Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin participated in the opening of the business forum "Kazakhstan - Afghanistan", held in Almaty.

Between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan has great potential for the development of co-operation in the field of trade. In particular, in expanding exports of grain and flour to Afghanistan and imports of Afghan fruits, vegetables, dried fruits and other food products. In addition, Kazakhstan is interested in the economic development of Afghanistan and the country's accession to international transport corridors. According to the results of the first half of 2024, the volume of transit road transport from Afghanistan through Kazakhstan increased by 8%, amounting to more than 5,000 tonnes. Last year, more than 10,000 tonnes transited.

"There is a railway corridor between our countries through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. We are interested in transit of our export cargo through the Trans-Afghan corridor. Through the seaports of Pakistan (Karachi, Gwadar), the markets of the Middle East, South-East Asia, Indian Ocean are opening for us," Zhumangarin emphasised during his welcoming speech.

The Afghan side, for the purpose of unimpeded transit of Afghan goods to China through the territory of Kazakhstan, was offered to use the dry port ‘Khorgos Gateway’ for the construction of a logistics hub and chartering of containers and vehicles.

In addition, Serik Zhumangarin and Afghan Minister of Trade and Industry Nuriddin Azizi signed a roadmap to achieve mutual trade turnover of up to $3 billion. The document defines areas of cooperation in trade and industry, banking, mining and metallurgy, humanitarian and social spheres, energy sector, transport and logistics, digitalisation, tourism and other sectors.

In particular, Kazakhstan's participation in the project of construction of Afghanistan's railways "Turgundi - Herat - Kandahar - Spin Boldak" and "Mazar-e-Sharif - Kharlachi", expansion of the range of goods in mutual trade of the two countries, development of bilateral cooperation in the chemical industry and increase in exports of Kazakhstan-made ammophos, negotiations on the supply of new and used domestic cars with the subsequent localisation of dealerships for their servicing in Afghanistan, the possibility of building schools and others are also included in the agreement.

#Serik Zhumangarin #Trade and economic cooperation