Kabul, April 22, 2025 – During the visit of the delegation from Kazakhstan to Kabul, the head of the delegation, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Mr. Serik Zhumangarin, handed over the second batch of humanitarian aid from the people of Kazakhstan to the people of Afghanistan, consisting of medicines. Mr. Zhumangarin also met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Mr. Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Kazakhstan – the Largest Provider of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan in Central Asia

Since 2021, Kazakhstan has delivered tens of thousands of tons of flour, food, medicines, household goods, and warm clothing to Afghanistan. Furthermore, on March 4, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution establishing the Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. As noted by Mr. Serik Zhumangarin during his meeting with Mr. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the primary goal of establishing the Regional Centre is to strengthen socio-economic and business cooperation between Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. The countries of Central Asia have expressed their support for Kazakhstan’s initiative.

Targeting $3 Billion in Trade through Diversification

Kazakhstan is among the top ten trading partners of Afghanistan. Traditionally, Kazakhstan’s primary exports to Afghanistan are grain and flour. In 2024, a significant increase was recorded in the export of sugar from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan – 143,000 tons, compared to 19,100 tons in 2023. There is also considerable potential for increasing exports of confectionery and flour-based products to the Afghan market. Moreover, Kazakhstan is interested in importing early-season Afghan vegetables to the markets of its capital city.

At the end of last year, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan signed a roadmap aimed at increasing bilateral trade to $3 billion. Given Afghanistan’s considerable mineral wealth, it is planned to achieve the targeted volume of mutual investments through the exploration and development of mineral resources in Afghanistan. There is strong interest from businesses in Kazakhstan in investing in the exploration of promising mining sites.

On April 14, a group of geologists and engineers from Kazakhstan arrived in Afghanistan. With the support of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan, the specialists visited a number of mining sites. As noted by Vice Minister of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan, Mr. Iran Sharkhan, the specialists collected 130 kilograms of ore samples in Nuristan Province from prospective deposits containing beryllium, lead and zinc. The samples will now be sent to Kazakhstan for detailed laboratory analysis. Upon receiving the results, Kazakhstan is ready to engage in deeper negotiations regarding the further development of the identified deposits.

New Trade Houses in Kazakhstan and Afghanistan

To support the initiatives outlined in the roadmap, Mr. Serik Zhumangarin proposed to Mr. Abdul Ghani Baradar the opening of a Trade House of Kazakhstan in Kabul. Mr. Abdul Ghani Baradar welcomed the proposal and noted that Afghanistan would also be interested in opening its own Trade House in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan additionally proposed the possibility of supplying buses manufactured by QazTehna, should there be interest from the Afghan side. These new Trade Houses are expected to foster mutual investments across various sectors of cooperation.

On the same day, Mr. Serik Zhumangarin met with the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Afghanistan, Mr. Najibullah Haqqani. Mr. Zhumangarin noted that companies from Kazakhstan are interested in participating in infrastructure and telecommunications projects in Afghanistan, including the laying of optical fiber cables as part of the construction of the new Torghundi–Herat railway segment.

During the meeting with the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan, Mr. Nooruddin Azizi, the sides discussed opportunities for diversifying mutual trade between the two countries.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-kazakhstanun/press/news/details/984356?lang=kk