The day before, a representative business delegation from Afghanistan headed by Minister of Industry and Trade Haji Nooruddin Azizi arrived in Astana. 

Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin met the guests at the airport of the capital.  

The delegation includes heads of the Central Bank of Afghanistan, representatives of major private banks, energy company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), telecommunications company Afghan Telecom (AfTel), Afghan Chamber of Agricultural Products and Livestock, Chamber of Commerce and Investment, as well as agricultural, pharmaceutical, industrial, transportation and logistics, engineering, textile and other companies in Afghanistan.

On August 2, presentations of Kazakhstan and Afghanistan companies, B2B negotiations will be held. On August 3, a business forum will start working, and on August 4, an exhibition of Afghan goods will open its doors for all residents and guests of the capital (EXPO, Congress Center). The exhibition will present various food products from Afghanistan, copper utensils, marble, carpets, jewelry and many other traditional goods. 

For reference: Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan for 2022 amounted to $987.9 million, which is 2.1 times higher than for the same period of the previous year ($474.3 million). At the same time, traditionally about 90% is accounted for Kazakhstan's exports, mainly of processed products. Trade between the countries for 5 months of 2023 amounted to $316.6 million, with $310 million being Kazakhstan's exports.

Kazakhstan has an export potential of more than $500 mln in food, petrochemical, chemical, metallurgical, machine-building and light industry to Afghanistan.

#International Cooperation #Serik Zhumangarin