ASTANA, November 9. /TASS/. Moscow is already Astana’s largest supplier of many products and intends to continue such cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Russia is a key supplier to Kazakhstan of such product groups as wheat - 98% of imports, barley - the same amount, poultry meat - 80-90%, sugar - up to 70%, fermented milk products - 60-70%," he said.

Putin stated that bilateral trade turnover of agricultural products and food in 2022 rose by 22% to $4 billion and then added another 3% in the first seven months of 2023. "Our country intends to continue to uninterruptedly supply the market of Kazakhstan with these and many other vital, necessary types of food - in accordance with the needs of our colleagues and friends in Kazakhstan," he said.

According to the president, bilateral trade and investment exchanges in the agricultural sector are growing rapidly. Agriculture, he added, is the foundation of a robust economy and is of great interest to both Moscow and Astana. "The development of bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector is one of the priorities of both Russian and Kazakh economic policies," Putin said.

According to him, it is important that relevant Russian ministries and regional authorities, together with their Kazakh counterparts, take measures to integrate information systems for veterinary and phytosanitary certification in order to ensure full traceability of goods transported across the border and facilitate their access to the markets of both countries.

Putin also noted that Russia is helping Kazakh farmers obtain essential fertilizers. He noted that Kazakhstan, with Russia's help, is home to one of the largest industries producing phosphorus fertilizers in the CIS and even in Europe. "Another similar chemical complex with a production capacity of up to 1 million tons of products is under construction," Putin said.

He also noted that Russia and Kazakhstan in the current conditions can meet their needs in the agricultural sector and will continue to help their partner countries.