Economy, Foreign Trade

In recent years, Kazakhstan has become more integrated into the world economy. Foreign investment has increased, especially in the oil and natural-gas sectors. In 1994 Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan established a free-trade zone between the two countries, and Kyrgyzstan soon joined the agreement. In the same year, Kazakhhstan signed a partnership accord that established economic contacts with the European Union (EU). In 1996, seeking closer economic integration with Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, the country approved an agreement on a common market and customs union. In 2000 exports earned $9.1 billion and imports cost $5.1 billion.