Russia's trade with Kazakhstan and Belarus amounted to almost $60 billion in 2014

Astana. March 20. Silkroadnews - Russia's trade with Kazakhstan and Belarus amounted to almost $60 billion at the end of 2014, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The combined GDP of the three countries makes up 85% of GDP of the CIS. Forms a large market with huge industrial and scientific potential. Russia takes first place in the foreign trade of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Last year, the Russian trade with these two countries amounted to almost $60 billion. For its part, Belarus and Kazakhstan together rank third in the trade balance of the Russian Federation", - quotes KazTAG Putin after the trilateral meeting of the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus in Astana on Friday.
"Expanding investment cooperation: the volume of Russian investments in the economy of Belarus and Kazakhstan reached $18 billion. In turn, Belarus and Kazakhstan have invested in our economy about $10 billion, created and operates more than 7 thousand joint ventures",- he added.
According to him, developed joint projects in engineering, strengthened ties with the space industry, implemented a roadmap for joint use of the cosmodrome "Baikonur" for 2014-2016 years.
"Closely intertwined energy industries of our states. We are working in the field of production, transportation and processing of hydrocarbons. Russia is helping Kazakh and Belarusian friends in nuclear power. "Rosatom" is building a nuclear power plant in Belarus, investments amount to 10 billion dollars, and the first unit will be launched in 2018. "Rosatom" is also working on a project to build the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, and having a joint production of uranium",- Putin said