Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Customs Union on the rise: Economy Minister

Kazakhstan’s trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the Customs Union member states – Russia and Belarus – grew by 46.2% for the first 9 months of 2011, reaching $17.8 billion, Economy Minister Kairat Kelimbetov said when speaking at a government sitting on Tuesday, Novosti Kazakhstan reports.“For the first 9 months Kazakhstan’s exports to Russia grew by 48%; trade turnover with the Customs Union as a whole grew by 46.2%, with exports increasing by 53.3% and imports increasing by 43%”, Minister Kelimbetov said.He pointed out to strengthening demand for Kazakhstan’s products on the part of the Customs Union member states.In a separate statement Minister Kelimbetov told that the national GDP in January – October 2011 grew by 7.2% as compared to the like period of 2010.