Kazakhstan opens trade house in Kabul
As part of the business mission of the Kazakhstani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin, the Kazakhstan Trade House was opened in Kabul, Qazinform News Agency reports.
Kazakhstan's first trade house in Afghanistan was opened in Herat in 2024. Now, the country decided to expand its trade presence in Afghanistan and establish a key trade platform in Kabul.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Aitmukhamed Aldazharov, CEO of QazTrade JSC, and Sultan Ahmad Saruari, CEO of Afghan German Bakhtar (AGB). The project is expected to ensure effective interaction with the local business community and government agencies, as well as to create favorable conditions for Kazakhstani exporters.
The trade house in Kabul will serve as a permanent exhibition and trade platform showcasing Kazakhstan's key export products. It includes areas for the display and sale of food products and everyday goods, a showroom for Kazakh automobiles, and a pharmaceutical warehouse for the storage and distribution of medicines and medical products.
"The opening of the trade house in Kabul is another practical step toward strengthening the economic partnership between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. We are creating a permanent platform for promoting domestic goods, finding new partners, and implementing joint projects. We are confident that the new center will become an important tool for increasing trade turnover and developing mutually beneficial cooperation," noted Aitmukhamed Aldazharov, CEO of QazTrade JSC.
As part of the opening of the Kazakhstan's trade house in Kabul, a contract was signed for the supply of zinc ore between ShalkiyaZinc Ltd. JSC and the Afghan German Bakhtar Company. The agreement provides for the deliveries of zinc ore under DAP terms, with an estimated annual volume of 30,000 tons. The purpose of the deal is to supply raw materials for the production facilities of Kazzinc. The total value of the contract is $18.88 million.
At the trade house venue, cars assembled in Kazakhstan will be showcased, including models that are in demand on the Afghan market. In the future, the launch of service and technical support is planned, which will make it possible to create a full-fledged infrastructure for promoting Kazakhstan’s automotive industry in the region.
Another promising area will be the development of supplies of Kazakh pharmaceutical products. The establishment of a specialized warehouse in Kabul will facilitate the systematic distribution of medicines and expand the presence of domestic producers in the Afghan market.
“Afghanistan today represents a market of opportunities. The country's population exceeds 40 million people, and its economy is showing steady growth. Whereas Kazakhstan’s exports previously consisted of flour, grain, sunflower oil, and other agricultural products, new areas of cooperation are now opening up. The Afghan market has strong demand for machinery, equipment, and service solutions for the agriculture, construction, and mining. We see significant potential for expanding Kazakhstan's non-resource exports and expect that the trade house in Kabul will become an effective platform for developing new projects," noted Kanat Kudaibergen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GWM Capital LTD.
Earlier, Qazinform reported that Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin had a meeting with the Afghan Minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani.