Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan plan to start building a new grain terminal in Azerbaijan with a capacity to handle 300,000 tonnes of cereals per year, the Kazakh ambassador to Azerbaijan told reporters on Thursday.
"In the first half of September representatives of (Kazakh state-run) Food Contract Corporation, which will be the operator of the project, will come to Baku to discuss the project estimated at $10 million," said Andar Shukputov. "Construction is expected to start in 2006."
He said the terminal to be built on the Caspian Sea would be used for shipments of Kazakh grain to Azerbaijan and for re-exports to other countries.
Azerbaijan produces around 2.2 million tonnes of grain per year but consumes around 3 million.
Kazakhstan is the main grain exporter to Azerbaijan, followed by Russia and Ukraine. The ex-Soviet republic of Moldova is expected to joint that group of suppliers in the nearest future.