At the start of the Kazakh-Afghan Trade Forum in Kabul, high-ranking officials from Kazakhstan and Afghanistan announced a 32 percent increase in trade between the two countries and set a trade target of $3 billion. They announced the import of Toyota cars from Kazakhstan to the country and Astana’s participation in implementing infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan also welcomed the recent efforts of Central Asian countries to expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan, describing it as a fundamental step towards achieving common regional goals.
Publish dateTuesday 22 April 2025 - 15:46
Story Code : 313581
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): The Kazakh-Afghan Trade Forum, including a business communication conference, bilateral meetings, and an exhibition of Kazakh products, was held today (Tuesday, April 22) at the Afghanistan International Exhibition Center with the participation of high-ranking officials from Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, representatives of international organizations, and more than 400 businessmen and investors from the two countries.
The forum was held with the aim of strengthening economic relations, enhancing trade exchanges, and identifying new opportunities for cooperation between Kabul and Astana.
Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, said at the meeting that economic relations between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan are expanding and this trend can play a decisive role in the economic growth of the two countries.
According to him, the volume of trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan reached $200 million in 1403, with a growth of 32 percent, and targets have been set to increase this figure to $3 billion in the near future.
He announced the establishment of joint trade centers, the import of Toyota brand cars from Kazakhstan, and efforts to balance the trade balance through the export of Afghan goods.
The Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce also pointed to the important role of Kazakhstan as a transit country, saying: “Kazakhstan is a vital route for the transit of goods to Afghanistan, and Afghanistan can also play a role as the shortest route connecting Central Asia to Pakistan and India.”
Azizi also announced the plans of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to hold trade fairs in different countries and said that the purpose of holding these fairs is to facilitate access of Afghan traders to international markets.
This senior official of the Islamic Emirate further added that some individuals are trying to tarnish the image of Kazakh products by importing low-quality wheat. He emphasized that he will prevent such abusive actions in cooperation with relevant institutions.
Kazakhstan; Afghanistan’s key partner in the region
Syrik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, considered Afghanistan one of his country’s key and strategic partners in the region at this forum. He said that more than 25 Kazakh companies have presented their diverse products at this exhibition, which indicates the country’s serious desire to expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
According to Zhumangarin, despite a 14.3 percent decline in the volume of trade between the two countries in 2024 to $545.2 million, Kazakhstan still has a goal of achieving $3 billion in bilateral trade.
He also emphasized his country’s readiness to export grain, medicine, construction materials, and participate in joint projects in the food industry, textiles, railways, and digital infrastructure.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan emphasized that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan can be a key factor for peace and stability in the region, and Kazakhstan has played an active role in the reconstruction of the country in recent years, including providing humanitarian assistance, technology transfer, and implementing educational programs.
He emphasized that Kazakhstan has also outlined broad prospects for cooperation with Afghanistan in the transport and logistics sector, including participation in infrastructure projects such as the construction of railways and the development of transit corridors.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan announced that the number of scholarships for Afghan citizens has increased from 30 to 60, and Kazakhstan is ready to share its experience in digitizing public services with Afghanistan. He added that Kazakhstan’s IT exports have now reached $500 million.
UN supports regional cooperation
Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, welcomed the recent efforts of Central Asian countries to expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan, describing it as a fundamental step towards achieving common regional goals.
She noted Kazakhstan’s readiness to join key projects such as the Turgandi-Herat railway, the TAPI gas pipeline, and the establishment of a chamber of commerce in Herat, adding that the UN is committed to supporting the sustainable development of Afghanistan through cooperation with the Islamic Emirate and the international community.
Otunbayeva also announced the implementation of microfinance programs in 34 provinces of Afghanistan, which are being implemented in cooperation with the Central Bank and through regional seminars, with the aim of supporting local businesses and reducing poverty.
Afghan businessmen call for attention to domestic products
Mohammad Yunus Mohmand, First Deputy Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, called on Kazakhstan to pay more attention to the quality of imported Afghan products, especially fruits from the country.
He said that Afghan fruits are offered at low prices in Kazakh markets and their real value should be reflected.
The forum was held with the aim of strengthening economic relations, enhancing trade exchanges, and identifying new opportunities for cooperation between Kabul and Astana.
Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, said at the meeting that economic relations between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan are expanding and this trend can play a decisive role in the economic growth of the two countries.
According to him, the volume of trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan reached $200 million in 1403, with a growth of 32 percent, and targets have been set to increase this figure to $3 billion in the near future.
He announced the establishment of joint trade centers, the import of Toyota brand cars from Kazakhstan, and efforts to balance the trade balance through the export of Afghan goods.
The Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce also pointed to the important role of Kazakhstan as a transit country, saying: “Kazakhstan is a vital route for the transit of goods to Afghanistan, and Afghanistan can also play a role as the shortest route connecting Central Asia to Pakistan and India.”
Azizi also announced the plans of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to hold trade fairs in different countries and said that the purpose of holding these fairs is to facilitate access of Afghan traders to international markets.
This senior official of the Islamic Emirate further added that some individuals are trying to tarnish the image of Kazakh products by importing low-quality wheat. He emphasized that he will prevent such abusive actions in cooperation with relevant institutions.
Kazakhstan; Afghanistan’s key partner in the region
Syrik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, considered Afghanistan one of his country’s key and strategic partners in the region at this forum. He said that more than 25 Kazakh companies have presented their diverse products at this exhibition, which indicates the country’s serious desire to expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
According to Zhumangarin, despite a 14.3 percent decline in the volume of trade between the two countries in 2024 to $545.2 million, Kazakhstan still has a goal of achieving $3 billion in bilateral trade.
He also emphasized his country’s readiness to export grain, medicine, construction materials, and participate in joint projects in the food industry, textiles, railways, and digital infrastructure.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan emphasized that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan can be a key factor for peace and stability in the region, and Kazakhstan has played an active role in the reconstruction of the country in recent years, including providing humanitarian assistance, technology transfer, and implementing educational programs.
He emphasized that Kazakhstan has also outlined broad prospects for cooperation with Afghanistan in the transport and logistics sector, including participation in infrastructure projects such as the construction of railways and the development of transit corridors.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan announced that the number of scholarships for Afghan citizens has increased from 30 to 60, and Kazakhstan is ready to share its experience in digitizing public services with Afghanistan. He added that Kazakhstan’s IT exports have now reached $500 million.
UN supports regional cooperation
Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, welcomed the recent efforts of Central Asian countries to expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan, describing it as a fundamental step towards achieving common regional goals.
She noted Kazakhstan’s readiness to join key projects such as the Turgandi-Herat railway, the TAPI gas pipeline, and the establishment of a chamber of commerce in Herat, adding that the UN is committed to supporting the sustainable development of Afghanistan through cooperation with the Islamic Emirate and the international community.
Otunbayeva also announced the implementation of microfinance programs in 34 provinces of Afghanistan, which are being implemented in cooperation with the Central Bank and through regional seminars, with the aim of supporting local businesses and reducing poverty.
Afghan businessmen call for attention to domestic products
Mohammad Yunus Mohmand, First Deputy Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, called on Kazakhstan to pay more attention to the quality of imported Afghan products, especially fruits from the country.
He said that Afghan fruits are offered at low prices in Kazakh markets and their real value should be reflected.
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