President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes that increasing economic cooperation among Central Asian states will become one of the sources of GDP growth in these countries, according to Report, which cites the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper.
In his article titled "The Renaissance of Central Asia: On the Path to Sustainable Development and Prosperity," Tokayev stated, "I am convinced that Central Asian economic cooperation can become, if not the main, then at least one of the key sources of growth for our national economies."
The Kazakh president noted that currently, thanks to the joint efforts of the countries in the region and the powerful economic potential, Central Asia is becoming a space of great opportunities in trade, investment, science, and innovation. "The total territory of our states is 3,882,000 square kilometers, with a population of over 80 million people, and a combined gross domestic product reaching $450 billion. The region holds about 20% of the world's uranium reserves, 17.2% of oil, and 7% of natural gas. In terms of coal production and electricity generation, Central Asia ranks 10th and 19th in the world, respectively," he explained.
According to Tokayev, the complementarity of the economies of the region's countries allows them to ensure their resilience to external shocks and diversify trade and production cycles. "The effective implementation of joint economic projects can contribute to this process," he added.
The Kazakh leader emphasized the importance of technological development in the region's economies, stating, "It is necessary to gradually move away from resource dependence. In this context, digitalization and the creative industry, which encompass media, cinema, music, design, education, and the field of information technology, can become points of economic growth. The countries of the region have good potential for creating joint projects in this direction."