Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Israel is interested in the creation of a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
“Several dozen countries have come up with proposals to sign agreements with the EEU about creating free trade zones. Israel has also expressed such interest. The Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia. Kyrgyzstan will join in a few months,” Lavrov said.
The Russain Foreign Minister emphasized that there is no talk about Israel’s accession to the EEU. Timur Zhaksylykov, deputy minister of economy of Kazakhstan, last week said that more than 30 countries are interested in the creation of a free trade zone with the EEU.
He said that talks on a free trade zone are currently underway with Vietnam, and the EEU member countries are currently engaged in talks with countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein, as well as with New Zealand, Turkey, India, Israel, and Egypt. Almost 10 countries of Latin America are also ready to start negotiations, Zhaksylykov claimed.
The treaty to form EEU went into full effect on January 1, 2015. The population of the union is about 171 million people and its gross domestic product is expected to reach $3 trillion next year.
