Kazakhstan Offers Transit Discounts on Afghan Goods to Lower Transportation Costs
Noriddin Azizi, the Taliban administration’s Minister of Industry and Trade, has announced that Kazakhstan will offer transportation discounts for transit and imported goods from Afghanistan. According to him, this move could reduce the transportation costs of certain essential items.
Azizi stated at a joint press conference with a Kazakh delegation in Kabul on Sunday that Kazakhstan has the capacity to serve as a transit route for goods originating from China and several other countries to Afghanistan. He added that discounts would also be applied for the transport of exported flour and wheat to Afghanistan.
According to Azizi, lowering transportation costs could influence the final prices of some goods in domestic markets, although no details were provided regarding the extent of the discounts or when they would take effect.
Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, led a delegation to Kabul and held talks with senior Taliban officials. The Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said the visit focused on implementing projects and expanding economic cooperation between the two sides.
During the visit, 25 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed between members of the private sectors of Afghanistan and Kazakhstan. These MOUs cover areas such as the import and export of medicines, vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, banking cooperation, flour, wheat, oil, and potatoes.
While the Taliban administration regards expanding trade relations with regional countries as an achievement, some traders have previously stressed the need for transparency in implementing agreements and resolving banking and transportation challenges—issues that pose real tests to the practical realization of these commitments.
