According to the country’s economics and trade minister, Zhaksybek Kulekeyev, Kazakhstan’s exports of leather, leather goods and footwear soared by a staggering 450% in the first half of 2001, presumably because of the supply shortages brought about by the European foot and mouth disease crisis. The increase helped the Gross Domestic Product increase by 14% during the same period.

Other big rises were noted in the export of chemicals (up 50%) engineering (up 40%), oil refining equipment (up 360%) and food processing equipment (up 370%).