Vladimir Putin will make two official visits to Kazakhstan on May 9-10 and 12-15 and a working trip to Turkmenistan May 10-12, where Russia's relations with the two republics will be discussed, Vitaly Savelyev said.
"The major objective of the visits will be to discuss economic ties, which have been developing slowly of late," Savelyev said.
Agreements to establish an international uranium enrichment center and trade missions will be signed during Putin's visit to Kazakhstan.
There are plans to open an international uranium enrichment center in Angarsk, the Irkutsk Region in West Siberia. Sergei Ivanov, a Russian first deputy prime minister, said earlier that the center in Angarsk would pave the way for implementing Putin's initiative to establish a global infrastructure for international uranium enrichment centers.
Russia and Kazakhstan are also expected to sign an intergovernmental agreement to open trade missions, a Kazakh in Kazan and a Russian in Almaty. The Kazakh and Russian leaders will also discuss bilateral economic cooperation in fuel and energy, nuclear energy and transport and sign seven contracts, including agreements to expand the Kazakh gas transportation system.
In Turkmenistan a number of agreements will be signed to kick start the Russian-Turkmen intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation. The commission held its only session in 2002, when it discussed Turkmen gas supplies to Russia.
The Russian deputy economics minister said Kazakhstan was ranked 14th for trade with Russia, while Turkmenistan holds 70th-72nd place. Last year Russian-Turkmen trade stood at $307 million, while Russia's trade with Kazakhstan has increased three-fold in the past five years, to $12.8 million in 2006. Minerals account for 27% of Russian exports to Kazakhstan, machinery and vehicles 27%, and metals and metal products for 16%, while Russia mostly imports (49.5%) and chemicals (about 20%).
Latest reports said Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus could establish a customs union as soon as Russia and Kazakhstan join the WTO.
