Russia - Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies ...

Table G: Cooperation with CIS countries
Turnover,
thousands USD
2005
(January-
November)
2004
Russia 499
2003
2002
Kazakhstan 294822,1 305900,0 173837,1 107154,7 190146,3
Ukraine 161309,4 173733,9 100711,4 78438,1 30640,1
2001
Uzbekistan 78283,5 75319,1 50722,9 29798,4 44920,9
Belarus 51317,9
(January-
October)
43825,1 39939,9 44672,0 36204,3
Tajikistan 26898,0 19726,0 17659,7 8355,6 11024,7
Kyrgyzstan 23135,5 38376,2 17498,4 10717,3 12521,3
Altai-Kazakhstan
In September 1990 the legislature of the Russian Altai region established a
free economic zone to link Altai province and what became the Altai
Republic with the world economy. The goal was to develop mining and
build up new industrial enterprises in close cooperation with external
partners. However, legal and organizational uncertainty and a new
Russian customs law in 1991 alienated foreign investors. Only in the late
1990s did a more progressive format for foreign trade emerge with a new
department of foreign economic ties and new internationally oriented
business, both looking mainly to Asia. 36 Kazakhstan is now the main
trade partner of Russia’s Altai province, with 30% of the total turnover.
36 Distinctive patterns of external cooperation and integration are being introduced
on the sub-regional level, within the so called Greater Altai area. See below.