Kazakhstan, Afghanistan to boost trade to $3 bln

ALMATY. Aug 3 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan and Afghanistan plan to increase bilateral trade from $1 billion to $3 billion, Afghanistan's Vice Director for Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shafiullah Azam, said.

"We currently have trade turnover of $1 billion with Kazakhstan. We hope to bring the trade up to $3 billion. Both countries possess all the opportunities and potential to achieve this," Shafiulla said at the Kazakh-Afghan business forum in Astana.

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin said that boosting trade to $3 billion is a short-term target.

Shafiulla said hat Kabul hopes to cooperate with Kazakhstan in energy.