Kazakhstan to Reduce Tariffs on Afghan Goods and Boost Economic Cooperation
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister has announced that the country will reduce import tariffs on Afghan goods and establish a joint chamber of commerce and a center for supplying Kazakh medicines in Kabul. This was discussed during a meeting between Sirik Zhumanagarin and Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban administration’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
Tasnim News Agency’s regional office reported that the two sides talked about expanding economic and trade cooperation between Kabul and Astana. Zhumanagarin pointed to the increase in trade volume between the two countries and stated that Kazakhstan is ready to provide subsidies for transportation to facilitate the export of flour to Herat province.
He also revealed plans to set up a Kazakh medicine supply center and open a chamber of commerce in Kabul. To simplify financial transactions, arrangements are being made to open accounts at Afghanistan’s Central Bank and Ghazanfar Bank.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Astana is prepared to cooperate in Afghanistan’s mineral exploration and extraction, especially chromium and zinc mines, chemical fertilizer production, and the implementation of the Mazar-i-Sharif–Herat–Kandahar–Spin Boldak railway project. He also emphasized that his country seeks to increase imports of Afghan food products.
Abdul Ghani Baradar welcomed these proposals and announced cooperation from the Taliban administration’s relevant bodies to develop economic, trade, and investment relations with Kazakhstan. However, expanding foreign economic relations for Afghanistan remains a fundamental challenge amid banking restrictions and international sanctions, and realizing these commitments requires transparent and practical mechanisms.
