Kabul and Astana Seek Direct Financial Channels Amid Rising Trade
Amid a significant surge in trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, officials from both sides have announced efforts to establish direct financial channels and expand banking cooperation. This initiative aims to overcome challenges in cross-border payments and strengthen bilateral trade.
According to Bakhtar Agency, citing Kazakhstan’s state news agency Qazinform, Serik Zhumanagarin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, discussed developing banking relations and creating new frameworks to solidify the financial infrastructure between the two countries during a meeting with Mohammad Ismail Ghaznfar, Chairman of Ghaznfar Bank.
Zhumanagarin emphasized Afghanistan’s strategic role in Kazakhstan’s regional economic policy and stressed that building a reliable, transparent, and efficient banking system is essential for continuing trade cooperation. He highlighted that facilitating payments and financial settlements could play a decisive role in increasing trade volumes.
The report noted that among the 23 active banks in Kazakhstan, two currently maintain working relationships with Afghan banks, and a third bank has started the process of opening an account with Ghaznfar Bank. This move is expected to simplify financial transfers for traders in both countries.
Data from Kazakhstan reveals that by the end of 2025, the value of payments and financial transfers between the two nations reached 140 billion tenge, marking a 26 percent increase compared to 2024. Additionally, the value of payments for goods and services during the same period grew fivefold.
During the meeting, both parties discussed creating direct banking channels, improving procedures for cross-border payments, and enhancing financial support for foreign trade.
Qazinform also reported a remarkable growth in trade between Kabul and Astana, stating that in the first four months of 2026, bilateral trade volume reached $342.4 million, a 2.3-fold increase compared to the same period last year.
According to the report, $338.5 million of this amount represents Kazakhstan’s exports to Afghanistan, which also showed a 2.3-fold increase. The rise in exports of wheat, wheat flour, triticale, sunflower oil, and other agricultural products has been cited as the main drivers behind this growth.
