Joint Afghanistan-Kazakhstan Exhibition Held in Kabul

The third Kazakh-Afghan Business Forum and a joint exhibition showcasing products from Kazakhstan and Afghanistan were held in Kabul.

The acting Minister of Industry and Commerce described Kazakhstan as a friend of Afghanistan and emphasized the need to increase trade between Kabul and Astana.

Nooruddin Azizi said during the program that efforts are underway to expand agreements between the private sectors and governments of both countries. He also mentioned that the Islamic Emirate is working on establishing trade centers in the cities of Kabul and Almaty.

Azizi also described Kazakhstan as an ideal transit bridge for the transport of Afghan goods to Russia and China, while noting that Afghanistan serves as a key transit hub for goods from Central and South Asia.

Nooruddin Azizi, acting Minister of Industry and Commerce: “Alhamdulillah, we already have sufficient imports from Kazakhstan and we intend to increase them further. We also aim to balance our trade by enhancing exports as well.”

The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan announced during the program that his country is ready to implement joint infrastructure and production projects with Afghanistan in areas such as food processing, textiles, and agriculture. He stressed that Kazakhstan will also continue its humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in various sectors.

Serik Jumanğarin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade of Kazakhstan: “We see major opportunities in transportation and logistics cooperation. Kazakhstan is interested in constructing and supplying equipment for infrastructure projects such as the Torghundi-Herat and Kandahar-Spin Boldak railways, as well as in developing an intra-Afghan transport corridor connecting east and west.”

Meanwhile, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) highlighted Kazakhstan’s role in Afghanistan’s infrastructure projects and described the third Kazakh-Afghan Business Forum as a milestone in expanding bilateral relations.

“The exchange of expertise and resources at government and expert levels is essential for progress. And you, I guess, rightly stated that Afghanistan can learn from the expertise of its northern neighbors. Central Asian countries have walked a similar path in the past. Numerous projects in Afghanistan, such as development of industrial parks, implementation of building of infrastructures, sustainable development,” said Roza Otunbayeva, Head of UNAMA.

Private sector representatives also expressed their views and demands during the joint forum and exhibition:

Sherbaz Kaminzada, head of the Chamber of Industries and Mines: “Afghans have shown their willingness to import from their neighbors. As an Afghan industrialist, I ask that our neighbors also purchase products made in Afghanistan.”

Mohammad Younus Mohmand, deputy of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment: “We hope regional countries, especially Kazakhstan, will support us regarding Afghanistan’s frozen assets abroad and in the recognition of Afghanistan. I appreciate Kazakhstan’s consistent support and call for continued attention.”

Aminullah Obaid, governor of Kabul: “We invite everyone to invest in Afghanistan. Take advantage of this golden opportunity and the security we offer. Invest your assets here and help create jobs for our people.”

According to statistics, the trade volume between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan in 2024 reached 545 million USD, and both countries aim to increase economic cooperation to raise their trade volume to three billion USD.