Trade between Russia and CIS states to hit $100 billion – Putin

Trade between Russia and the other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will amount to $100 billion by the end of 2022, according Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The CIS, formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, has nine members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The countries together cover an area of 20 million square km in Eurasia, with an estimated population of 240 million.

The Russian leader, speaking at a traditional informal meeting of CIS leaders in St. Petersburg on Monday, said all members of the organization are committed to further developing cooperation, which reflects the fundamental interests of each country.