Kazakhstan and Austria agreed on freight transportation

Kazakhstan and Austria have agreed on freight transportation. The governments of the two countries have signed an agreement on international freight transportation, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the press-service of Kazakhstan Minister of Transport and Communications. “The document’s provisions are aimed at regulation of freight transportation processes between Kazakhstan and Austria, transit via their territories, as well as freight transportation flows to and from the third countries on permit basis. The agreement also provides for creation of a joint commission consisting of representatives of competent authorities of both countries to work out suggestions for further development of car transportation between the two countries and discussion of the current issues. The number of permits for freights transportation, types of transportation and special requirements to freight vehicles will be approved during the commission’s meetings or via correspondence,” the Ministry’s press-service writes. Signing of this agreement will also allow to further develop Kazakhstan-Austrian trade and economic cooperation. According to the government’s press-service, Austria is among Kazakhstan’s leading trade partners: it was ranked 7th after China, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Ukraine in 2011. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is the third biggest trade partner of Austria among CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries. The volume of transportation between Kazakhstan and Austria made 3 thousand tons in 2009, 4.7 thousand tons in 2010 and around 8 thousand tons in 2011.