First year of the Customs Union - turnover increases 40%

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan increased their turnover by 40% in the

first year of being in the Customs Union. This information was

given in the report of the Chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina

Matvienko, presented at the forum "Eurasian integration in the XXI

Century."

The next step in deepening economic integration between the three

countries is the entry into force of the free trade zone. "Russia, of

course, would welcome other countries joining the union. Currently,

negotiations are under way with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and

Uzbekistan," the deputy chairman of the Federation Council

Ilyas Umakhanov said,  RIA Novosti reports.

The report says that Russia's accession to the WTO is also a critical

step in the deepening of economic integration. "We hope that in 2013,

Kazakhstan and Belarus will join the WTO," Umakhanov said.

According to the report, the establishment of a Eurasian parliament

may be the next important step in the integration of Eurasia.