Astana invites Afghanistan to open its trade mission in Kazakhstan

ASTANA. Aug 3 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan intends to further develop economic cooperation with Afghanistan and has invited Kabul to set up its trade mission in Kazakh territory.

Key aspects of bilateral cooperation were on the agenda of a meeting between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Integration Minister Serik Zhumangarin and Afghan Commerce and Industry Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi on Wednesday, the Kazakh government's press service said on Thursday.

During a Kazakh delegation's visit to Kabul in April, the sides pledged to increase mutual trade between the countries from $1 billion to $3 billion, Zhumangarin said.

"The first deliveries of our energy drinks, baked goods and mineral fertilizers have been made following the last visit of Kazakh companies to Kabul. There is also an interest in sunflower oil. Textile has been added to the list of imports from Afghanistan, alongside agricultural produce. There is plenty for us to work actively on," he said.

Afghan side was invited to use the potential of Kazakhstan's trading house in the Afghan city of Herat and to open its own trade mission in Kazakhstan in order to intensify cooperation, the press service said.

The participants in the meeting also discussed opportunities for developing existing trade routes and for creating alternative routes to deliver goods via Afghanistan as well.

Kazakhstan is also considering its companies' possible role in other economic projects in Afghanistan, especially in transport, mining, telecommunications and agriculture.

In particular, following the Kazakh delegation's visit to Kabul in April 2023, Kazakhtelecom and the Afghan side signed a contract on providing fiber-optic Internet services to Afghanistan on a commercial basis, the press service said.

Kazakhstan and Afghanistan also pursue joint education projects. As many as 130 Afghan students study at Kazakh National University today.

"Zhumangarin proposes increasing the number of students from Afghanistan studying in Kazakhstan, if there is such interest," the press service said.

As reported, Astana on Thursday will host a Kazakh-Afghan business forum, which will involve more than 300 businesspeople and government officials from the two countries.