OREANDA-NEWS. April 8, 2008. According to Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2007, Asian Development Bank forecast leading positions for Azerbaijan in the region of its operations on consumer export growth rate.

The Bank says that this year overall growth of export from the countries of the ADB operations region will total 13.1% and in 2009 – 13.3% against 17.1% in 2007. Rise of export from the Central Asia region, including Azerbaijan, is forecasted to be 29.1% in 2008 and 16.6% in 2009 versus 27.5% in 2007.

“Increase of export from Azerbaijan that reached 46.6% in 2007 is expected to be 61.3% in 2008 and 3.5% in 2009. As a result, Azerbaijan will become the leader on this indicator in the regions of Bank’s operations,” the Bank said.

Only Kyrgyzstan (56% in 2008 and 31.8% in 2009), Bhutan (33.9% and 9% respectively) and Kazakhstan (20.2% and 23.2%) will be closer to Azerbaijan on this indicator.

“In 2008 growth of import by the ADB operations region will make 14.4% and 15.2% in 2009 against 15.9% in 2007,” the Bank emphasized.

Rise of import by the Central Asian region is forecasted to be 14.8% in 2008 and 21% in 2009 against 33.5% in 2007.

“Increase of imports in Azerbaijan that totaled 5.2% last year is expected at the level of 14.7% this year and 11.4% next year.

The leaders on this indicator in the region will become Indonesia (62.7% in 2008 and 12.5% in 2009) and Thailand (23.5% and 23% respectively).

“Azerbaijan’s trade balance surplus that was \\$10.155 bn in 2007 is forecasted to be \\$24.425 bn in 2008 and \\$24.78 bn in 2009. As a result, the country will be the leader on this indicator in the region of Central Asia and will surpass Kazakhstan.

Trade balance net surplus of Kazakhstan made \\$15.163 bn last year and is expected to reach \\$19.781 bn in 2008 and \\$23.627 bn in 2009.

China was the absolute leader on trade surplus in the ADB region (\\$316.567 bn in 2007) and will remain the leader this and next year (\\$367.692 bn in 2008 and \\$412.22 bn in 2009).