H.E. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met today with Mr. Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the Chahar Chinar Palace of the Arg.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs welcomed the delegation and described the visits of senior officials as significant for the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan expressed satisfaction with the recent increase in trade between the two countries. He stated that Kazakhstan is prepared to provide transportation subsidies for the export of Kazakh flour to Herat Province and will also establish a sales branch for Kazakh pharmaceutical products and open a Chamber of Commerce in Kabul.
Mr. Zhumangarin added that, in order to facilitate financial transactions, they are prepared to open accounts with Da Afghanistan Bank and Ghazanfar Bank. He further stated that Kazakhstan is ready to engage in practical cooperation in the exploration and extraction of various mineral resources in Afghanistan, particularly chromite and zinc deposits, the production of chemical fertilizers, and the construction of the Mazar-e-Sharif–Herat–Kandahar–Spin Boldak railway network.
During the meeting, the Kazakh side also expressed interest in increasing imports of Afghan food products and stated that it would reduce tariffs on Afghan goods in order to promote bilateral trade.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs thanked the Kazakh delegation and assured them that the relevant institutions of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would work jointly with and cooperate with them in the aforementioned sectors.
