Astana: Trade turnover within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is expected to exceed $100 billion this year, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Friday. Speaking at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, Tokayev highlighted that mutual trade among EAEU member states surpassed $95 billion in 2025 despite global market instability and volatility. He stated that trade within the bloc is projected to grow by more than 6% this year.
According to Anadolu Agency, Tokayev also noted that the EAEU's combined GDP is forecast to grow by around 2.5% in 2026-2027. Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked at the summit that the EAEU continues to attract international attention, with countries and regional organizations showing interest in expanding cooperation with the bloc. Putin mentioned that negotiations on trade liberalization between the EAEU and India had intensified, and agreements had already been signed last year with Mongolia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko urged member states to implement the 'Eurasian Economic Path' development plan fully, warning against delays or citing 'objective reasons.' He emphasized the union's role in overcoming risks and difficulties and cautioned against the potential misuse of artificial intelligence.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov spoke about the opportunities new trade agreements between the EAEU and foreign partners could bring, emphasizing the importance of these agreements in simplifying procedures and accelerating the movement of goods to make markets more accessible. Meanwhile, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan reaffirmed Armenia's commitment to the EAEU, while navigating its ties with the EU and the debate over the compatibility of Armenia's membership in both economic blocs.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov informed reporters that the leaders of four EAEU countries adopted a joint statement and handed it to Grigoryan, reflecting the ongoing collaboration and strategic dialogue within the union.