China and Russia jointly invested $61 billion in the countries of Central Asia. This was stated by the ex-Secretary General of the SCO (2016-2018) Rashid Alimov, speaking online at the session of the VII Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) “The role of the SCO in a changing world”.
These two countries are the largest trading partners of the Central Asian countries.
At the same time, almost 1,200 Iranian companies play a significant role in the development of the economy of Central Asia.
“It is expected that Iran’s trade with the countries of the region will increase significantly after Iran’s full participation in the SCO,” Alimov said.
At the same time, the volume of mutual trade between the SCO countries is only 10% of the total foreign trade turnover of these countries, which is $7.5 trillion. “Although, it is worth noting that compared to 2017, the volume of foreign trade between the SCO countries increased by almost 32%,” Alimov said.
In his opinion, all Central Asian countries have made a significant contribution to this process, primarily Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, whose trade with partners in the organization accounts for 75% and 67% of trade, respectively. The expert also noted the growth in trade between the countries of Central Asia, according to him, over the past five years, this figure has amounted to a record 77%.
Alimov added that economic cooperation with partners in the SCO contributes to the development of Central Asian countries in the field of energy and industry, Alimov said.
This is especially important because the SCO member countries are at different stages of industrial development, and similar interests and well-established interaction should help other countries get closer to the leaders – China, Russia and India. “Supplementing each other’s efforts and taking the best from each other – this is the manifestation of the “Shanghai spirit,” Alimov summed up.
Summit of the SCO is to be held in Samarkand on September 15-17. And most likely there Iran will be given full rights to be member of the SCO.
Photo: Xinhua
inozPRESS.kg,
Sept. 7, 2022