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.
