The 17th Meeting of the Advisory Council of Chambers of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States Took Place

On December 24, 2024, the 17th meeting of the Advisory Council of Chambers of the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was conducted via videoconference. Assan Zhakishev, Acting Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, chaired the event. Representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia also attended the meeting.

In his opening remarks, Assan Zhakishev stressed the importance of Eurasian integration, noting that the key principle of the EAEU remains to ensure four freedoms: the movement of goods, services, capital, and labor.

“As of today, the EAEU opens unique opportunities for Kazakh entrepreneurs to work on equal terms within the Union. This covers such key sectors as transportation, energy, food, and manufacturing. We need to continue to develop mechanisms that will allow businesses to feel more confident in the single market,” Zhakishev said.

He also emphasized the Union's success in expanding international cooperation, pointing to trade agreements with Vietnam, Iran, Serbia, Singapore, and China. In addition, negotiations are underway with Indonesia, UAE, and Mongolia.

Assan Zhakishev drew attention to the presence of barriers within the Union that hinder business development. According to him, only two out of 24 existing barriers were removed in 2024. He called for more prompt work in this direction, noting that some barriers have remained unresolved since 2018.

The following issues were considered as part of the agenda:

1. Experience of the EAEU chambers in the implementation of programs and special projects. Dmitry Kurochkin, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia, presented successful cases that can be scaled in other countries of the Union.

2. Project Office results. Anastasia Astakhova, the Head of the Project Office, spoke about supporting cooperation and interstate initiatives, emphasizing the practical value of this structure.

3. Development of mechanisms for mutual recognition of electronic signature. Sergey Kiryushkin from Gazinformservice LLC made proposals aimed at simplifying digital interaction between entrepreneurs of the EAEU countries.

4. Transfer of the Chairmanship. In 2025, the chairmanship of the EAEU CCP will pass to the Kyrgyzstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“We see that the potential for cooperation within the EAEU is far from being exhausted. The modern economic world requires integration, and our joint steps should be aimed at creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs. Only together we can overcome challenges and achieve real results,” Zhakishev emphasized.

Summarizing the results, the Chairman thanked the participants for the constructive dialogue and noted that the decisions taken at the meeting create a solid basis for further development of cooperation. The next meeting of the Advisory Council will be held in 2025, the venue and date to be specified.

The meeting was an important step in deepening Eurasian integration and strengthening the position of entrepreneurship in the Union.