You're reading: Poroshenko says launch of EU-Ukraine FTA and Kazakhstan’s membership in WTO to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov during a meeting in Astana on Thursday welcomed the completion of the talks on the accession of Kazakhstan to the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to the official website of the Ukrainian president.

“The launch of FTA between Ukraine and the EU on January 1, 2016, as well as Kazakhstan’s membership in the WTO will provide additional opportunities for the strengthening of trade-economic cooperation between our countries,” Poroshenko stressed.

The parties exchanged experience in the implementation of reforms in their countries.

Poroshenko and Massimov discussed a series of infrastructure projects that may involve Ukrainian producers, in particular projects in construction, mechanical engineering, oil and gas and agriculture industries.

The parties also discussed diversification of gas supply to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president’s press service reported citing data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine that in the first half of 2015 the trade volume between Ukraine and Kazakhstan totaled $544.1 million, while Ukraine’s trade surplus amounted to $237 million.