we will need to establish
joint ventures in the manufacturing industry, agricultural sector, and
services.
Besides, as implemented, the new joint infrastructure
projects will ensure industrial connectivity and efficient economic interaction
between our countries' economic entities.
In the above spheres of integration interaction, we
should make best use of the Eurasian Development Bank's potential.
Establishing joint ventures and strengthening ties
between the Member States' industries will also give added momentum to
increasing mutual trade and removing barriers in our States' markets.
Meeting these priorities, we need to give new meaning
to the Main Directions for Industrial Cooperation within the EAEU.
Taken together, the above measures will enable
creating conditions for cooperation in manufacturing competitive industrial
goods in the Union's common market and lead to a significant increase in
non-primary exports of all participants of our association.
Second, the elimination of the remaining barriers in mutual trade between our
countries is the unconditional priority.
Businesses rightly expect Governments and the Eurasian
Economic Commission to take decisive actions.
The Eurasian Economic Commission will have to actively
and transparently remove existing trade barriers and prevent new ones from
emerging, ensure the maximum reduction in exceptions and restrictions on the
free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor.
Monitoring and analysis should cover trade barriers at
both the central, regional, and municipal levels. Primary efforts should be
focused on the barriers that have the most negative impact on mutual trade.
National import substitution programs, tasks of
saturating the market with domestic products should be implemented in strict
compliance with the Union's rules of law.
Third, it is essential to comprehensively and fully use the potential of
transboundary transport corridors and logistics hubs.
Efficient cooperation in this area will play a crucial
part in expanding trade and economic ties and establishing trust throughout the
Eurasian continent.
For this purpose, we propose to intensify activities
on developing mutually beneficial joint projects that link the Eurasian
integration association with the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative.
The Eurasian transit route should become the most
attractive and competitive for international trade along the Europe-Asia trade
and transport axis.
We express our firm belief that when implemented, the
project for coupling the Member States' national commodity distribution
systems, which includes the creation of Eurasian wholesale and logistics
centers, will help increase the overall efficiency of the EAEU transport
corridors for both the participating countries' economic entities and foreign
partners.
We propose to make the best use of the potential of
the Khorgos Hub located on the border between the Republic of Kazakhstan and
the People's Republic of China, as well as the capabilities of the emerging
Central Asia International Center for Trade and Economic Cooperation on the
border between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan to the
benefit of all EAEU participants.
Fourth, comprehensive digitalization should become the driving force for
developing the EAEU countries' economies.
It is essential to dramatically accelerate introducing
digital technologies in the industry, agriculture, and transport.
As a matter of priority, we should expand the use of
modern IT solutions in customs regulation, tax administration, veterinary
supervision, and other realms that directly affect the freedom of movement of
goods and services.
It is important to focus on ensuring the successful
operation of the EAEU Integrated Information System. This will enable us to
better arrange our activities related to electronic data exchange.
We believe that the purposeful, active, and equal
involvement of our countries' IT communities in addressing pressing issues on
the digital agenda is in the best interest of the Union.
Fifth, it is necessary to consistently expand access to foreign markets, to more
actively develop trade and economic relations with third countries and
integration associations.
In this light, we find it essential to intensify and
systematize the activities for establishing a dialogue in the EAEU — EU format.
Our cooperation with the European Commission and other EU bodies should be
built on equal, mutually beneficial, and pragmatic terms.
A similar systemic dialogue should be established with
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
We will have to develop an efficient strategy for
interaction with a new trade association — the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP), which accounts for a third of world trade.
The apparatus of the Eurasian Economic Commission must
operate in a concerted and efficient manner to enable implementing these
initiatives in full.
In this respect, we proceed from the need to resolve
the issue of selecting candidates for the Commission's staff based on the
principles of meritocracy, taking into account their professional performance
and qualities, without regard for the States' share participation in financing
the EEC.
During its chairmanship in the EAEU, the Republic of
Kazakhstan intends to actively promote the designated agenda and counts on
constructive support from the partners.
We are convinced that achieving the set objectives
will give a powerful impetus to the economic development of each State and
strengthen the EAEU's potential.
Chairman
of the Supreme Eurasian
Economic Council
K.K. Tokayev