Kazakhstan, Afghanistan aim to boost trade volumes

Kazakhstan, Afghanistan aim to boost trade volumes

Kazakhstan is ready to participate in the construction of trans-Afghan railways. Expanding regional transportation capacities is on the primary agenda of the domestic delegation’s visit to Afghanistan. Thus, Kazakhstan is set to engage in building the Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar and Herat – Kandahar – Spin Boldak railway corridors. According to Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, the project will reduce both time and costs associated with cargo transport. He emphasized that Kazakhstan currently ranks among Afghanistan's top ten major trading partners.

“Following the results of the previous visit of the Afghan delegation to Kazakhstan, the task was set to increase bilateral trade turnover to $3 billion. We discussed prospective projects at a high-level meeting and reached agreements on the implementation of joint projects in Afghanistan across sectors including transportation, mining metallurgy, communications, and agriculture,” Zhumangarin said.

A total of 35 domestic companies showcased their products at the Kazakh-Afghan Business Forum and thematic exhibition. Following the events, the parties signed contracts, including those for the supply of flour, cereal products, and sunflower oil, totaling over $12 million.

“The products of 12 oil plants were showcased, and, among them are seven that are already trading with Afghanistan. Over the first six months of the current season, we have nearly tripled exports of oil and fat products, especially vegetable oils. While we exported around 4,200 tonnes in the first six months of the previous season, this season the figure has already reached 12,500 tonnes,” Yadykar Ibragimov, Chairman of the National Oilseed Processors Association, said.