During the Kazakhstan-Afghanistan business forum held in Kabul, contracts worth $140 million were signed. According to the press service of the Kazakh government, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan have agreed to establish a joint geological commission to study mineral resources.
At the meeting held in Kabul, Afghanistan, the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin and the Minister of Mining and Oil Industry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Hidoyatullo Badri reached a mutual understanding.
The parties expressed satisfaction with the development of relations in the industrial sphere over the past year. Serik Jumangarin expressed gratitude to the Afghan side for the assistance provided by Kazakh geologists in organizing the preparatory work.
- Today, professional companies with experience in the field of geological exploration, mining, and processing have been formed in Kazakhstan. They are interested in exploring and investing in promising deposits in Afghanistan. Representatives of companies such as ERG Exploration, Kazakhmys Barlau, and Kazatomprom came to Kabul with us," said Jumangarin.
At the meeting, the Afghan side also expressed its readiness to further expand cooperation and support the research of Kazakh specialists. The parties agreed to create a joint technical commission for the prompt discussion of emerging issues. At the end of May, Kazakhstan will send another group of specialists to study the deposits in other regions of Afghanistan. The Afghan side also expressed its readiness to provide information on confirmed mineral reserves at the request of Kazakh mining companies.
On the same day, Serik Jumangarin also met with Ahmad Jon Bilal, Head of the General Directorate of State Companies of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. During the conversation, opportunities for expanding cooperation between Kazakh companies and Afghan state-owned enterprises were discussed.
Jumangarin also took part in the opening ceremony of the Kazakh-Afghan business forum. More than 50 companies from Kazakhstan participated in it, presenting a range of products ranging from traditional products such as vegetable oil, pasta, rice, to agrodrons and batteries.
"Afghanistan can become an important logistics hub between Central and South Asia. Kazakhstan can become a reliable supplier of food, technology, mechanical engineering, chemicals, and IT products. The goal is to bring trade volume to $3 billion in the short term. "For this, it is necessary to establish stable supply channels, expand mutual trade, and create a favorable environment for investment and entrepreneurial activity," said the Deputy Prime Minister.
It was announced that commercial documents worth $140 million were signed on the first day of the forum.
Abdullah Sayyid
