ASSESSMENT OF THE INTERACTION OF THE BORDER TERRITORIES OF THE SUBJECTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AS COUNTRIES OF THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION

Abstract

Relevance of the topic. The role of border zones of the Russian Federation has changed significantly as a result of historical processes associated with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the strengthening of the regional nature of governance and the transition to a market economy. These events have formed new problems and prospects for regions located near the borders. Both old and new border territories, being full-fledged subjects of the federation, began to actively interact with neighboring regions and use their potential within the border zone. Recognizing the importance of such territories for economic growth, maintaining territorial integrity and ensuring national security, the state rightly made them the object of its regional policy. This contributed to an increase in the number of scientific studies aimed at studying the issues of their sustainable development and integration. Goal. To assess the interaction of border territories of the subjects of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan as countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. Methodology. The main methods of scientific knowledge were: economic and geographical analysis, cluster analysis, historical and institutional analysis. The information base of the study is based on the analysis of scientific works of authoritative Russian and foreign scientists and practitioners, the problems of which are the issues of theory and methodology of spatial development of territories, and also contain provisions, approaches and concepts that have become generally accepted in modern economic science and in regional economics. Results and conclusions. Border areas are located near the border of neighboring states, which creates favorable conditions for international relations, trade relations and cultural exchanges. The border between Russia and Kazakhstan is the longest continuous land border in the world, representing a unique case of a transparent border dividing two countries. The potential of this border zone for contacts and barrier functions depends on its natural conditions, infrastructure and demographic situation. The basis of economic cooperation is the revival of production and technological chains that were formed in Soviet times, many of which are related to the processing of Kazakh resources at Russian enterprises. Russian regions operating under this model demonstrate the highest volumes of trade with Kazakhstan and have made significant progress in developing the legal basis for cross-border partnership. However, the effectiveness of this cooperation is hampered by a number of problems, including narrow specialization, economic difficulties, lack of financial capacity for large investment projects, weak interaction between the parties and excessive centralization that limits local initiatives. Application. The sphere of regional economic cooperation.