Taliban Industry Minister Attends Turkmenistan Oil and Gas Expo

Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban government’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, has traveled to Turkmenistan at the head of a delegation to attend the 30th International Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference. The event, held in Ashgabat, brought together senior officials, experts, and representatives from international companies.

According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Azizi met with several government officials and foreign investors during the visit. These meetings focused on expanding economic relations, increasing investment, and exploring cooperation opportunities in the oil, gas, and related industries.

While the Taliban administration is seeking to gain political and economic legitimacy through participation in such international events, its lack of global recognition and domestic conduct continue to pose significant challenges to attracting reliable investment and engaging meaningfully with the international community. Furthermore, Afghanistan’s industrial sector suffers from a severe shortage of technical expertise and institutional capacity, making regional economic talks ineffective without comprehensive domestic reforms.

Currently, investors interested in working with Afghanistan face a politically and economically unstable environment—challenges the Taliban government has yet to offer credible solutions for.