Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin took part in the opening of the Kazakhstan-Afghanistan business Forum, held in Almaty.
There is great potential between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan for the development of cooperation in the field of trade. In particular, the expansion of grain and flour exports to Afghanistan and the import of Afghan fruits, vegetables, dried fruits and other food products. In addition, Kazakhstan is interested in the economic development of Afghanistan and the country's accession to international transport corridors. According to the results of the first half of 2024, the volume of transit road transport from Afghanistan through Kazakhstan increased by 8%, amounting to more than 5,000 tons. Last year, more than 10,000 tons passed through transit.
"There is a railway corridor between our countries through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. We are interested in the transit of our export cargoes through the Trans-Afghan corridor. The markets of the Middle East, Southeast Asian countries, and the Indian Ocean are opening for us through the seaports of Pakistan (Karachi, Gwadar)," S. Zhumangarin stressed during his welcoming speech.
In order to ensure the smooth transit of Afghan goods to China through the territory of Kazakhstan, the Afghan side was offered to use the Khorgos Gateway dry port for the construction of a logistics hub and the freight of containers and vehicles.
In addition, Serik Zhumangarin and Afghan Minister of Trade and Industry Nuriddin Azizi signed a roadmap to achieve mutual trade turnover of up to $3 billion. The document defines the areas of cooperation in trade and industry, banking, mining and metallurgy, humanitarian and social spheres, energy sector, transport and logistics, digitalization, tourism and other industries.
In particular, Kazakhstan's participation in the Turgundi– Herat – Kandahar – Spin Boldak and Mazar-I–Sharif-Kharlachi railway construction project in Afghanistan, expanding the range of goods in mutual trade between the two countries, developing bilateral cooperation in the chemical industry and increasing exports of Kazakh-made ammophos, negotiations on the supply of new and used domestic cars with the subsequent localization of dealerships for their maintenance in Afghanistan, the possibility of building schools and other areas.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/869570