Kazakhstan and Afghanistan explore cooperation in transport, mining, and trade

Zhumangarin’s meeting with Afghan Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund marked the first such high-level talks in four years of active humanitarian and business engagement between the two countries. Akhund warmly welcomed the Kazakh delegation and expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan’s president for his continued support for the Afghan people.

In addition to regular humanitarian aid shipments, Kazakhstan assists Afghanistan in training specialists by providing scholarships for Afghan students to study at Kazakh universities, offering medical assistance and supporting professional development programs.

Particular attention during the talks was devoted to cooperation in the mining and metallurgical sector.

Kazakhstan holds a leading position in Central Asia’s mining and metallurgy industry as an industrial and technological hub, with expertise in processing non-ferrous, ferrous, rare and precious metals. The country is among the world’s top three in processing technical-grade aquamarine. In this regard, Kazakh companies are interested in participating in mineral resource development and industrial projects in Afghanistan. During talks with Afghanistan’s deputy prime minister, the Kazakh side raised the issue of exporting the mineral from Afghanistan for processing in Kazakhstan.

Last October, specialists from Tau-Ken Samruk visited Bamyan Province and collected samples from the Pami Kakrak zinc deposit. Subsequent chemical analysis conducted by experts from Kazzinc confirmed the feasibility of processing the ore at Kazakh enterprises.

We are interested in importing zinc ore from Afghanistan. Kazakh enterprises possess the necessary expertise in technological modernization, engineering, equipment supply and commissioning support, Zhumangarin said.

Another area of cooperation involves Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), which is considering participation in the exploration and development of chromium deposits. As the owner of the world’s largest chromite ore resource base and a leading ferrochrome producer, ERG plans to apply its expertise and technological capabilities under the agreements reached.

During talks with Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, the two sides focused on transport and logistics cooperation.

Kazakhstan noted that it is completing construction of the Khaf-Herat railway section and expressed interest in participating in additional infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.

We support the implementation of the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA) Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor, which is capable of handling up to 10 million tons of cargo to the Pakistani ports of Karachi and Gwadar. We are also ready to participate, together with our Uzbek and Turkmen partners, in railway construction projects linking Mazar-i-Sharif and Torghundi to Herat, Zhumangarin said.

Expanding bilateral trade was another key topic of discussion. The two sides reaffirmed agreements on supplying Afghan agricultural products to Kazakhstan’s largest retail chains. Kazakhstan became the first country in the region to offer Afghanistan a practical mechanism for promoting its products through national retail networks.

The supplies are expected to include pomegranates, grapes, apricots, plums, watermelons, melons, early vegetables, nuts and other fruit and vegetable products.

The Kazakh side also informed its Afghan counterparts about increased flour exports to Afghanistan, particularly to Herat.

Following the talks, the sides discussed barriers hindering the implementation of agreements, especially in the financial sector regarding mutual settlements, and agreed on specific measures to address them. Both sides confirmed their interest in further expanding cooperation in trade, transport, industry, telecommunications and humanitarian affairs.

Earlier, Qazinform reported Kazakhstan and Afghanistan eye $3 billion trade turnover.